Knight of the Week: Nancy Nasky

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Sophomore free style swimmer Nancy Nasky has proven her worth to the Geneseo Blue Wave as she continues to dominate in the pool and break records. Nasky was influenced by her brother to come to Geneseo and she looks to have a future in accounting. (Alicia Roth/Staff Photographer)

Varsity distance free-style swimmer Nancy Nasky is a sophomore accounting major here at Geneseo who has been hitting the pools competitively since just before she began seventh grade in her hometown of Brighton, NY. 

She originally began to swim because her mom wanted her to pick something to stick with. Nasky dropped dance to follow in her brother’s wake as a swimmer. 

Nasky was influenced by her brother John to come to Geneseo because she saw how well he thrived as a Knight and how much he enjoyed the school. Nasky already knew the coach she would train under, so she could prepare for his style and methods.  

“It was the path I saw myself going on,” she said.  

As a member of the Blue Wave, Nasky has made a name for herself, as she holds personal and official records. This includes a Division III time of 5:00 for the 300-meter freestyle and the 1650-yard freestyle at 17:04. These times are records in the SUNYAC conference and awarded her ninth place at nationals, giving her the coveted status as an All-American athlete.

Nasky sees her teammates as more than just co-athletes when thinking about her experience at Geneseo. The teammates are her family, according to Nasky. 

“They have taught me so much, like time management, goal orientation, determination, compassion and communication,” Nasky said.  

The other swimmers create a support system and experience for her that is indescribable, according to Nasky—and it’s a good thing that she likes the people who she swims with, considering she is in practice every day for four-five hours. 

Coupled with her dedication to her academic studies here, there is not much time left to do anything else. When she does have spare time, however, Nasky is involved with the Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development program and will soon achieve the silver status.

After graduation, she wants to go on to get her master’s degree in business administration or accounting and is looking to attend either the program at Geneseo or the one at the Rochester Institute of Technology. 

Juggling a varsity sport with its time commitments and the academic schedule of a student here at Geneseo can be a bit stressful at times. Nasky, however, would not trade it for anything and she strongly suggests it to those who don’t know what it’s like. 

Nasky is the definition of a dedicated and hardworking athlete who puts in 110 percent every time she is asked to jump in the pool. With two years left as a Geneseo Knight, Nasky looks to improve her techniques and to evolve into being the best swimmer that she can be.

Knight of the Week: Erin Cregan

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Junior midfielder Erin Cregan has been a key asset to the Geneseo women’s lacrosse program. Cregan seeks to lead the women to a successful season as one of the team’s current captains. (Alicia Roth/Staff Photographer)

Junior midfielder Erin Cregan is the captain for the Geneseo women’s lacrosse team, where she brings a whole new level of dedication to the sport. Cregan is from Brighton, New York—a town outside of Rochester—and has been playing lacrosse since she was in third grade, originally starting because of her two older siblings. 

She has a brother and sister who both played the sport and sparked Cregan’s interest. After realizing her talent and proficiency in lacrosse, she dropped every other sport she was playing at the time and centered her focus on just playing lacrosse—and it’s a good thing she did. 

Fast forward to her junior year in college. Not only is Cregan the captain, but she also began her career as a Knight by starting every game of her freshman year—which she continues to do today. 

“Not every freshmen gets that opportunity and it is a once in a lifetime [experience], and I’ve started ever since,” Cregan said.  

Her favorite memories with her team come from when they get to travel to Florida during spring breaks to compete. There is still the pressure to do well and win, but “you get to enjoy the weather and it becomes kind of like a vacation,” according to Cregan. 

And speaking of her team, Cregan knows that what she does would not be possible without the support, encouragement and friendship she has gained from this group of people. Lifelong friendships with her teammates and coaches is one of the things Cregan is most thankful for.

Cregan is an early childhood education major with a math concentration. She was encouraged to come to Geneseo by her older brother, as he suggested that this school would be the right choice for him, as well. 

After graduation, Cregan plans on student teaching and getting her master’s degree. Although no specific institution has been chosen, she wants to attend one in Rochester or close to it so that she can live at home and save some money in the process—all so that she can one day become a fourth grade teacher.

