Hinman Alumni Get Dirty in Central Park
by Dave Berkowitz '00
Post Date: July 2001

More than 50 members and friends of the Hinman Alumni Network (HAN) gathered in Central Park's East Meadow on Sunday, July 15 for what will likely be the start of an annual tradition: co-rec football in the Park.

Often cited as the favorite among Hinman's traditions, Hinmanites have been used to playing this form of co-ed touch football on Hinman's Sterling Field, named after former Hinman Faculty Master and Binghamton University math professor Nick Sterling. It turns out that while Sterling Field has always been in need of a little tender loving care (to put it mildly), the Central Park field offered new challenges to the Hinman Alumni contestants. The 16 players and 3 referees had to play on a massive dirt patch; a dust storm swept across the field every time the ball was in motion. It turns out that while Central Park may be one of the world's most gorgeous and awe-inspiring parks, the grass is reserved tor the picnics, and athletes must tough it out on the dirt.

Not that there were many athletes at the Co-Rec in the Park event. Graduates from the class of 1975 to the class of 2001 competed, and several alumni remarked they have not touched a football since they played co-rec on Sterling Field. The game itself was a stellar match, complete with stealth interceptions, goal-line showdowns and much more action than was displayed in the most recent Super Bowl. Characterized by impenetrable defense, the contest ended 6-0, with the one goal scored by Class of 2000 alum and Cleveland Hall native Joe Bersito. No one won a Heisman trophy, but winners received Hinman t-shirts from Hinman Facutly Master Al Vos and Assistant Director Donna Denoncourt who traveled all the way from Binghamton for the Manhattan event. The dedication displayed by Vos and Denoncourt is a shining example of the dedication and support Hinmanites show for each other, and HAN hopes to be blessed with their presence every year at Co-Rec in the Park.

An event of this magnitude could not have run itself. HAN Co-Chairs Sharon Scher and David Berkowitz organized the outing with the greatly appreciated help of the office of the Alumni Association. Key last-minute support came from Scher's parents who drove in the sandwich platters, the Binghamton banner, a picnic table and other event necessities all the way from Westchester County.

Not everyone who came was a Hinmanite. Jordan Fox, the former Student Association president and longtime Dickinson Community resident, joined his Hinman brethren. Most of those in attendance, even those who wore their co-rec football t-shirts (with team names too lewd to be printed in the Journal) opted to sit out of the game so they could socialize and gorge on the sandwiches. It seems that everyone who came was already eager to RSVP to next year's bigger and better edition of Co-Rec in the Park.

To join HAN's mailing list, or if you're interested in planning future events, send your contact information to hinmanalumni@yahoo.com.