Skidmore College Athletics

When Robert Antonez '78 arrived on campus, Skidmore's athletics program was in its infancy; there were a handful of club sports and few opportunities for male students, who came together informally to form fledgling teams. They bought their own uniforms and ferried themselves to games.  

A talented high school athlete, Antone was intrigued by the idea of being a "pioneer" and the opportunity to play a variety of sports in a number of new programs. He played four years of basketball, captaining the team from his sophomore to his senior year. During his junior and senior years, he played shortstop on the baseball team and was also recruited by assistant soccer coach and friend Larry Ramos as starting goalie, leading the team through two very competitive years. In each sports program in which he participated, Antonez recalls, “the level of competition and the schedule of opponents got stronger."  

After graduating, he stayed on as a member of the Admissions Office, actively recruiting male student athletes and lobbying the administration to recognize the importance of creating an athletics program that would attract them. His dedication to this goal helped Skidmore Athletics become the competitive force it is today. An active volunteer for Friends of Skidmore Athletics fundraising events, Antonez has served as Skidmore's assistant golf coach for the past three years.