When Cregan is not playing lacrosse or focused on her studies, she likes to spend time hanging out with the five other girls she lives with, working at her job as a hostess or sleeping. Cregan is actually known in her little circle for her ability to sleep. 

“I can go to sleep with the intention of being down for an hour and waking up after three,” Cregan said.

Cregan has described herself as determined, organized and motivated to get others going—being a captain requires all these things and keeps her going. 

“I want to be able to help my team in every way,” she said. 

Her people skills and talent make for the optimal athlete and teammate. Cregan is comfortable and confident in these facts. 

“I belong here; I belong on this team.”

Knight of the Week: Matt Leon

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Senior goalkeeper Matt Leon proves to be hardworking both on and off the ice, as he maintains a double major in psychology and communication as well as a minor in geography on top of his varsity hockey schedule. Leon plans on keeping sports in his life well after graduation, hoping to pursue a career in sports psychology. (Alicia Roth/Staff Photographer)

Senior goalie for the Ice Knights, Matthew Leon, skated into the Geneseo ice rink all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina. Although Leon is attending a school that is filled mainly with New Yorkers, Leon shakes things up with his southern hospitality. 

But fear not, Leon does have some New York blood in him, as his father grew up here. It was through his father that Leon came to love hockey. 

“My dad loved the sport, so he would have it on and I would just watch it and I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Leon said.  

And luckily for all the hockey fans here, he did. Leon isn’t a stranger to harsh northeastern winters, though, seeing as he finished up high school in Massachusetts. 

Besides being a star goalie here at Geneseo, Leon keeps himself busy as a psychology and communication double major with a geography minor. Leon decided to become a Geneseo Ice Knight, like many students, because the academic curriculum was known to be A+ and the price was just right. But along with that, this particular SUNY school offered one of the better Division III experiences. 

Leon is glad that this is where he ended up because the team atmosphere is something that is hard to come by. 

“It’s given me a sense of family … a lot of colleges don’t have teams that are this close and I know that the relationships I’ve built here are going to last a lifetime and that means a lot to me,” Leon said. 

It’s with his team that Leon shares one of his favorite memories. It comes to no surprise that that memory is winning SUNYACs in 2016. Who can blame him? Just the amount of work and dedication it takes to get there—and then winning it for himself, his teammates and his school—is something to be proud of. 

Along with that, Leon fondly looks back on when he went to the Frozen Four in both his freshman and junior years. 

When Leon isn’t on the ice or studying for either one of his two majors or his minor, he is either doing work around town to make a quick dollar or working on his blog. His dedication to his communication and psychology majors extends past the classroom in the form of a sports psychology blog for performing hockey. 

Sports psychology is something that interests Leon so much that he wants to pursue it when he graduates. After playing hockey for a few more years, Leon wants to get into either coaching or sports psychology for a career—but with coaching, he’s not just focused on the physical training; he’s also interested in the mental and psychological aspects of the sport. 

In three words, Leon is relaxed, hard-working and dedicated. This shows through his accomplishments as an athlete and a student, complete with an unshakably calm demeanor. 

Not everyone can keep it cool with two majors, a minor and a position on a varsity team here at Geneseo, but somehow Leon has done it—and he has a lot to be proud of.

Knight of the Week: Alexa Wandy

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Senior chemistry major Alexa Wandy is a key part of both the Geneseo women’s soccer and track & field teams. Wandy has earned SUNYAC titles in both sports and has proven her worth as a two sport varsity athlete. (Alicia Roth/Staff Photographer)

Senior chemistry major Alexa Wandy stands out from her fellow athletic peers because not only does she play on one varsity team, she plays on two. 

Originally from LaGrangeville, New York, Wandy is a jumper and sprinter for the track and field team and a defender for the women’s soccer team. Wandy’s dedication and endurance has been part of her lifestyle ever since she was a kid. 

First came soccer. Wandy has been playing for as long as she can remember, saying that she was a “toddler running around in cleats.” 

Track and field came a bit later in her career; it was something she pursued when she was a senior in high school. Wandy was convinced by a good friend to join the team, telling her that she would love it. 

Four years later, she is still going strong. Here at Geneseo, Wandy holds the track and field school record for the triple jump for indoor and outdoor and is tied for the outdoor long jump record.

