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Nick Bottini



The first time Nick touched a basketball was during his third grade year of schooling in
Hawaii. The family returned to Rome after 13 short months in time for Nick to attend school at
Stokes, Strough, and RFA, graduating in 1979.


Bottini went on to become a basketball star at RFA and SUNY Potsdam. Bottini’s talents
were not limited to the court. Bottini excelled in academics as an honor student and held a
successful athletic career as both a football player and track athlete for the Black Knights. Bottini
was selected as the captain of the 1979 RFA track team, an early sign of his leadership abilities.

His greatest moment as a football player was in a 1976 game against long-time rival Proctor.
Bottini returned an interception for a touchdown, passed for two others, and scored one himself
as the Knights walloped Proctor 51-6. Strong, talented, versatile, and passionate about winning
were the words most often used to describe Nick’s athletic skills. He helped lead the 1978-79
Black Knight hoopsters to an unprecedented 17-3 record and the COL league title.
After RFA, Nick settled in comfortably at Potsdam State, where helped his team win the
DIII National Championship his first year and reach the DIII Championship the following year.

 

As a junior with the Bears, Bottini shot 47.5 percent, had 16 steals, 45 rebounds, and 31
assists. He earned a graphic design degree from Potsdam in 1983.

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