Maniscalco graduated from Harvard-Westlake in 2021, and was a two-sport athlete in field hockey and soccer. She was captain of the field hockey team during her senior season, while also being three-time undefeated CIF Champions. After a successful High School career she had a powerful first-year and started in 16 games for The Blue. Last year, Maniscalco made the 2022 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic Squad. This year, she has had a career high of four goals so far this season as a defenseman and with two of the goals aiding The Blue to win against University of New England.

A teammate said this about Maniscalco, “She’s always a positive force of energy and gives it her all both on and off the field”. To learn more about what makes such a great student athlete and teammate, The News asked Maniscalcoa few questions.

TWN: How did you start playing field hockey?

SM: I started playing field hockey in seventh grade when I was looking for a sport to play in the soccer off-season. I immediately fell in love with the sport and knew I wanted to stick with it. My high school coaches started our club teams and really helped me become the player I am today. 

TWN: What is your favorite memory from playing field hockey over the years?

SM: My favorite field hockey memory was our quarterfinal victory over Smith in the Newmac playoffs during my first year. After giving up an early goal, our defense was able to shut down Smith for the rest of the game to allow our offense time to score two unanswered goals for my first playoff win. It was an amazing team victory.

TWN: Have you faced any adversity as your season has progressed? If so, how were you able to overcome those challenges?

SM: This year has been difficult because I was injured during the pre-season. Healing fully would have meant sitting out for much of the season, so I have had to manage the injury. We have had many players dealing with similar issues, and watching everyone on the team show up and play for each other has been so inspirational. 

TWN: Do you have any type of pre-game ritual?

SM: Before every game, I like to listen my pump up playlist that I made with Marin Kriner (#7). It gets me in the right frame of mind to go out and leave everything on the field. 

TWN: Who are your biggest supporters? 

SM: My biggest supporters are my family. They fly out for games whenever they can, and even when they are not here, I always know they are watching me from home. Our captain, Alex Lenart, has also been such a huge support system for me since first year and watching her deal with her injury this season has been a huge motivation for me on the field.

TWN: What are you interested in outside of athletics?

SM: Outside of athletics, I am excited to be studying abroad next semester at Oxford. I love experiencing new places and cultures, and can’t wait to see what it is like to study in England. 

At Wellesley, Maniscalco majors in Peace and Justice Studies. She is passionate about spending time with her family, singing karaoke with her best friend Eva and enjoying life to the fullest. With the help of Maniscalco, The Blue are set to play on Saturday Oct. 28, when the team hosts senior day against WPI at 1:00 p.m.

Feldgoise graduated from Brookline High School in Brookline, Mass., in 2019, where she played soccer and ran on the track & field team. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Feldgoise grew up playing soccer and going hiking with her two siblings whenever she had the chance.

This year, she’s helped the Blue to a 4-3 season against some very tough opponents this fall. One of her teammates shared, “Thea is a wonderful role model on the field, setting a precedent of hard work and encouragement for her teammates. She is someone any of us can go to for support and always takes the extra step to help us improve.” 

To learn more about what makes such a great student athlete and teammate, The News asked Feldgoise a few questions.

TWN: What is your favorite memory from playing soccer over the years? 

TF: My favorite memories are from preseason! Coming to Wellesley a few weeks early, hanging out with the team, getting to know the first years, playing soccer … It’s exhausting because we have two practices every day, but it’s always so much fun.

TWN: Have you faced any adversity as your season has progressed? If so, how were you able to overcome those challenges?

TF: Injuries are unfortunately a challenge every season (last year it was one knee, this year it’s the other knee). … On any given day, at least a third of the soccer team is in the ATR before practice doing rehab for our various issues. Support from teammates makes dealing with injuries a lot easier and more fun.

TWN: What gets you most excited to play your sport? 

TF: Running around and kicking the ball with my teammates/friends on our field makes me so happy. Soccer is a part of my day when I get to put aside the stress of school/life for a few hours and just focus on something I enjoy.

At Wellesley, Feldgoise majors in environmental studies and minors in computer science. Upon graduating, she hopes to work in technology on climate solutions. If you see her around campus, don’t forget to congratulate her on a great season so far with raspberries and Dot’s pretzels — her favorites. The Blue wishes Feldgoise all of the best as she finishes her time at Wellesley. 

