What made you decide to commit to Rowan University for baseball? Were you originally planning to commit there for the sport?
“So, I went on a campus visit there. I really loved it. I really loved everything about it. I loved the coaching staff, I loved the campus in general, and they had my major of education, which I was really excited about, so it just was the spot for me.”
What has been the most memorable or enjoyable part of your high school athletic career, and why?
“Definitely, our huge state playoff run last year was a lot of fun, playing all the games, spending a lot of time with the guys. You know, there’s memories that you’ll always remember, even when you get older, and I’m really looking forward to hopefully another one this year, making those same memories with a bunch of new guys. I’m really looking forward to that.”
What are you most looking forward to about playing baseball in college?
“Definitely the huge play-offs, like I love playing in a big atmosphere, and I think the college level is just going to expand that even more– more high intense games, high intense situations. So I’m really looking forward to playing at the next level.”
What will you miss most about playing baseball at the high school level here at Haven?
“Definitely, just the little things like spending quality time with the guys that you’ve grown up with, the guys you went to school with since you were a little kid, the coaches. The coaching staff has been great– Coach Fili, Coach Kane, Coach Splain, Katsem. All the guys that have helped me and our team be the type of team that we are.”
What challenges might you face when switching from high school athletics to college?
“Definitely restarting the standard just because I’ll be a freshman again, and I’ll be playing with guys– some guys in their fifth years, sixth year, where they’re basically grown men. So it’ll definitely be an interesting perspective change to be the youngest again, but I’m really looking forward to that challenge.”
What are some of your goals or hopes for running track and cross country as a college student?
“Baseball-wise, definitely trying to get on the field right away, working hard this summer to be able to play as a freshman, which is definitely a little bit of a challenge, but I’m really looking forward to that.”
What advice do you want to give to underclassmen or other student athletes who might be considering playing in college?
“I would definitely, definitely tell them to do it. Hard work is such a big thing, like, you might not be the most talented, but the harder you work, the harder that you want to get better. The results really do show for them, so I would definitely say that.”
Were there any people or sort of inspiration that helped you get to this place today as an athlete that you would like to shout out or thank?
“I would definitely say my dad. Ever since I was a little kid, I could always remember him encouraging me to play baseball, and just continuing that journey. So I don’t really know what I would do without him on this journey.”