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: McKenna Brooks

Sophomore forward McKenna Brooks has been a key aspect for the success of the Geneseo women’s basketball team. Brooks stays on top of her athletics and her school work, putting her time off of the court into her business administration major. (Courtesy of Geneseo Athletic Department)

Every great basketball team needs to have depth on the bench—talented players who can come into the game and make an impact at any time. It comes as no surprise then, that one of the biggest contributors to the undefeated Geneseo women’s basketball team this season has been one of their first players off the bench, sophomore forward McKenna Brooks.

Brooks has come off the bench in 22 of 25 games this season, but leads the team in field goal percentage, blocks and steals; she is also second in rebounds and third in total points. 

Born in Buffalo, Brooks’ love for basketball began at a young age through a close relationship with her mother, a former basketball coach. She remembers her mother bringing her to practices as early as age three, where she first picked up a ball and dribbled. As she grew up and began playing for travel teams, basketball became a bonding force between Brooks and her mom.

“My mom would always travel with me to games and it brought us closer,” Brooks said in an email interview. “We have such a good relationship with each other; she’s definitely my best friend.”

Having a coach as a parent also helped Brooks out on the court. She credits her mother as the biggest influence on her playing career.

“With her knowledge of basketball from being a coach, she’s always telling me what I can work on to get better and what I’m doing well,” she said. “After a game, she’s the first person to critique me—whether I like it or not. I don’t know if I would’ve found my love for basketball if it wasn’t for her.”

Brooks attended and played basketball at Oswego High School after moving to Oswego, N.Y. from Buffalo just before her freshman year of high school. Moving to a new school and not knowing anyone was frightening for her at first, but thanks to basketball, she quickly made 15 new friends that she also called teammates.

Toward the end of her high school career, Brooks visited Geneseo after head coach Scott Hemer had watched her play and expressed interest in recruiting her. She immediately fell in love with the campus and, on the ride home, told her mother she did not want to visit any other school.

“Before I left Geneseo, I already knew that I wanted to come here,” Brooks said. “The team was not only talented, but they were so welcoming and you could tell they all had a close relationship with each other.”

Now in her second season, the Knights achieved a perfect 25-0 regular season record. They will head into the SUNYAC Tournament ranked No. 16 in the nation and one of just five teams in Division III who remain undefeated.

“This season has been amazing,” Brooks said. “Winning games is nice, but playing with these girls is just so much fun. I think that’s why we’re so successful.”

At the moment, Brooks and the team are focused on the playoffs. With all five of the Knights regular starters in their senior year, however, Brooks is looking forward to the challenge of stepping into more of a leadership role next year as an upperclassman.

“Losing five starters is going to force a lot of us to step up and be leaders,” she said. “I think we’ll be ready when the time comes.”

In the classroom, Brooks majors in business administration. She loves to travel and cites Australia as her favorite destination. She is also an avid fan of Syracuse University men’s basketball, although they have “too many close games and give me a heart attack almost every time they play,” according to Brooks.

Brooks and Geneseo women’s basketball will be in action on Friday Feb. 24, when they host the SUNYAC semifinals at Schrader Gymnasium.

Knight of the Week: Devin Brink

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Originally from the South, first-year forward Devin Brink often found himself traveling to pursue his hockey career. Years of traveling around for hockey have paid off for Brink, as he has become a key factor behind the Ice Knights’ success. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)

They may all wear the same uniform, but the personal journeys of the Geneseo Ice Knights vary quite a bit, each adding a certain amount of personality to the team. First-year forward Devin Brink has been a significant addition to the Ice Knight’s family this year, as his hockey journey may not be as traditional as his teammates’. 

Brink’s fascination with ice hockey began when he was five years old after having watched his first National Hockey League game. Young Brink watched the Washington Capitals take on the Detroit Red Wings and he has had a passion for the sport ever since. 

“Ever since then it sparked an interest,” Brink said. “After that, I went to a local rink in Maryland and it just shot off from there”

Unlike most hockey players, Brink was brought up in an area where hockey was not exactly the most accessible sport. Born in Washington D.C., Brink lived in Maryland until he reached the sixth grade. 

Though the particular Maryland area where the Brink family resided may not have been known for hockey, they made sure to get their son to practice, traveling approximately an hour to and from the rink. 

When Brink moved to Virginia in the seventh grade, his hockey career became a little easier to maintain because there were more playing opportunities presented. During this time, Brink fluctuated between AA and AAA travel hockey teams, ultimately deciding to play AA as he claimed it to “be a better fit.” 