Morakis, a biology major and psychology minor on the pre-med track, has represented Wellesley on the basketball court since her first year where she started eight conference games. Though the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted a portion of her collegiate basketball career, she finished her senior year with an impressive 150 points on the season. As the only senior member of the team this year, she had to take on a significant leadership role. 

Teammate Taylor Hirn ’23 said, “Val has been an amazing teammate during my time here at Wellesley. She truly is someone who leads by example through her effort, hustle and positive attitude she brings everyday. She makes playing basketball so enjoyable and I can speak for the whole team when I say she will be missed next year.” The Wellesley News interviewed Morakis last week.

TWN: What will you miss most about your basketball career at Wellesley after graduating this spring?

VM: The thing I will miss most about playing at Wellesley is my teammates. We have formed great friendships on and off the court and I will be forever grateful to have met and competed alongside every one of them. I will also miss my coaches, strength coaches and athletic training staff. They’ve each helped me develop both as an athlete and as a person. 

TWN: Have you faced any adversity as your season has progressed? If so, how were you able to overcome those challenges?

VM: This season didn’t quite go as any of us had imagined. We had several season-ending injuries and were forced to play many of our games with very few numbers. Those who could play had to take on roles they were not familiar with and sometimes play a full game with no subs which really took a toll on our bodies. Those who could not play had to deal with the disappointment of not being able to compete this season as well as watching their teammates struggle and not being able to help them. However, we stayed together, embraced our new roles and showed up to practice every day with a positive mindset. 

TWN: What gets you most excited to play your sport?

VM: Playing with my teammates and celebrating our wins together.

TWN: What is something you’ve learned about yourself and/or the world since the start of the pandemic?

VM: I learned that things can change in an instant, so you should enjoy the moment and give everything you do your all, because you never know when it will be the last time you do it. 

TWN: What are your plans after graduating from Wellesley?

VM: I am planning on applying to medical schools this May. Following graduation, I will be doing research for a year while I await medical school acceptances.

While not on the court, Morakis enjoys cooking, trying new restaurants, learning new languages, hiking and spending time with her friends and family. Wellesley Athletics will miss her contributions to the community and wishes her well in her future endeavors.

This season, two seniors on the volleyball team, Reece and Samantha Hoang ’19, have already reached career milestones that have become huge motivators for the team as a whole. Just days ago, Reece, a middle hitter, achieved her one thousandth career kill, which is when a player earns the team a point spiking the ball over the net in a way that makes it impossible to save. Similarly, Hoang, the libero, performed her one thousandth career dig, a dive to the ground to save the ball from hitting the floor after an intended kill from the opposing team.

Neither of these milestones came as a shock to the players, as they have been working diligently towards the achievements for four years. However, both Reece and Hoang were overwhelmed by the feeling of pride and success that washed over them upon hearing they had finally reached their goal. When asked how surreal the moment was for her, Hoang said, “Besides just being a career milestone, it was so uplifting because all of the behind the scenes work in practice, weight training and working out over breaks really paid off and all of the effort, sweat and tears have finally come into the light.” Similarly, Reece recalls, “All of the ups and downs over the last four years really culminated for me in that moment. Remembering all of the time, energy and effort that was sacrificed throughout my volleyball career was so satisfying. I may have cried!”

Even if they had not achieved their goals, both Reece and Hoang stated they would be extremely pleased with the season thus far. Speaking of how she usually judges the future of the team, Hoang says, “The first game always gives us a gauge of how the season will go and it went really well this year. I think we’ll go much further in the NCAA Tournament this year.” Watching their teammates work hard in every practice, game and workout has been incredibly rewarding and has helped the team to grow closer together. The motivation and talent of other members on the court inspires them to work harder and play better because they can’t win if they work alone. The only wish Reese and Hoang still have for the season is to see more participation from non-athlete students. Hoang cannot stress enough how hard the student athletes work, and how rewarding it is to see their classmates and peers in the stands during a game. Reece completely agrees, saying, “It means a lot to the team to have a strong turnout at every game. The fan energy really does make us play better!” Well, Wellesley, there is no better way to procrastinate on your homework for another hour or so. Get out there and support the Wellesley Blue! See you at the next game.

She has run for Wellesley for four years. Zhou’s favorite thing about being on the team are her team members. In her inter- view she states that her teammates have “… all been genuinely so inspiring and wonderful.” They have also been a great support system for her when she faced difficulties running. When asked what her greatest accomplish was in track and field she responded, “ Learning to ask for help and make honest assessments about pain has been so important. I spent close to a year and a half struggling to get through the easiest of runs and just being generally frustrated while trying to hide it from those around me. After I opened up a bit, my teammates, coaches, and athletic trainers helped piece things together and convinced me to get my blood tested this past winter. I found out I was pretty anemic, which explained a lot of the fatigue. I’ve been taking better care of myself and am really happy to say that it finally feels good to run and race again–just in time for my last season!”

