FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | In celebration of NCAA Division III Week (April 1-7), the Farmingdale State College athletics department will be highlighting the experiences, perspectives and passion of our student-athletes.
Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community.
In order to highlight the diverse array of student-athletes who proudly represent Farmingdale State athletics, we will feature a selection of individuals throughout the week. You will get to know them better as they share their responses to five questions about what it means to be a Division III athlete at FSC.
Our first student-athlete spotlight is three-sport distance runner,
senior Alycia Haynes (Adams Center, N.Y.). She has competed in Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field and Outdoor Track & Field for four years at Farmingdale State.
Alycia, a Health Sciences major, has compiled an impressive collection of accolades. She is a four-time All-Skyline Conference runner for cross country, including three times on the First Team. She also earned Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year honors three times, leading FSC to the title each season (2021-23). In addition, she was named to the Skyline's 2023 All-Sportsmanship team.
Beyond her effort on the track, Alycia holds the esteemed position of President of the Farmingdale State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), showcasing her leadership skills and dedication to the FSC community.
Q&A
What has made your Division III student-athlete experience so great/special?
To me, the most rewarding aspect of being a D3 athlete at Farmingdale is the incredible individuals who comprise our athletic department. From the dedicated staff and coaches, to my teammates and the supportive trainers, each person contributes to making every day a highlight of my collegiate experience.
What's your favorite Division III memory at Farmingdale State?
One of my most cherished moments as a D3 athlete at Farmingdale was breaking my first collegiate record in women's indoor track and field for the 1500m. As I crossed the finish line, a wave of fulfillment washed over me, knowing that my hard work had finally paid off. The sense of pride I felt extended beyond myself; it was a tribute to my coach, my teammates, and the entire athletic department. It was my way of expressing gratitude for their unwavering support and belief in me.
Please give an example from your time here where you/your teammates got involved in a community engagement effort; describe the experience, and how the sense of accomplishment felt.
Over the years, the Farmingdale SAAC committee has organized numerous events aimed at fostering community engagement. One recent initiative that fills me with pride is our partnership with a local elementary school. Our student athletes will visit the school to read to the children and serve as ambassadors for Farmingdale. I am optimistic that this collaboration will ignite interest and excitement among the children, inspiring them to pursue sports through college and beyond.
Give an example of a moment when you felt like a leader within your team; explain what led to that moment, and how you executed your leadership traits.
My first Skyline championship win was in 2021, marking a successful return to competition after the pandemic. Throughout the 2019-2021 seasons, I was fortunate enough to have a great group of older girls on the team to learn from and look up to. By the next Skyline in 2022, almost all of those girls had graduated. Now as an upperclassman, I made a conscious effort to fill the role for the younger girls that the older girls had once filled for me. Together, we dedicated ourselves to rigorous training, culminating in a remarkable championship win, showcasing our resilience and unity despite having only 10 girls on the roster.
Division III affords student-athletes the opportunity to balance many initiatives at once (e.g., academics, athletics, job/family, etc.). How has this balance allowed you to be successful both at FSC and in life during your time here?
During my time at Farmingdale, I have strived to be an involved and well-rounded student. I am grateful for how competing at the D3 level has enabled me to balance my extracurriculars, academics, and jobs. Pursuing medicine post-graduation requires me to take challenging courses, but I believe that competing at the D3 level has not only allowed me to excel athletically but also academically.