In her collegiate athletic career, Wandy’s main focus has been on her teams. They provide the atmosphere for success on the field and the structure for healthy and happy friendships off of it. Both teams have completely different characteristics that make each unique and lovable in their own way. 

“The soccer team is just a fun group of girls who are so much fun to be with and always make the strangest jokes. The track team has a wide variety of people, personalities and senses of humor that make it a great time,” Wandy said. 

Like all teams, both provide Wandy with the support needed to get through trying times. Wandy has struggled with on and off injuries since joining the Knight community, but she gives credit to her teams for getting her though these times. 

“We make sure to get each other to the trainers and get the support we need to get better,” Wandy said.  

Along with this, the team has also helped Wandy with her struggles as a student here. 

“Geneseo is already a challenging school and sometimes the work load can be a lot,” Wandy said. “We all get together and have dinner, hangout and do homework and study.”

The challenge of balancing a social life with school and two varsity sports seems near impossible, but both groups have pulled Wandy through the tough times and have given her lifelong friends in the process.

Wandy’s top memories from both track and soccer both involve winning SUNYAC championships and are focused not only on her individual experience, but also on what those experiences did for her teams. She described winning with the track team as a team effort, regardless of the individual events. 

In soccer, winning 1-0 against SUNY Cortland sparked a moment where the team joined together emotionally and physically in celebration of all the hard work they had all put in to get where they were.

“The teams have shaped who I am; they encouraged me to open up as an individual and broke me out of my shell,” Wandy said.

Knight of the Week: Giovanna Fasanello

The Geneseo field hockey team has had an eventful 2016 season. After coming back from what appeared to be a record from which they couldn’t recover, the women played as hard as they could and eventually earned the 2016 SUNYAC title. While each player contributed to this success, there is one player in particular who stands out amongst the rest: junior midfielder Giovanna Fasanello. A psychology major and legal studies minor, Fasanello scored all three goals to take the SUNYAC title—but she has also helped in other areas in order to push the Knights to greatness.

The junior forward line started field hockey at Geneseo during her second semester as a freshman, when she transferred from Central Michigan University. But really, her career started back in seventh grade. The young Fasanello wanted to play soccer originally, but was convinced by her older sister—a field hockey goalie—to try out field hockey.

Fasanello is from Clarence, New York, which is just outside Buffalo. There, she played for United States of America Field Hockey’s Futures with the hopes of one day making it to the Olympics.

Fasanello decided on Geneseo when a mutual friend who went here introduced her to it. Fasanello thought Geneseo was beautiful—and the rest is history.

Her current goals include being named an All-American and coming in first with number of goals made in a season at Geneseo. Additionally, after graduating, Fasanello intends on pursuing something in the legal end of her degree. “I wanted to be a state trooper or apply for something with the FBI … it’s always been something that interests me,” Fasanello said.

But all that is a ways away. For now, Fasanello is focusing on her studies and field hockey—and she loves every minute of it.

Her team makes an impact on her on a daily basis, as they “work really well together—” and they better if they expect more victories, according to Fasanello.

“We are a unit; we depend on each other to do better and work harder, we are a system … a giant support group of people you look forward to seeing every day,” Fasanello said.

Like all athletes who are serious about doing well in their sport and in academics, Fasanello finds it hard to juggle both.

“This semester was the most difficult balancing school and practice,” she said.

With the harder workload, Fasanello has found herself doing homework on the bus, going to TA’s office hours and meeting with other people in her class for help.

When she isn’t practicing, winning SUNYACs or studying, however, Fasanello prefers to spend her time with her friends outdoors. Being outside is one of her favorite activities, and places like Letchworth State Park allow for hiking and all other outdoorsy adventures that Fasanello enjoys.

The championship win in the SUNYACs was Fasanello’s favorite memory. She said it was “probably the best feeling,” as they won with three goals in overtime. That’s a win that doesn’t happen every day, and it’s a win that will be a highlight in Geneseo field hockey forever.

Knight of the Week: R.J. Burns

Men’s varsity hockey is the sport that everyone has their eyes on this semester. Ice Knight spectators should be paying especially close attention to R.J. Burns. Burns is a senior forward on the team and a political science major here at Geneseo. Along with being captain of the Ice Knights, he has a lot going for him.