This season Zhou has was recorded as the ‘college best’ in the indoor 5000 meter race. She has also been ‘college best’ in the 2016 outdoor 1500 meter race. She placed first in the 5000 meter race at The Regis Spring Classic-2017 meet this season. Throughout her career she has placed in several other meets since 2014. When asked what her favorite event to compete in was Zhou responded, “The 10k–I tend to enjoy longer races because you have time to settle into a nice rhythm”.

Although she has not been a leader on the team officially, she hopes that there are times in her athletic career that she has, “led by example.” As an outgoing senior on the team, Zhou advises incoming athletes to not be too hard on themselves as they adjust to college athletics and competitions.

“Don’t be discouraged if your success in high school doesn’t carry over immediately to the collegiate level; there’s a pretty significant transition involved that takes a few seasons to adjust to. Just remember that you have years to go, and that patience and a long view of things are never bad to have,” advises Zhou.

Throughout her time at Wellesley, Zhou has had to learn how to balance school, a social life and athletics. She admits that since she is in season all year, it was difficult to manage time. However, it became easier with practice.

“Like many of my teammates, I’m in season for the entire year, this includes keeping volume up over the summer. The time management is something I got used to pretty quickly, but the lack of downtime can sometimes be tough and lead to physical or mental burnout,” said Zhou.

Outside of Track and Field, Zhou enjoys reading, baking and watching documentaries. In the coming years Zhou plans to get a masters degree and research environmental remediation.

“I’d like to use my background in chemistry to approach the problem of environmental remediation,” said Zhou.

After Wellesley, Zhou plans to continue running and hopes to eventually run marathons. Although she may not want to run competitively, she said, “ my dream goal would be to move up to ultramarathons.”

As a pre-med student and a track star, Narvaez, gave me a glimpse into this lifestyle that forces discipline and organization. “Athletics does not allow you to procrastinate,” said Narvaez. Having two labs each semester along with a grueling training schedule compels her to finish homework as soon as she gets it.

During the off-season in the fall, timetables are less structured, “I have more time to do my readings, go to office hours and just spend time with myself,” Narvaez reflected. Since she loves the outdoors, Narvaez spends a lot of her time running around the lake or exploring nearby towns. She makes it a point to work out every day, even when not in season, in an attempt to prepare herself mentally and physically for when track season approaches.

Being a morning person, Narvaez works as much as she can before class, as the evening brings with it the exhaustion of practice and the general desire to go to bed early. On the weekends, she prefers staying in with tea, pajamas and a movie, and always makes sure to get seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

When season rolls around, Narvaez says, “It’s a totally different mentality. I become more conscious of how I utilize my time.” Meets happen every Saturday and homework has to be done in any free time available. Practice is for two hours, five days a week and workouts alternate between sprints, endurance training and lifting. Even though this routine does get exhausting and monotonous at times, Narvaez insists that her coaches and teammates make going to practice worth it. “Practice is like a happy bubble- in those two hours I forget all about work and put in my 110% into every rep, alongside my teammates.” Narvaez feels that there is a certain magic in this repetitive daily cycle. “The more you do something, the better you get at it”, Narvaez says. When asked what keeps her going, she answered, “I always want to keep improving that’s how I measure success. I thrive on competing against myself and breaking my own records.”

Having friends who are mostly athletes, Narvaez knows that they understand her routine and relate to it. She enjoys running into them at the KSC and seeing that they are all working as hard as she is. Even though maintaining this rigid lifestyle becomes tough at times, Narvaez sets her priorities straight. She knows that family comes first, followed by school and sports. Most importantly, she always remembers to prioritize herself somewhere in between.

In the midst of all this athletic chaos, Narvaez still makes time to do the things she loves, which vary from going on day trips with friends, to attending the Charles Regatta every year, “When the whole of Cambridge lights up,” she reminisces fondly. This year, Narvaez will be volunteering in the emergency department at the Wellesley Hospital. It’s a miracle how she does so much and still has time for all her meals. Her fervent advice to all athletes is, “Just have fun. Don’t let your commitment to being an athlete stop you from doing other things you love or want to try out. If you really want to do something, it is completely possible to make the time for it.” Even though she is still learning to cope today, she believes that the key to making this life work is to want it really badly, and to stay patient, persevering and determined through it all.

