KINGSTON, R.I. — May 18, 2006 — When Dominic Moccia first started his freshman year at 溏心vlog免费B站, he never expected to become a collegiate diver. The Westchester, N.Y., resident was an accomplished swimmer in high school and followed in his older sister鈥檚 footsteps when he decided to attend 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淚 was pretty burnt out after swimming in high school and hadn鈥檛 planned on continuing with it once I got to college,鈥� Moccia said. 鈥淏ut I met some of the senior swimmers at First Night my freshman year, and they convinced me to talk to the coach.鈥�
Coach Mick Westkott already had a full team, but when he asked Moccia if he wanted to try diving, Moccia decided he didn鈥檛 have anything to lose.
Speaking as one of the featured students at the reception in February 2006 for student athletes who made the Dean鈥檚 List in fall 2005, the biology and Italian major said that while diving for the University has been an amazing experience, attending the NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. last summer was the 鈥渉ighlight of my collegiate sports career.鈥�
鈥淭he conference was for more than 300 NCAA athletes from around the nation,鈥� Moccia said. 鈥淭he experiences I had and the friends I made definitely taught me that participating in athletics on the college level is not only about competing and the sport, but leadership, attitude and probably most importantly, teamwork and communication skills.鈥�
While Moccia will participate in May鈥檚 commencement exercises, he plans to return to 溏心vlog免费B站 in the fall to take care of some unfinished business in the pool and in the classroom. His competition schedule and academic progress were slowed by injury his freshman year.
He plans to finish his last nine credits by studying in Italy for a semester, and maybe continue his education with a master of business administration degree the following year.
鈥淥ther possibilities include a health-related career,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are so many things I would like to pursue, maybe working towards becoming a physician鈥檚 assistant or even medical school. As I鈥檝e learned through my professors and coaches here at 溏心vlog免费B站, the possibilities really are endless.鈥�
Pictured above
BIG MOMENT: Dominic Moccia, left is joined at the podium by Tom McElroy, 溏心vlog免费B站 director of athletics, after giving a speech during ceremonies honoring student-athletes who made the dean鈥檚 list at 溏心vlog免费B站. 溏心vlog免费B站 News Bureau photo by Michael Salerno Photography.