Burns originally is from Pearl River, N.Y., but considers himself a true Geneseo Knight. With the crowd chanting, “Geneseo!” as he glides across the ice, it’s hard not to bleed blue and white. Hockey has been a part of Burns’ life for the past 17 years and his father is responsible for sparking his interest in the sport.

“My dad started us out skating on my grandpa’s pool in the winter … it just kind of grew from there,” Burns said.

Hockey isn’t just something that Burns’ father got him into, however; hockey has gone as far as keeping the two connected throughout the years, even with the inevitable reality that sons and fathers don’t always see eye to eye.

And after the past 17 years, hockey isn’t just a winter sport to Burns. Hockey has become a key part of who he is. You can’t have Burns without hockey and vice-versa—and he has no intention of giving up this part of himself anytime soon.

Burns strives to become a professional hockey player and to bring his talents to a bigger stage. Fame and fortune, however, isn’t why Burns wants to go professional; it’s because he never wants to give up this passion.

“I hope I will be fortunate enough to give back to the game that has given me so much,” Burns said.

Not only has playing hockey given him a sense of community, a family and an environment to learn how to deal with adversity, but it’s also given him a drive to go out and accomplish his goals—pun intended.

“Hockey will always be a part of who I am … it’s different than any other sport in the relationships that you gain over the years of playing [with] these guys; they become family and that’s something you can’t replace,” Burns said.

The most memorable moment in Burns’ hockey career here at Geneseo is winning the SUNYAC Championship last year, not only for his school and teammates, but mainly for former Ice Knight Matthew Hutchinson. The love and commitment between the teammates on this team is something that can’t be replaced. That is the crown jewel in the strengths the team has going for them.

Burns decided he wanted to become a Geneseo Ice Knight when he saw the wonderful standing this college has on an academic level and a DIII level. Additionally, he knew Geneseo was where he wanted to go to college when he saw the unique and memorable culture that Geneseo has to offer.

After he graduates, if playing professional hockey doesn’t work out, he plans on going into digital web marketing or analytics. Burns has been working with web marketing since last summer and into this school year with a company called Citrix. When he isn’t focusing on web marketing, hockey and everything else a college student has to worry about, Burns likes to spend his spare time playing golf.

“Hockey will always be a part of who I am and I think anyone who has played a sport will never totally leave it behind,” Burns said. “Going to the rink to work every day with the guys you love and a game you love is a pretty good deal.”

Knight of the Week: Matt Jorgensen

Matt Jorgensen is hiking his way to accomplishment, regardless of the challenges he has faced along the way. Besides being a senior biology major here at Geneseo—which is an accomplishment in and of itself—he excels at cross country and track. Despite these achievements, Jorgensen has battled both injury and the personal toll of overwhelming thoughts regarding his future after graduation. Jorgenson, however, defies the odds, persisting and achieving exemplary grades along with his fortitude on the field.

Jorgensen decided he wanted to become a Geneseo Knight after his first visit here, where he fell in love with the track program and the overall atmosphere surrounding the sport. “It just felt like a really good fit,” he said.

The sports at Geneseo that caught his attention were cross country and track. This was not his first encounter with this passion: like many athletes, Jorgensen has a long background in his sport.

Picture a young Jorgensen, bright eyed and bushy-tailed—not yet beaten down with midterms and finals—ready to start seventh grade. As with most middle school aged boys, Jorgensen was just looking to find himself. He was able to achieve this through his love of track and cross country after he saw his older sister get into the sport. Prior to his love of running, Jorgensen played hockey.

Although Jorgensen does not yet hold any varsity records here at Geneseo, he has his own personal records that he strives to beat everyday. His best 5K time is 15:19.34. His long-term goals, however, are to help his team make nationals and win. Beyond that, he hopes to achieve his dream and go All-American.

His favorite memory with the team is when the people who don’t make nationals get together and form the coveted T-Team, which stands for transition team. This band of athletes who didn’t make the top seven spots come together and go crazy supporting their teammates through the T-Team. And yes, they are somehow louder than your mom yelling on the sidelines.

When Jorgensen isn’t running, though, he can be found studying in the hopes of getting into physician’s assistant school or spending time outdoors. He has been camping and hiking for years and plans to continue that in his future by participating regularly in outdoor activities with both his friends and family.