Laura Brindley ’16 (L.B.): Who or what inspired you to play lacrosse?

Nikki Sharkin ’17 (N.S.): My town is really big on lacrosse. It’s like how soccer is normal to most people, but in Summit, lacrosse is what you start out with. My brother started before me and it was one of those things you are expected to do. I started in second grade, so I have been playing for a while.

L.B.: You also play field hockey at Wellesley. How does your approach to the two sports differ?

N.S.: They are completely different. I start training for lacrosse in the winter, so the training is different. We do fewer short sprints and it is more long-distance sprinting. The people on the teams are also very different and adjusting at first is hard. We go straight from field hockey into lacrosse training and you don’t really know the first- years who came in because you didn’t spend the fall with them. Once you get into season, it is very natural and you become best friends with everyone.

L.B.: Aside from your injury, what has been the most exciting or memorable moment of this season?

N.S.: It was exciting when we beat Emerson. We lost to Emerson last year, and the assistant coach my first year is now their head coach, so it’s kind of one of those rivalries. We wanted to beat her because she beat us last year. We went into that game with fire under our feet, so it was exciting when we won.

L.B.: Describe what led to your broken wrist last Saturday against Mount Holyoke.

N.S.: [Mount Holyoke] was clearing the ball out of their defensive end and I was defending the girl who got the clear. She changed direction suddenly and it rained that day, so my feet slipped from under me and I fell back on my left hand. My arms were straight, so it just cracked.

L.B.: Will you be healed in time for field hockey season this fall?

N.S.: The recovery time is three months, so I should be back in early August. I can still run throughout the summer and will start going to physical therapy. I just can’t play until early August.

L.B.: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

N.S.: It depends what day it is. If it is a Wednesday game, then I eat lunch in the Lulu, go to Starbucks and get an iced coffee. Before every game, I drink this green powder that is a bunch of mushed up vegetables. I like to lead the team in dancing, but sometimes I don’t get everyone up.

L.B.: What is the best part about being a midfielder?

N.S.: It is awesome to play on both sides because you can see both ends of [the game]. It is nice to be able to cause errors on the other team that lead you onto attack so you can score. You are a part of everything.

L.B.: If you could give a word of advice to a prospective student who wants to play both field hockey and lacrosse at Wellesley, what would it be?

N.S.: Get ready to devote a lot of time, but you won’t regret your decision to do both.

Blue Lacrosse closed out its season on Saturday with a 16-13 loss against MIT on Saturday in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals.

Photo courtesy of wellesleyblue.com

Jane Vaughan (J.V.): When did you start playing softball?
Anna Pisac (A.P.): I started playing softball when I was four years old. I played tee-ball. My parents always used to dress me up in a bright pink Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt. It was great.

J.V.: Were your parents the ones that pushed you to do it?
A.P.: I’ve always just been very competitive, and they wanted to make sure that I had an outlet for that. So it was their idea, but once I started, there was no stopping me. I’ve played since I was four, so 16 years.

J.V.: Did you ever try playing anything else?
A.P.: I played soccer until my sophomore year of high school, and I played basketball for a couple of years as well. My dad tried to get me into golf. I could hit the ball a long way, so he was seeing dollar signs, but it wasn’t fast paced enough for me.

J.V.: So why have you continued to play for so long? 16 years is a long time!
A.P.: For me, playing softball is like a release. Especially, even more so now that I’m here. There’s so much expected of us academically, and it’s just nice to be able to take a break from that and swing a bat at a ball. It’s a big stress relief, and it really, I think, makes me a more well-rounded person.

J.V.: Why did you decide to play softball at Wellesley?
A.P.: I actually wasn’t sure that I was going to play softball at college at first because I am a pre-med, and I wanted to go to a school that would be academically challenging for me, and I didn’t know if I would be able to balance all of those things at once. But I got recruited by the Wellesley assistant coach at a tournament in Colorado, and I had not heard of the school before. But once I did some research, it seemed like it would be a place where I’d be able to balance all these parts of my life at once. And once I visited, the campus is beautiful, the field is one of the nicest fields I’ve ever played on. It’s just as nice as any D-1 fields that you would see, and so that was pretty tempting. Hard to say no to that!