While hockey may have been his favorite sport, Brink did not limit himself athletically—he played lacrosse for his public high school, as well. 

Knowing that he wanted to take the next step in his hockey career, Brink considered attending and playing for a prep high school. Playing for a prep school is not an opportunity that many young hockey players have, for it allows the athletes to not only develop athletically, but academically as well. 

After looking at five prep schools in two days with his mother, Brink chose to attend Trinity Pawling, an all-boys boarding school. Trinity Pawling has a renowned hockey program in the New England Founders league and has a reputation for sending players off to Division I and III teams.

As a result of attending prep school, Brink had to go through five years of high school—three years at his public school in Virginia and two years at Trinity Pawling. From there, Brink expanded his hockey career to Philadelphia, where he played in the United States Premier Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Brink played for the Flyers for two years, where he met current Geneseo teammate sophomore forward Zach Lynes. The two men played for the Flyers before becoming Ice Knights together.  

Upon his first visit to Geneseo, Brink knew that it was where he wanted to play collegiate hockey. 

“Geneseo is actually the only school that I visited,” Brink said. “I just had really good vibes while I was here.” 

Everything about the campus seemed to fit what Brink had wanted—it was the right size, navigating the campus was simple and it was close enough to his home in Virginia. 

Though he is still rather new to the Ice Knights, Brink has certainly proved that he has what it takes to play hockey for Geneseo. During a 5-2 victory over SUNYAC rival SUNY Brockport, Brink contributed to the win with his first collegiate hat trick. 

While this has the potential to be an ego booster for any athlete, Brink remains modest, saying that he has contributed to the Ice Knights more than he expected. 

“I really didn’t see myself coming in and making a difference that much,” Brink said. “But I have and I’m pretty happy with it. Happy, but not satisfied … because you can never be fully satisfied.”

  For now, Brink is majoring in business, but he plans on changing to economics. He is unsure of what he wants to do after Geneseo—he doesn’t like to think that far ahead. For Brink, it is more important to live in the moment rather than plan his future; so in the meantime, he is focusing on his schoolwork and how he can contribute to his fellow Ice Knights.

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: Brad Hawayek

If you were to ask people around the Geneseo campus what their favorite school team is, many would say the Ice Knights. On weekends before big games, it’s almost hard to find people around the school that aren’t attending. The hockey players, too, are some of Geneseo students’ favorite student-athletes—and that’s just what you’ll find in senior goaltender Brad Hawayek. Hawayek represents the side of the Geneseo ice hockey team that we as students don’t always see. Despite not getting every start, however, he loves the game—and winning—more than anyone you’ll ever meet.

“I love it,” he said. “I love getting up and going to work and watching myself get better every day.”

This work ethic extends off the ice, as well, as Hawayek is on track to graduate this spring with a degree in biology. He is currently applying and interviewing at medical schools.

“Hockey helps with my professional career for sure,” Hawayek said. “I’ve learned time management and how to prioritize and what it means to set goals and work hard to meet them.”

Hawayek’s playing career has been on a different track than most Division III hockey players, as well as than most of the players on his own team. Many collegiate ice hockey players defer from college for a couple of years to play junior hockey and then get recruited to sign a letter of intent to play.

Hawayek, however, took only one year off to play 18-and-under hockey in Detroit for Belle Tire, which is one of the strongest programs in the country. After that, Hawayek decided to come to Geneseo, despite not being recruited by the team. It was at 19 years old as a first-year student that Hawayek went to try out for the Ice Knights and managed to walk on.

“Most guys age out of juniors and come into the school as freshmen at 20 or 21 years old. That really wasn’t for me,” he said.

Hawayek is not only different because he is one of the younger guys on the team as a senior at 22 years old, but he is also unique because he represents a side of the Ice Knights that many students don’t get to see. Hockey is different than a lot of sports at this school because players aren’t usually recruited out of high school.

For many of these guys, their road to Geneseo was long and winding, involving years of living and playing away from their family all over the United States and Canada. Hawayek is no exception, but he’s happy with where he ended up.

“It’s definitely going to be weird not being out there with the boys next year,” he said. “There’s no better feeling than a packed Ira on Saturday night for a big game, but I’m excited to get into the next chapter.”

Hawayek said that the next chapter for him will hopefully involve medical school, where the hard work and dedication that it takes to be an Ice Knight will most definitely translate. Whether it’s on the ice or in the classroom, Hawayek said that he’s proud to have been able to attend this school, to help bring home a SUNYAC Championship and to wear a knight on his jersey for the past four years.

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.”