FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
781-239-2636
ecooper@massbay.edu
MassBay Community College Men’s Soccer players Simon Hichos of Framingham, MA (left #9) and Mario Leone of Newton, MA (right #14) have been named to the NJCAA Region 21 Men’s Soccer All-Region Team. (Photo/MassBay Community College).
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (December 15, 2022) — MassBay Community College student athletes Simon Hichos of Framingham, MA and Mario Leone of Newton, MA have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Associations (NJCAA) Region 21 Men’s Soccer All-Region team. Hichos earned first-team honors, while Leone earned a second-team distinction. These first-year players both helped lead the MassBay Buccaneers to the Region 21 playoff spot, the first men’s soccer tournament appearance for MassBay since 2019.
“Simon and Mario had a great season for us as we build a championship program here at MassBay,” said MassBay Men’s Head Soccer Coach Jeff Braverman. “Simon shows up everyday and gives 110 percent. He is very respectful off the field, but a fiery competitor on it. Mario is always trying to improve his craft, whether it is hitting the gym on his days off or asking the coaches how he can improve. Both student athletes are first class footballers and represent MassBay in a very positive manner.”
Hichos, a starting forward, (Read Simon Hichos profile →) appeared in all eight games for the Bucs, scoring eight goals this season.
Mario Leone, defense, (Read Mario Leone profile →) played defense in seven games.
Hichos graduated from Framingham High School, and Leone was born and raised in Italy. Both students are pursuing associate degrees in biotechnology.
“I am very happy for both Simon and Mario,” said MassBay Director of Athletics Adam Nelson. “They worked hard all season and deserved to be recognized by the Region. Coach Braverman and his staff have our men’s soccer program pointed in the right direction, and they couldn’t have done it without the commitment and sacrifice of both of these players.”
The Buccaneers will begin their off-season workouts in the spring semester, as they prepare for the 2023–2024 season.
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.