Jorgensen would also like to eventually run a marathon—just for the sake of running. His wish goes back to a part of his overall goal: to run for as long as he can for as long as he is able to. Jorgensen is able to find a sheer joy in running, one that is unparalleled by most.

Although Jorgensen suffered a career-threatening injury, he has managed to still accomplish a lot. In his freshman season, Jorgensen had a series of stress fractures. As a result, he wasn’t able to run until his junior season. He was bound to light training to keep his fitness up. His teammates gave him the support he needed to get through this bump on the road, and he will never forget it.

Although the temptation to quit was there, Jorgensen persevered. “[I] knew I had more in me,” he said. “I just knew I wasn’t done.”

Knight of the Week: Tricia Baxley

Senior outside hitter Tricia Baxley is a silly, yet determined communication major here at Geneseo. Although volleyball is her passion at college, Baxley is more than an athlete. The family-oriented 21-year-old came to this region on New York from St. James on Long Island and never thought that she would one day call herself a Geneseo Knight.

“I’ve always loved Geneseo,” Baxley said. “My parents would take me here when I would have games in Rochester … it was so far away and so academically prestigious that I never thought it would be an option.”

The overall factor that broke Baxley out of her comfort zone, however, was the opportunity to play volleyball at a college level.

Baxley started her volleyball career back in middle school, though she didn’t make the team at first. It wasn’t until one of her older brothers coached her in their driveway that she gained the skills needed to make the eighth grade team. Her family’s strong support system was a crucial part to her success and Baxley is not one to overlook the importance of family in her life. When Baxley isn’t at Geneseo or impressing spectators at volleyball games, she can often be found playing with her two dogs whom she adores.

Don’t let Baxley’s love of family and dogs fool you, though. Under that initial happy and caring shell is a determined and talented athlete. Whether it’s in practice or in a game, 110 percent is the minimum work put in at every moment for Baxley.

Baxley’s main goal is to contribute her skill and determination to better her team and to help them get to the SUNYACs this year. That is the main team goal and Baxley not only has her eye on the prize, but also recognizes the smaller steps that will get them there.

“First we have to get to playoffs and then beat every team we are faced with,” Baxley said.

Baxley is realistic about the work that will go into this, however—all while remaining optimistic that her team is more than capable of a win on this level.

On a more personal note, Baxley’s goal is to get 1000 kills.  This goal is extremely close to being completed, since she has less than 50 more to go. This near feat is certainly something to be proud of.

Every athlete faces challenges in their sport, and Baxley’s biggest obstacle is currently troubling her. Earlier in the year, an accident resulted in a broken wrist for the athlete. At first, Baxley thought her college volleyball career was over. With help from her doctor and a little bit of luck, however, she found out that her break would still allow her to play as long as she was casted in a certain way.

While she thought her season was over because of her wrist, Baxley said that the support of her teammates was the main factor that helped her persevere. Luckily, after 10 long weeks, her wrist will be ready to compete without a special cast.

Baxley hopes to go into sports media communication after college and—more specifically—within the National Basketball Association. If she puts forward the effort and determination she shows in her academics and her sport, this dream job will one day become a reality.

Knight of the Week: Sam Flood

Sailing in from Bay Shore Long Island, Sam Flood has made a splash in the Geneseo track community. The junior communication major runs cross country and track, and it comes as no surprise that her athletic determination started way before her life in college. Flood ran track in high school, while her three older brothers played varsity lacrosse. Family is a very important aspect in her life and keeps her ties to home a little tighter.

Along with track, Flood has played tennis, golf, lacrosse, softball, soccer, field hockey and she has swam. When she’s not here in Geneseo impressing peers and teams alike, however, Flood likes to spend time on the beach soaking in the ever-too-fleeting summer rays.  Flood has also competitively sailed for the past 15 years.

Coming to Geneseo, Flood found exactly what she was looking for. “It’s not too small … and it’s so beautiful,” she said.

Along with the obvious curb appeal this little college on a hill has, Geneseo also has Division III athletics and cross country is very highly ranked, with a current standing of first in the nation.

