Fighting Knights Evolving Into A New Reality
By Alli Mancini
Staff Writer
Whether an athlete is joining a varsity sports team as a freshman or later in their college years as a transfer, the adjustment to being new to a team can be a different experience for everyone.
Brandon Bornelus, 19, is a freshman Fighting Knight on the men’s basketball team this upcoming season as a point guard and center. While attending high school at Zion Lutheran in Deerfield Beach, Bornelus was one of the starting five players for the school.
“The adjustment period is not difficult thus far, as I had always taken the backseat in high school to my teammates, and I know what it is like to work hard from attending a prep school prior to Lynn,” said Bornelus. “[Still], I do feel like I have to prove myself now more than ever.”
Outside of basketball practice with his team, Bornelus can often be caught playing ‘kings of the court’ or just shooting around trying to improve on his own. He enjoys getting advice and learning from team captain, Allen Baez, graduate student.
“Hopefully freshman player of the year,” said Bornelus, regarding his goals for this upcoming season.
Occasionally, some athletes are late bloomers and find themselves participating in new sports later on in life. This is the case for cross country runner Julie Woloshin, sophomore. Woloshin is the newest member to the team, assisting as the two-mile runner.
Woloshin attended Summit High School in New Jersey, where she served as a goalie and forward for both her ice and field hockey teams but never participated in cross country. Playing hockey always required Woloshin to stay in shape, allowing running to became a passion.
“I feel like I have to work a little harder because I have never participated in cross country, and a majority of the girls have a lot of experience,” explained Woloshin. “I feel like I have to play catch up.”
On Woloshin’s days off from practice, she takes on extra core workouts and attends cycling classes to make sure she is always on top of her ever-changing sport.
“Considering everyone on my team are such great runners, they push me to go the extra mile,” Woloshin said. “Hearing the times they have to complete a run makes me want to push myself harder, so I could reach those times too.”
Since cross country and track go hand-in-hand, Woloshin will also be on the track team in the spring. By then, she hopes to have fully adjusted to the in’s and out’s of cross country and track, making this season a major learning experience for her.
Coming to college and realizing, as an athlete, one is no longer at the top of the chain can also be a difficult transition. Jayla Digennaro, 18, is a freshman catcher and third basemen on the softball team. Digennaro attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest, Fla., where she also served as catcher and team captain.
“Basically, I was the leader on my team, and everyone looked up to me,” said Digennaro. “Now, I have to take a step back and humble myself to prove I am capable of doing what everybody else is.”
Digennaro hopes to push herself in the upcoming season as she makes an effort to go to the batting cages every day.
It seems all three of these Fighting Knights have one common goal: assisting in bringing their team as far as they can go. The future looks bright for these Lynn athletes.
