Before The Banks
Apr 09 | General
Meet Members of the Rutgers Athletics Family Before They Were Scarlet Knights
Take a look at the first steps towards becoming a Scarlet Knight as our student-athletes share their earliest memories before they arrived "On The Banks".
Swimming & Diving - Lauren Boone - Junior - Elkhart, Ind.
My earliest memory of diving is learning a reverse dive and my coach was literally standing on the end of the diving board with me, picked me up, flipped me over and dropped me in the water (after asking if I was ready to go in) ... I think I was seven.
I fell in the love with diving because I just have so much fun doing it and I always have. When I was little I was pumped to go to practices and it's just so cool that it has continued.
Men's Soccer - Kyle Galloway - Junior - Manahawkin, N.J.
One of my earliest memories playing soccer was when I was around 12 years old playing in a soccer tournament in Fort Dix, NJ in front of a professional coach, who is now a two-time MLS Champion. I scored a bicycle kick goal, which ended up being the game-winning score in front of him.
Swimming & Diving - Lily Black - Junior - Cinnaminson, N.J.
I chose to swim, and continue to swim, because it always made me feel like a mermaid. I had always dreamed of being able to swim in the ocean with dolphins and through swimming I was able to feel like I was one with all the sea creatures.
Softball - Aleeah Randazzo - Freshman - Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
I wanted to play softball when I was four years old, but the age requirement was five. My mom told everyone I was five and got me into practice so I would stop crying to her about playing.
Women's Volleyball - Anastasiia Maksimova - Sophomore - Ulyanovsk, Russia
When I was three or four years old, I would fall asleep during my dad’s games. It was very noisy in the gym, but it calmed me down all the time. Another memory is when I was around 13, my team and I won a small championship among all schools in my town and the head coach was my grandfather.
My parents and grandfather were obsessed with volleyball so that’s why it is a big part of my life. From the age of four, I started watching my grandfather’s practices and my dad’s games and I still remember how much they loved it. I think I knew subconsciously that I was going to play volleyball at a high level. My grandfather was my biggest influence in volleyball because he was always motivated to be better . He passed away two years ago and he’s my stimulus to go forward.
Softball - Cambria Keefer - Senior - Glendora, Calif.
When I was 11 years old, I remember being the first team from my city to go to a state championship tournament. It was such an honor at such a young age. We had worked so hard to achieve it. It was my first time traveling and staying in a hotel for a tournament, and I will never forget the memories we made. Playing hide-and-seek in the hotel, convincing our coach to let us wear tutus in the parade (and our male coaches surprising us by wearing tutus also!) and meeting players from other teams from all over was just so much fun to me!
I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back I realize that softball has become so much more than a sport to me. It has led me to learn some of the most valuable life lessons, play alongside some amazing teammates and meet my best friends.
Field Hockey - Carly Snarski - Freshman - Randolph, N.J.
I remember when I was little I used to always call field hockey “fake hockey” because I played ice hockey my whole life and didn’t think field hockey was any similar to hockey. That is why when I first started playing field hockey my sophomore year, I was so confused as to why you could only play with one side of the stick or why you weren’t allowed to kick the ball. I watched a lot of youtube videos to learn how to play and practiced dribbling with a lacrosse ball in my backyard before my first day of pre season. At that time, I would have never believed someone if they told me I’d fall in love with the game and have the opportunity to play at Rutgers.
Men's Soccer - Anthony O'Donnell - Freshman - Staten Island, N.Y.
The biggest influence someone had on me in soccer would be my dad. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be playing at Rutgers, let along playing the game at all. I grew up watching and playing soccer with him, which made me fall in love with the game.
Field Hockey - Gianna Mancini - Senior - Medford, N.J.
I knew I wanted to pursue this sport at a high level when I began playing on a club team. I have a lot of great memories and have made amazing friends from this sport. The bonds that I have made with my teammates have definitely made me fall in love with field hockey!
Field Hockey - Isabella Mancini - Freshman - Medford, N.J.
One of my biggest influences in field hockey is my older sister Gianna. I have always looked up to Gianna in everything she does and when she started playing field hockey it was natural for me to want to play just like her. We have been teammates on and off throughout our playing careers from club to high school and are now teammates again at Rutgers!
Swimming & Diving - Simone Lusby - Sophomore - Auckland, New Zealand
I recall that when applying to Rutgers, I needed to note down all prizes I have previously won. I’d been losing sleep wondering if I missed declaring a sizable winning. When I was 10 years old I competed in my first in-club competition, coming first place in the 25 meter backstroke. Is it too late to declare the box of cereal I won?