Currently, the junior athlete is enjoying the experience of college while also shaping her plans for after graduation. After all, a communication degree from here opens so many doors that it can be hard to pick just one future.

Flood’s accolades don’t just stop in her personal life and academics—they show in her sport, as well. Flood placed seventh at the SUNYAC Outdoor Championship in track 10,000m with a time of 38:08 and was ranked 21st out of 288 in the Mike Woods Geneseo Invitational with a time of 23:10.6.

“The competition is not only against other runners, but beating my own individual achievements,” Floor said. “There’s always room to improve.”

Like so many athletes, her sport isn’t just about the thrill of the competition—it’s also about her own personal relationship with it. Running isn’t about just putting one foot in front of the other for Flood; it is a de-stressor, a coping method and a constant. The experience of track and cross country is more than what it seems like on the surface.

The team is another family to Flood, and they give her the support and loving pushes for further greatness. With the long and rigorous practices, this bond proves to be a big factor with keeping a level head and a positive attitude.

Flood’s favorite memory with her sport is more of a time of year than a specific experience. The time where the team enters championship season is her favorite time of year because the whole team gets excited and pumped up for the win. And this isn’t just among those participating in SUNYACs, regionals or nationals, but the entire team. It’s truly a magical thing.

Knight of the Week: Nick Keneally

Hailing from Pittsford, New York, junior defenseman Nick Keneally has proved to be the Knight to watch this week as the soccer season revs up for the fall. Excited to help mentor and encourage the team’s young talent, the selfless player hopes to make the most of this year after playing in a total of 12 games in the previous season. The second oldest out of four siblings, Keneally is no stranger to teamwork and competition. His father played Division III basketball and molded Keneally into a great athlete, introducing him to an athletic career at the early age of three.

“I played every sport, not just specializing in one,” Keneally said. “I played basketball, soccer and baseball all throughout high school.”

Close to home, the ever affordable and esteemed Geneseo proved to be the perfect school, as the then-undecided Keneally was able to play soccer and figure out what he wanted from his college career—which he has since realized is a career in accounting.

It was during his time as a freshman soccer player that he was lovingly nicknamed Tom; another clichéd American name that just seemed to stick. Nowadays, no one on the team calls him Nick, including the coaches.

Championing his soccer team as captain back in high school, they won the state championship under his leadership. With this in mind, he hopes to push the Knights forward this season and to set goals for the team to keep this momentum going.

“Making the SUNYAC Tournament is our first goal, and once we get there, anything can happen,” Keneally said. “I think we have enough to win the SUNYACs.”

The self-proclaimed “hype man” of his team loves getting the men ready for a big game. The right back remembers the importance of starting a season off right. One of his favorite moments with the team was the opening game last year, which was on the first day the turf opened. Geneseo battled rival University of Rochester and won, which served as a big upset to their competitors. It set the tone for the year and Keneally loved doing so well in front of so many fans.

When Keneally isn’t hyping up his team or leading on the field, he spends his summers working with children as a camp counselor. Although it was his favorite job and he can see himself going back in the future, he expanded his palette and worked in a warehouse over this past summer, too.

Keneally plans to put his accounting major to good use, though. Post-graduation, Keneally hopes to stay in Geneseo for the fifth year of his accounting program and to achieve his master’s after passing the Certified Public Accountant exam. After that, he hopes to go to a big city, such as New York or Boston.

Overall, Keneally is a team player that cares for the well-being of his teammates.  Hopefully his charisma and talent will help carry the men’s soccer team to the SUNYACs.

“[Soccer] is not about how many goals you score, but about how you help the team and make everyone better,” Keneally said.

Knight of the Week: Lydia Volpe

How someone describes himself or herself can say a lot about them as a person. “Hard working, caring and friendship oriented” is how Lydia Volpe chose to describe herself and her actions. Incidentally, her sport fully supports these ideals. A sophomore economics major here at Geneseo—but more than likely a future business administration major—Volpe chose Geneseo not only for the very tempting SUNY tuition and strong academic program, but because she got to continue one of her passions: field hockey.

Volpe plays right back and is one of the best defenders that Geneseo has to offer. She came into Geneseo knowing that she loved the sport and couldn’t imagine not being a part of it. Her field hockey career started at home when her parents pushed her to get involved with either tennis or field hockey. One could say Volpe’s athletic drive is in her genes, as both her mother and father were athletes, playing field hockey and tennis respectively.

