By Morgan Hoffman, Staff Writer
The St. Bonaventure University cross country and track team is no stranger to walk-ons, with three women and four men walk-ons on its roster.
Most walk-ons reach out to the cross country and track head coach, Bob MacFarlane, with interest in joining the team. From there, MacFarlane will go over the potential walk-on’s experience with running, their goals in life and academic standing.
MacFarlane explains that he takes walk-ons onto his team because he feels that everyone should be given that opportunity if they are willing to put in the time and effort. He mentions that runners can always improve, regardless of where they start from.
“As kids mature, they become better runners because it is a discipline sport,” MacFarlane said. “Running is one of the sports you can really improve in if you work at it.”
MacFarlane said seeing his runners improve and reach new personal records is what he strives for. He said that walk-ons do not initially receive scholarships, but if they work hard and improve, they may be able to gain one. There are several walk-ons who have earned a scholarship this way. There are also walk-ons who have earned the title of captain through their hard work and dedication to the sport and to the team.
MacFarlane mentioned walk-on Ryan Signorino, a junior journalism major, who had never run cross country or track. MacFarlane had seen Signorino running with the running club every day and decided to stop him and ask if he would like to try joining the team.
“This is only Ryan Signorino’s second year running, and Monday he had a personal record like you wouldn’t believe,” MacFarlane said. “He has come a long way, and his hard work is really starting to pay off. Those are the success stories that for me, as a coach, are so gratifying to see.”
Megan Gagnier, a sophomore sociology major, walked on to the team in January of 2018. She ran track in high school, competing in sprinting and jumping events. She decided to look into joining the team here in search of a change of pace.
Gagnier and other walk-ons to the team mentioned an adjustment period from when they joined the team.
“The adjustment from being a student to a student-athlete was really difficult,” Gagnier said. “My free time was very limited when we started training, which I really wasn’t used to, but it definitely helped me to manage my time better, especially with studying.”
Walk-ons mentioned that they have a sports academic advisor to help with the struggle of balancing schoolwork and time needed for training and competing.
Samantha Burgio, a sophomore psychology major, walked onto the team in the spring of her freshman year. She had missed competitive running from high school and wanted to see if she had a running career left in her.
“Through this sport, I have learned how to trust and believe in myself more and to have a better mental toughness,” Burgio said. “I have gained and strengthened friendships that will last a lifetime.”
MacFarlane believes that whether an athlete walks on for cross country or track, they have the opportunity to improve and learn with both seasons. He has had walk-ons who have never ran cross country and others who have never ran at all. He said no matter where an athlete starts, there is always room for improvement and a chance to succeed through hard work.
“To me, college sports are all about giving people the opportunity to excel and to work hard,” MacFarlane said.
