Darius Bruce
Football
Communications Media Major
What part of being a student-athlete do you most enjoy? Why?
The thing I enjoy most about being a student-athlete is the challenge. I admire the standard that we, as student-athletes, are held to. I feel like that’s the thing that makes it difficult and why everyone can’t do it.
What are you most looking forward to this season for yourself and your team?
My expectation for this team is high, especially coming off the season we had last year. We know what it takes, and I know the guys are willing to do whatever it takes to get what we are working for. As far as my personal goals, I’m working towards being an All-American. I know with the work I have put in during the offseason and in the film room trying to advance my game to the next level, there’s no reason I should fall short.
Marco Cardone
Men's Cross Country
Exercise Science Major
What part of being a student-athlete do you most enjoy? Why?
What I enjoy most about being a student-athlete is the immediate family I had when I got to IUP. I became close with the people on my team the first night of camp week my freshman year and made relationships that will last a lifetime.
What are you most looking forward to this season for yourself and your team?
I am looking forward to competing in championship races with my team and seeing how we stack up against the other top teams in the conference.
Drew DiNunzio-Biss
Football
Safety Sciences Major
What part of being a student-athlete do you most enjoy? Why?
The part of being a student-athlete that I enjoy the most is being able to apply life lessons both on and off the field. The challenges and successes of being a student-athlete have taught me many life lessons that that I can utilize long after my playing days are over.
What are you most looking forward to this season for yourself and your team?
I am most looking forward to getting back and being around the team and continuing to live up to the standard of winning at IUP.
Shaun Fedor
Golf
Marketing Major
What part of being a student-athlete do you most enjoy? Why?
The ability to represent the university and team, whether that be on campus, during competition, or outside of school. I strongly believe that this association with such a strongly linked community as IUP is entices all of us student-athletes in putting forward our best selves and in establishing positive relationships to further expand the already vast opportunities available to all students within IUP!
What are you most looking forward to this season for yourself and your team?
I’m looking forward to further developing the young group we have by setting beneficial habits that will help them achieve both in the classroom and on the course. Personally, I’d love to become the first IUP golfer to win five consecutive PSAC team championships.
Hannah Scardina
Soccer
Pre-Physical Therapy Major
What part of being a student-athlete do you most enjoy? Why?
I most enjoy the culture of being a student-athlete. It’s a built-in support system. I’m grateful to be a part of it.
What are you most looking forward to this season for yourself and your team?
Simply put, winning. This team is going to come out strong. We’ll have a lot of younger players stepping up, and I have no doubt they’ll rise to the occasion. I’m always looking for ways to improve myself, and this team. This team amplifies hard work and heart. Watch out for IUP.
Caroline Walsh
Volleyball
Nutrition and Dietetics Major
What part of being a student-athlete do you most enjoy? Why?
The amazing relationships that I’ve been fortunate enough to form with my teammates. Through facing so much adversity in my time here, my teammates and I worked through, and grew through, difficult times together, which ultimately created a lifelong bond between us. While winning is always the goal, at the end of the day, I’m not going to remember how many losses we had. I’m going to remember the countless memories of joy and laughter that I’ve had with my teammates, both on and off the court.
What are you most looking forward to this season for yourself and your team?
There is so much to be excited about for this upcoming season, especially with us adding 11 new young women to our family. There is so much potential for learning, growing, evolving, and accomplishing things that our program hasn’t done in years. With adding so many new players to our roster, there is inevitably going to be a meshing period of all of us adjusting to new ways of playing/learning together. What I am most excited about is when it all clicks for us. That moment when you realize (1) our hard work is paying off, (2) I trust every player next to me, and (3) our goals may be bold, but I believe that we can accomplish anything together.
Riley Yonchiuk
Field Hockey
Communications Media Major
What part of being a student-athlete do you most enjoy? Why?
I most enjoy playing with a group of passionate and driven women who strive for success both on and off the field. Having the privilege of playing at the collegiate stage has always been a goal of mine, so to do it at such a competitive level with this team is an honor.
What are you most looking forward to this season for yourself and your team?
I am most looking forward to competing alongside my teammates and achieving our team’s mission.