“Not doing [field hockey] would be a loss because it has become a part of me,” Volpe said.

Like all athletes, Volpe has personal and team-oriented goals. Personally, she pushes to be an overall better defender and works on specific skills, such as not letting someone turn in on her. Her skill is not measured in minutes or seconds, but by how many things she can prevent from happening. Along with this, Volpe works toward becoming a regular starter—a goal that is well within her reach.

As for her goal for the team, Volpe hopes to help the Knights beat two rivals that gave them trouble last year: SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Cortland. Her team means the world to her and life at Geneseo wouldn’t be the same without them. For Volpe, her favorite memories are not big wins, but the little things, like the way they all get pumped up in the locker room, squeeze each other’s shoulders during the national anthem and high five as they pass each other.

Aside from her life in Geneseo, Volpe lives in Locust Valley on Long Island and lifeguards during the summer. When Volpe isn’t saving lives at the pool or playing field hockey, she can be found working on her own personal art collection. Art was a subject she pursued in high school and has now become a casual hobby since starting her college career.

Looking toward the future, Volpe knows that she wants to study abroad. She hopes to get that chance by completing a humanities course in Europe. But since Volpe still has two and a half years left at Geneseo, she’s focusing on the present in order to make the most of her life.

All in all, Volpe is a person who loves communicating with those around her, as well as an athlete who prides herself on being able to be both. Her main contribution to her teammates—besides her skill—and to her friends is that she always reminds them that it’s OK not to be a 100 percent perfect all the time. She wants them to know that making mistakes is not the end of the world and doesn’t make someone a bad person or player, so long as they keep going.

“[Field hockey] brings people together,” Volpe said. “I wouldn’t be who I am without it.”

Knight of the Week: Sara Rosenzweig

When it comes to Geneseo track, many stars shine bright, but junior Sara Rosenzweig is a star to keep your eye on. Rosenzweig is a biology and Spanish double major with a drive that not only brings success to her academics, but to her athletic events as well. Rosenzweig hails from Merrick, New York and came into track when a mishap with soccer tryouts left her wanting another athletic outlet. She figured that her high endurance would work well with cross country and—to her good fortune—it was a better fit than she could have imagined.

“It just stuck” Rosenzweig said.

She came to Geneseo because she wanted to study science, to go to a state school and to a college that had a Division III sports program. The little college on the big hill matched her personal trifecta.

Here at Geneseo, Rosenzweig runs cross country and her events include the 6k, indoor 3k and 5k along with the 3k steeplechase. Last year, Rosenzweig was named All-American in Geneseo for coming in seventh in the regional meet. Her own personal goal for this year is to be All-American on the national scale, a goal that was missed last year by two places when Rosenzweig placed 37th nationally. She hopes to be in the top 20 and to help lead her team on to national championships.

This is a goal that seems a bit farfetched, but for runners like Rosenzweig, it is very realistic. The team placed second last year, which is one of her fondest memories in the sport.

“When we found out we came in second, we all burst into tears,” Rosenzweig said. Rosenzweig considers her teammates and best friends to be family, so achieving this with them was a special moment in her college career.

The team aspect of cross country is very important to Rosenzweig, and it is evident through her attempts to contribute all she has to it. Rosenzweig hopes that her leadership skills have helped her teammates not just in terms of the sport, but also in balancing cross country with academics, hobbies and work.

Along with her busy schedule, Rosenzweig has a directed study that looks at bilingualism and the implications it has with the brain—the perfect combination of her two majors. Outside of the track and academic buildings, Rosenzweig spends her time running and baking. Her passion for baked goods is focused mainly on muffins, but she said that she is looking into different recipes when she can find the time. When she isn’t in school, Rosenzweig is also a physical therapist assistant.

After Geneseo, Rosenzweig hopes to go onto graduate school. She is currently studying for the Medical College Admission Test. After she graduates, she plans on taking a year off to do research and to work before returning to school, in addition to running.

“Running is everything to me, for sure,” Rosenzweig said. “Without running, I really wouldn’t have structure to my life. My whole life kind of revolves around it right now, and I love it.”