By Taylor Nigrelli
Sports Editor
I’ve never wanted to be anything but a sports writer.
When I was in middle school, I used to write fake newspaper sports sections, reporting real and imaginary sports news. In high school, I obsessed about the intricacies of nearly every sport at every level.
So as I pen my final column as sports editor of The Bona Venture, I can’t help but feel I’m incredibly lucky to have been afforded this opportunity.
The extent of my luck didn’t dawn upon me until the beginning of the second semester of my sophomore year. It hit me as I walked down the path that leads from Plassmann Hall to the Reilly Center on my way to cover my first men’s basketball game.
Clad in a shirt and tie while listening intently to Kendrick Lamar’s “M.A.A.D. City,” I realized I was on my way to cover a Division I basketball game. It was hard to conceive.
The opposing team, the VCU Rams, had played in the Final Four just two years before. Their coach, Shaka Smart, was (and is) one of college basketball’s most recognizable coaches.
I felt somewhat overwhelmed as I sat in the media room prior to the game. Some local media members mingled and wondered aloud how the Bonnies could possibly stay composed against VCU’s athletic, attacking defense.
I spotted some of the areas more prominent media members, including one who I’d read consistently since I learned what a sports section was. (I’ll be interning at the paper that employs him this summer. Life is funny sometimes).
The Bonnies lost that game (and more than a few home games that year). I sat through the post-game press conference and wrote a story that I’d probably cringe at if I read it today.
Eventually, I got better at writing game stories. I got to know some of the guys in the press room. I began to really enjoy covering games. With some help from the now-graduated former Intrepid sports editor Ryan Lazo, I began to understand how to properly prepare for and cover a college basketball game.
I’ve been a part of the BV for nearly three years now (and I’ll be back in a different role next year). I’ve earned my 100 on-campus internship hours in just under two trillion hours of work. I’ve made most of my best friends in the late nights spent in the newsroom.
I’ve covered six different sports. I traveled all over the Northeast with the cross country team to cover what was the program’s most successful season to date. I learned enough about women’s lacrosse to cover that sport for a season.
I was there when the Bonnies beat the nationally-ranked UMass Minutemen. I watched as the students began to storm the court, ran back into the stands and then stormed the court again.
Part of me wished I could abandon my post and join the fray. But I wouldn’t trade my spot in that over-crowded press room for all the premature court storms in the world.
I was also there when the Bonnies lost to 15th-place Fordham on senior day to fall out of postseason contention in 2013.
I traveled to Richmond for this year’s Atlantic 10 women’s basktball tournament. I watched as the Bonnies fought to defeat La Salle on the heels of assistant sports information director Brian Moretti’s premature and tragic death.
I got my feet wet in column writing by calling the beloved Lance Armstrong a sociopath. I wrote movie reviews whenever I got the chance. I even wrote a few news stories.
I’ve threatened physical violence against Adobe Indesign, stress-dreamed about my section falling short on a Wednesday night and even slept in the newsroom on a few occasions.
I interviewed decorated BV alumni Mike Vaccaro and Adrian Wojnarowski. Unsurprisingly, both were willing to help a fellow BV’er out.
My time at the BV has been nothing if not interesting.
Out of everything that’s happened over these past three years, the endless number of feelings and experiences I can draw from, I think what stands out the most is the character of those around me.
I can say this without hesitation: I wouldn’t be who I am if it weren’t for the guidance, friendship and love shown to me by my colleagues and friends. Because of this, I feel some acknowledgements are in order.
After all, where would I be without former Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Salerno helping me to realize that nothing but my best work should be put into the paper every week? Or without Matt Laurrie’s eternal wisdom, layout genius and companionship? How would I stay grounded if not for Kerri Linsenbigler?
And I’ll never forget all the help I received from rugged BV veterans Elizabeth Grady and Marge Seitz when I was a freshman.
Then there’s Kyle Zamiara who assigned me my first story and was the best example of an editor anyone could ask for.
Although I’ll be back in some capacity next year, this year’s seniors won’t be. I can’t imagine a Wednesday night without Kevin Rogers’ charming nerdiness or Heather Monahan’s booming laughter.
Of course, not all is lost. We’ll still have the well-travelled and well-spoken former sports assignment editor Harrison Leone, the caffeinated and capable Kiara Catanzaro, the generous and lovely Emma Zaremba, the soft-spoken but brilliant Amelia Kibbe and iron-fisted leader, Nate West, holding down the throne.
I have all the faith in the world in future sports editors Zach Waltz and Gavin Lindahl. I know they’ll carry on the proud tradition of excellent storytelling in the sports section.
And of course there’ll be the usual influx of underclassmen who have no idea how important of a decision they’re making when they decide to write for the BV.
I’ll miss so many things about this job. I doubt I’ll ever have fun like this in a newsroom again. But I finish my reign spanning 51 issues of the paper with dozens of great friends, thousands of memories, a sleep disorder and even a few clips that helped me land an internship in the sports department of the biggest newspaper in Upstate New York. I’m officially a professional sports writer.
Yes, it seems I have everything the middle-school version of me could have hoped for. Farewell, readers.
Taylor Nigrelli was the sports editor of the Bona Venture. His email is nigreltn11@bonaventure.edu
