On Saturday, Apr. 11^th, members of the men's track & field team led by Athletics Director Tracey Ranieri and her husband David, spent about four hours of their time to clean up and beautify the Veterans Memorial Walkway located in Neahwa Park in downtown Oneonta.  The community service project capped a highly successful NCAA Division III Week that saw the athletic department honor academic and athletic success.
 
"It was a pleasure to spend the day with these wonderful men," stated Tracey Ranieri.  "The effort that they put forth to help beautify this city majestic space was tremendous.  Service is an important part of what we do in athletics and this was another way for our student athletes to give back to the community."
 
The project itself involved touching up the landscaping down the entire path, edging, weeding areas and adding fresh layers of mulch.
 
"The experience was very powerful for myself and my teammates," said sophomore Cameron O'Connell (Liverpool/Liverpool).  "As athletes, we perform at our best when we work to uplift one another, and a community is no different. This important experience taught me that whether we are competing on the track or laying mulch in a park, there is endless potential for good when we come together as a team."
 
"Tracey and the student athletes from the Track program did an amazing job for us," said City of Oneonta Parks Administrator Louise Lansing.  "This group was highly-motivated and outgoing!"
 
Lansing added, "I have affectionally called those who volunteer to do service within our Parks as "Gappers".  Gappers are individuals who not only see something that needs doing; they step up and fill the gap-by doing it.  These are special people.  Tracey, Dave, and Oneonta's Track Team certainly earned this title.  Thank you O-State Gappers!"