Why did you choose to attend Wesleyan?
I chose to attend Wesleyan because of the immense opportunities available to me as a student-athlete. The wide array of courses, great professors, vast alumni network, and strong athletics community all drew me to attend the institution. It also didn’t hurt that my twin brother, Ethan, also attends Wesleyan and is on the baseball team.
Why did you choose to be a Division III student-athlete?
Division III, specifically Wesleyan, gave me the best opportunity to pursue athletics and academics at the highest level. My parents have always instilled in me the importance of pursuing a great education and have always emphasized its role as superior to athletics. Being a Division III student-athlete has allowed me to fully embrace both without experiencing a trade-off on one or the other.
What is the best thing about being part of the NESCAC?
I believe the best thing about being part of the NESCAC is that although there is this competition between schools regarding athletics, it does feel like a great network of smart, driven, and talented individuals who share the same desire to achieve. I’ve seen this firsthand through conversations with players on teams I’ve competed against within the conference or people I’ve met outside the athletics space who attend one of the great institutions that make up the NESCAC.
What is your dream job/career?
General Manager of the New York Yankees. I believe it’s the perfect combination of my love for baseball and the knowledge that I hope I will receive when working in the financial services industry out of college.
Looking back on your college years, what are you most proud of?
I’d say I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built. At Wesleyan, I’ve been able to meet people with different interests, upbringings, and cultures than me. This has been of great benefit to my life and the development of my character as it has allowed me to grow a better understanding of the world around me and form bonds with people who have made my college experience memorable.
Is there anything special about your uniform number?
Well, #14 was my father’s uniform number when he played quarterback for the Yonkers High School Football Team, so it’s cool for me to be representing him and wearing the same number he did.
What’s your go-to warmup song?
Progreso by Eladio Carrión
What has been your favorite class outside of your major?
My favorite class outside my major has been Korean Drumming & Creative Music. I learned the basics of the Korean Drumming style through hands-on instruction while also getting a better understanding of Korean culture and its connection to music. I believe this class was just as important as any other I’ve taken so far because it allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and challenge myself through the learning of a new instrument as well as increasing my overall cultural knowledge.
What internships/research projects have you participated in?
After my freshman year, I interned as a summer analyst for Pivotal Bank Group, a start-up bank founded by an alumnus from Wesleyan. I was able to learn more about the financial services industry and the regulatory bodies within the United States. This past fall semester, I was able to participate in my own research project for my Econometrics class where I researched whether a higher winning percentage for Major League Baseball teams is a result of a higher team payroll using statistical software and programming. The research project allowed me to understand how important it is to properly analyze data and produce concrete statistical analysis before coming to conclusions or assumptions. This summer I am slated to be interning at Citigroup in their Treasury & Trade Solutions group where I hope to work with amazing people in New York City and build my skills in more ways than one.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being a student-athlete?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned from being a student-athlete is the importance of discipline. To achieve your goals in the classroom or on the field, there is a degree of discipline that is required to push you one step closer to achieving what you want to achieve. Dedicating enough time to your studies and your skills as an athlete may leave you with less time in a day or week than you’d expect but it is all part of this sacrifice that will make you a better student and athlete in the long run. However, I’ve also found it essential to give myself a proper balance of rest, both physically and mentally, which I believe has kept me prepared for the unexpected. So, I guess I can say learning to prioritize my well-being and practicing discipline are both great lessons that I’ve learned as a student-athlete.
Who has been the most influential person to you during your time in college?
The most influential person would have to be my brother Ethan. People always ask me what it’s like to attend the same university as my twin brother and for me the answer is simple: it’s home away from home. My brother and I have practically gone through all our lives together and this experience of college has done nothing but strengthen our relationship. We take similar classes, are both on the baseball team, and both represent something far greater than us: our family and community. He has helped keep me grounded, and motivated, and we will continue striving together to accomplish whatever we put our minds to.
What is something interesting about you that others might not know?
I was selected as the representative for my school in the Yonkers City School District Spelling Bee as a fifth grader.
