Drew University Athletics

What is your most memorable moment as a Ranger?
My most memorable moment as a Ranger was winning my first fencing bout last year. I had only been fencing for about a week when I traveled with the fencing team to a tournament. I had barely any experience so I kept losing my bouts. When we faced the last team however, something clicked. I remember getting the winning touch and hearing a cheer from my teammates and my coach behind me.

How has being an athlete helped you as a student and in the classroom?
Being an athlete has helped me with time management. It helps add structure to my day and makes me less likely to procrastinate.

What is the most difficult part of your sport?
The most difficult part of fencing for me is correctly reading my opponent on the strip. You cannot rely on predicting the opponent’s actions, but instead you need to outsmart them so that you take control of the action. Even though this is difficult, it is also the part I find the most enjoyable because I love the challenge. Fencing is as much of a mental game as it is a physical game. You want to be able to trick the opponent to get the touch, but to do so you need to be able to read them and know which actions are the best to take at which times. This all comes with practice and experience.

What advice do you have for a prospective Drew University student-athlete?
My biggest piece of advice for a prospective Drew student-athlete is to make sure not to forget about academics. College is exciting and it is really easy to get caught up in too many responsibilities where academics start to go on the downslide. I recommend putting those at the top of your priority list. You are considered a student-athlete in that order for a reason; academics should come before your sport.

Why is community service important to your role as a student-athlete at Drew?
Community service is very important to my role as a student-athlete at Drew because it helps me to become a more well-rounded and community-oriented individual, which are characteristics that you cannot learn in the classroom. For example Coach Paragano brought a high school fencing clinic to Drew this semester where we had the chance to teach high schoolers of all different skill levels more about fencing. This community service experience was memorable and fun and it helped me to expand my horizons to give back to the community.  

Name one obstacle or form of adversity you have had to overcome…
I joined the fencing team this past February completely brand new to the sport. I had never fenced before, and I had only seen fencing a few times, but not nearly enough to understand it. I came into a team of many very experienced fencers and competed against many people who have fenced for years. It was very difficult at first to overcome my lack of experience. I lost bout after bout. However over the past year I have been working very hard to gain experience and improve. I have definitely improved a lot, but I still have tons to learn and I am looking forward to it.

Rapid Fire:
Color? Burgundy
Food? Salmon
Restaurant? Thai Garden
Movie? The Imitation Game
TV Show? Game of Thrones
Musical Artist? Peter Hollens, Rihanna
Athlete? Mariel Zagunis
Pro Team? United States Fencing Team
Hobbies? Magic, Reading, Cartooning
Most Prized Possession? My favorite stuffed animal
Biggest Fear? Losing a family member