J.V.: How has it been, trying to balance all of those things?
A.P.: I’ve actually surprised myself at how well I’ve been balancing everything. I also work in the fitness center on campus, so I’ve got classes and softball and work and whatnot. But I think it makes me use my time well, and so it has taught me how to manage a lot of different obligations all at once.

J.V.: What do you like most about softball?
A.P.: I like the team. It was so wonderful to be able to come here all the way, across the country, and have an instant friend group of 15 people. You know that all of these people have your back, not just on the field, but in life in general. If you’re sick, they’ll go get you food. If you’re crying, they’ll come to your room and comfort you. It’s just the fact that the team’s a family, and we all love each other.

J.V.: Is there anything you dislike about softball?
A.P.: Softball is one of those sports where if you fail seven times out of 10, you’re doing a really good job, hitting wise. Having a batting average of .300 is good, but having a batting average of .300 means you’re only getting on base three times out of 10. So you’re not getting on base seven times out of 10. You have to balance those two things, and I think particularly Wellesley fosters this perfectionist attitude. You can’t be a perfectionist in softball because it will just crush you. So sometimes that bothers me, but I think it’s also a good thing because it teaches me to be relaxed about things.

J.V.: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
A.P.: I always listen to “Jungle” by X Ambassadors, which is also my walk-out song. I wear the same headband for every single game. I’ve worn the same headband for all of my games this season, and it has been going pretty well for me.

J.V.: Who’s your favorite professional athlete?
A.P.: I really like J.J. Watt, who’s the defensive end for the Houston Texans, which is funny because I’m not a Texans fan, and I’m not from Texas. He’s just incredible in terms of his athleticism, but he’s also just a really nice guy. Seeing the things that he does for kids in his community and everything, I really respect that. Because I think that athletes on that stage should be people that kids can look up to, and I think that not only is he an incredible player, one of the best defensive players that the NFL is seeing right now, if not all time, but he’s also somebody that, if I had kids, I would want them to look up to him.

J.V.: Do you have any advice for incoming students who might want to play softball at Wellesley?
A.P.: I would say that definitely, if you have any interest in it, give it a try. We’ve had people walk on every single year that I’ve been here so far. The team is wonderful, the coaching staff is extremely supportive. Honestly, if I didn’t play softball here at Wellesley, I don’t know if I would still be here. That has been the biggest, most enjoyable aspect of my career here at Wellesley, having the team and having that support and competition.

Blue Softball will play a doubleheader against Endicott College on Wednesday, April 13 at Endicott at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and will finish the week with a doubleheader against Wheaton on Friday at Wheaton at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Photo courtesy of wellesleyblue.com

Laura Brindley ’16 (L.B.): Who or what inspired you to play lacrosse?

Mary Lemay ’17 (M.L.): I come from a very lacrosse-oriented town, so the high school team and the female players were a big inspiration growing up. I would say my dad was who encouraged me to get involved with lacrosse.

L.B.: Why did you decide to play at Wellesley?

M.L.: I knew I wanted to play lacrosse in college since I was young. The question is more about why I decided to play sports at Wellesley. I visited the school and fell in love with the environment and the academics. I stayed with the team, so they were my first introduction to Wellesley, and I loved their team chemistry and atmosphere.

L.B.: Did you play any other sports growing up?

M.L.: I played field hockey for as long as I’ve played lacrosse. I actually played field hockey for two years at Wellesley.

L.B.: What is the best part about playing attack?

M.L.: Attack is a position where you get to be really creative, which is why I like it. I think that a lot of it is reactionary. Depending on who is defending you or what defense you are up against, it can alter your strategy for the game, which I find very exciting.

L.B.: Besides at Wellesley, where is your favorite

place to play a lacrosse game?

M.L.: In high school, we played in the state finals at

a stadium in Worcester, MA. I forget the name of the

stadium though.

L.B.: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

M.L.: Yes! I like to get a pre-game back crack.

L.B.: What are some of your personal and team goals for the rest of this season?

M.L.: I think that our team goal is to get better every day. If we do that, we will be really successful this season. I would say that my personal goal is to also get better every day to help the team get better.

L.B.: What is the hardest part about being a student-athlete?

M.L.: The time commitment. For example, away games during the week like for the game last Wednesday, we had to leave at 1:30 and we got back at 9:30. That is mentally and physically exhausting and takes a lot of time out of your day.

L.B.: Is your training any different this season than it was last season? If so, how?

