The SUNYAC honored Fredonia State track athlete Jacob Winn with its Award of Valor along with two other SUNYAC student-athletes at the conference's annual awards banquet on June 3.
The award is given to an individual for their ability to overcome obstacles and serve as an inspiration to others. The recipients used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome a life-altering event. The inaugural award was given in 2003.
During a track meet at Nazareth on Feb. 21, Winn collapsed and lost consciousness just prior to the meet. Along with Fredonia State Head Coach Tom Wilson, the Nazareth training staff, Nazareth pole vault coach Zach Ferrara, and Geneseo assistant coach Christian Johnson, the group helped administer CPR and activate an AED in an effort to save Winn. After about 40 minutes of care at the Golisano Training Center on Nazareth's campus, Winn was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital to continue receiving life-saving care.
Winn would wake up about a week later and spend 38 days at Strong Memorial. Through it all, Winn has remained incredibly upbeat and even described how lucky he was given that he received the life-saving care.
"Even though it's not a good moment, it just happened at the right moment where people could help me," said Winn.
Winn would not return to Fredonia State for the semester, but would serve as an inspiration to his team. The team wore #Winnstrong tee shirts to show their support at each meet. At the SUNYAC Meet, all participants were given a blue ribbon to wear in support of Winn.
For his part, Winn kept in close contact with the Blue Devil coaching staff and his teammates. In particular, Assistant Coach Nick Abdo, who two years earlier was a teammate of Winn's. They were both sprinters and even ran together in various relays.
"Jake is more of a fighter than anyone I know," said Abdo. "Someone who's my best friend and who is our 'glue guy' at practices and meets. The finish from our indoor season was 100-percent inspired by him and the fight he was putting up. Not having him around definitely affected the team for the outdoor season, but we found a way to fight through it. I can't wait to have him back next year and I know it will do great things for our team."
After his harrowing experience, Winn chose to be a positive influence. He was in constant contact with his teammates that kept him going. He was sending messages to the team hyping them up. Despite not being cleared to drive, Winn even came down to Fredonia for practice and surprised the team.
"It uplifted everyone just to shake his hand and see him," said Head Coach Tom Wilson. Winn was eventually honored as the first recipient of the Blue Devil Belief Award at the annual athletics banquet in an emotionally ceremony.
Winn has set his goal of being back to school in the fall and being involved with the program.
A video, produced by Nazareth Sports Information, is available for viewing.
