Dennis Hicks, Class of 1972

Bio

His Plaque Reads: Denny entered CCFL in the Spring of 1971 attending classes in the storefronts of downtown Canandaigua. He quickly became a standout multi-sport student athlete at the Community College of the Finger Lakes.

Denny played basketball, baseball and ran cross country. While competing in the first year of the college's baseball program in 1972, Denny displayed tremendous skill as a power hitting catcher. He was such an outstanding competitor that he is credited with being the first ever CCFL/FLCC student athlete to be offered an athletic scholarship. American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame coach Dick Rockwell from Lemoyne offered Denny a scholarship after he hit two 400 foot plus homeruns in a Fall baseball game against his team. Denny eventually turned down the offer to attend Cortland State and play football.

Denny was a team leader in both scoring and rebounding for the basketball team. Denny and his close friend and fellow Hall of Fame teammate John Wilber, led the Lakers to early success as the college developed athletic programs and a new campus.

Denny was also an outstanding student earing a grade point average of 3.71 which qualifies him as NJCAA Academic All-American.

After graduating from Cortland State, Denny came back to Finger Lakes Community as a Technical Specialist in the Physical Education Department. Denny not only started the softball program but coached several other sports including Head golf coach, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, and Assistant Women's Basketball Coach.