M.L.: I was abroad in the fall [in Dublin, Ireland], so I came back and we have a new coach and seven new first years. It’s a slightly different team dynamic and a new system. I don’t think I have personally changed very much, but our team values have changed.

L.B.: Who is your favorite professional athlete?

M.L.: My favorite professional athlete is Vince Wilfork. He plays for Houston now, but he was my favorite when he played for the Patriots. Wellesley Lacrosse will face Regis College at home on Wednesday, March 16 at 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Alex Berman Photography

Abena Asare ’18 had a rookie season last year that has already made her one of the most decorated Blue Track and Field athletes in history. She was named the 2015 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year and holds school records in the indoor and outdoor long jump, the indoor high jump and the indoor and outdoor triple jump. Her best long jump so far this season has been 5.79m, which is just under 19 feet. Last year, Asare was 9th in the long jump at NCAA Nationals and she is currently ranked 6th this year in the Division III national ranking. Along with long jump, triple jump and high jump, Asare also runs sprints and takes part in sprinting relays. Asare hails from Berlin, NJ where she grew up playing several sports, but ultimately deciding that track was what suited her best. Wellesley News spoke with Asare to discuss her goals for the remainder of the indoor track season and what she has done differently to improve on her already impressive jumping record.

Laura Brindley ’16 (L.B.): Who or what inspired you to do track?

Abena Asare ’18 (A.A.): Probably my dad. He was the one who pushed me to do track. I have done track since I was 8 years old. He did track in high school and elementary school and he is a person who I look up to and he is always at meets cheering me on.

L.B.: Why did you decide to do track at Wellesley?

A.A.: At first I was not too sure about doing track, but I would say that after talking to Coach Meg [LaBella] and Coach Phil [Jennings] who seemed very positive about the track team here at Wellesley and said that it would be a great experience. When I came to Spring Open Campus and met the team, I felt a close bond with the team. I felt that track was something that I always loved to do and I felt that being able to do it at Wellesley was a great opportunity. It was not something that would take away from my academics since Wellesley is DIII.

L.B.: Did you do any other sports growing up?

A.A.: I did cheerleading, soccer and basketball for a year. Track was definitely the sport that stuck with me. I danced for a little bit too.

L.B.: What is your favorite workout to do at practice?

A.A.: I would say our jump days. There are certain days when we really focus on technique. Coach Meg will get out the high jump mats to perfect our landing technique and technique in the air. Those workouts have helped me focus on techniques that I would not necessarily focus on all the time.

L.B.: What are some of your personal goals for the rest of indoor and going into outdoor?

A.A.: Right now I am ranked 6th in DIII, so I hope to go to Nationals. We are going into ECACs this coming week, so I am hoping to jump really well there. If I don’t beat my personal best, I hope to jump really well. Going into outdoor, I would like to win DIIIs again for outdoor. I would like to win the All-New England title and eventually go to Outdoor Nationals in that too.

L.B.: Have you done anything differently this year in terms of training than you did last year?

A.A.: This year, we focused on speed more in the beginning. Last year, I was injured with a sprained ankle, so I guess that was a factor. This year I have been running the 60m more, so the speed is what translated into my better jumps this year. It showed last year in outdoors and this year we are just starting earlier.

L.B.: What is the hardest thing about long jump, triple jump and high jump?

A.A.: The hardest thing is resetting yourself after every jump. It is an event that is very mental in the fact that if you mess up the first jump, then you psych yourself out for your next jumps, so you need to not focus on your previous jump and just focus on the jumps ahead of you. That is something that I have been able to fix over the past couple years. You have to focus on the jump ahead of you and not focus on the jump behind you.

L.B.: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?

A.A.: I just take time to focus. On the bus, I put my headphones in and kind of zone people out. During the meet, I just focus on what I have to do and think ahead about what my goals are for the meet and go after them.

L.B.: Who is your favorite professional athlete?

A.A.: I would say Sanya Richards-Ross who is a track runner. I have been obsessed with her as long as I can remember. She’s a great athlete and role model for women. She is passionate about what she does and she is also passionate about getting children to stay active, which is also what I am passionate about. I have stalked her at Penn Relays and online. She tweeted at me once in middle school!

L.B.: What is one word of advice you would give to someone hoping to improve in sprinting or jumping?

A.A.: I would say that you need to focus. You can do anything you set your mind to. Nothing comes easy. It all comes down to training and what you do in practice. Practice is the time to improve. If you want to see results, you have to put in the work early on!

Photo courtesy of Frank Poulin Photography