By Jimmy McCarthy
Contributing Writer
Seventy-five St. Bonaventure student-athletes displayed academic excellence during the fall 2012 semester. As a result, they earned a place on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Those freshmen to seniors within an A-10 sport retained a grade point average of 3.5 or better.
“We’re extremely proud of the academic success of our student athletes,” Steve Watson, athletic director, said. “We have some of the best students on campus, so having a huge representation on the A-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll isn’t a surprise.”
For student-athletes like senior honoree and member of the women’s soccer team, Nicole Rosso, the emphasis on student-athletes – with students being put first — is reiterated a lot at St. Bonaventure.
Rosso said student-athletes understand the need to balance their time between academics and athletics — especially when they are on the road.
“The most difficult part is missing lectures,” she said. “On away trips, we would usually miss Thursday and Friday, which I know for some people meant missing up to six or seven classes. But the professors have always been good about helping individuals catch up as long as they (students) took the initiative to do so.”
Coaches are also key contributors in the students’ success. Setting aside study time for the student-athletes, coaches always remind them to focus on academics, according to Matt Moretti, assistant sports information director.
“All coaches are academic first, and they are good at instilling the value of making time for studying,” Moretti said.
Moretti said coaches do not find athletes who perform on the field — they find individuals who have the ability to perform and excel in the classroom. Instilling this notion into student-athletes gives them the ability to succeed in the future.
Watson also acknowledged the academic support staff, Michelle Kent and Emily Usle, and the university staff for their willingness to make sure athletes are in the right position to succeed in the classroom.
“Being on the A-10 Honor Roll is important to me,” Rosso said. “It’s a way of showing that our hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, especially when being a student-athlete causes you to be a bit more responsible and you must be able to manage your time.”
Watson said the bulk of the credit should go to the student-athletes who earned the grades. They displayed the will to work and the commitment to success in the classroom.
“At St. Bonaventure University we are represented in all our fields of competition by true student athletes,” Watson said.
mccartjm12@bonaventure.edu
