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Distance
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Distance
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RHP
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/ Women's Tennis
Defensive Specialist/Libero
/ Beach VolleyballBTM: Dons Spotlight with the Team Captains
5/3/2017 1:04:00 PM | Baseball, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Women's Golf, Women's Tennis, Beach Volleyball, Video, Track and Field
Watch: Dons Spotlight – Team Captains
Being a team captain for the San Francisco Dons carries with it a sense of honor, responsibility, respect, and a drive to be the best leader possible for the squad. Each team captain for the Dons knows their impact is felt well beyond their field of competition and they embrace and the growth of their teammates and themselves.
Hear from the spring sport squad leaders in this Dons Spotlight, a vignette featured in the latest episode of USF's cable television series, "Behind the Mask." Check local listings for air dates and times on Comcast SportsNet California.
Collective Wisdom – USF's Spring Captains:
"I think a team captain is someone that leads by example, and they're kind of that cheerleader on the team who is aware if the morale is high or low and they are kind of the first person to do something about it. You really have to hold yourself accountable and make sure that you are doing everything you can to reach your goal, on and off the course. People think oh it's just about what you do at practice or at tournaments. No, it's about how you are every day. If you don't know why you tee it up every morning or why you go to practice so early, you're going to have a really hard time performing. I think captains are the people that need to show that passion. The Four Pillars that we have in place are there for a reason, and I feel like that something that separates this athletic program from many others. Being able to be the leader this year has meant a lot to me." Alison Lillie, Women's Golf
"With our team right now there are so many new, young kids and I think knowing that you're going to be what they're kind of looking up to or you're the standard, to be setting a decent enough example that everyone is going to be pulling the same amount of weight. Just being conscious and smart about what you do with your body and not just doing it for the sake of doing things, but doing it because you know you'll get the most out of it. I grew a lot here, and there's a lot I'm going to take away from it." Genevieve McCloskey, Women's Tennis
"It's an honor to be that guy, where everyone else on the team kind of comes to you for advice. If you have positivity going around then you can build up the belief that okay, we can do it. Passion is a unique thing about sport. If I'm not playing, I want to be that guy helping do the best I can to help my teammates to win. Representing the school, especially in conference matches means a lot to me. It's definitely a huge responsibility for us to carry the school name." Woravin Kumthonkittikul, Men's Tennis
"Providing them with someone that they can look at and think like, ok that's what I should be aspiring to do in training. I should be giving it 100 percent. Being focused, and being determined, and being driven. That's why I do it day in and day out, because of that feeling that I get from finishing a race or running a pb or winning. I just want to leave this program knowing that I gave this opportunity I've been given absolutely everything." Ryan Driscoll, Men's Track and Field
"Just someone that you know is going to come in to practice every day or a game every day and give it their all, and if you need anything that they're there for you. It's not always about just getting better as a player it's getting better as a person, going to help out in community service. That work ethic just to do something a little bit more each day is what leads you to become a better person and therefore I think a better player in whatever sport you do. Leave this place better than when you came in." Grant Goodman, Baseball
"Just always putting my best foot forward, working as hard as I can no matter what, because I know that's the only thing that I can control. Making sure I'm going all out for that one dig, that one hit, that one rep in the weight room. We might not win the actual game, but let's try to win the communication, let's try to win the hard work, let's try to win the support, knowing that eventually you'll get those wins. Beach volleyball is a huge team sport, even if it is only with two people you have five pairs that need to win and you need to be there for your teammates always. Putting on this jersey, us as a culture, we've really focused on showing the importance of winning in every aspect of life." Dane Miller, Beach Volleyball
"Being a distance runner, it hurts. You're going to the borders of your physical limits. You need to be strong mentally, and you need to have a good work ethic. Having teammate to support you are really key because you see this glory moment of people celebrating and being really happy, but most of the time it's not like that. Often you don't have a great race always, just struggling with stuff outside of sport and it just helps so much just knowing that there is someone who supports you, no matter what. Watching races is so hard for me because I get so nervous. I feel like my heart rate is as high as theirs because I'm so excited for them and you know that they are doing it with all of their heart so it almost feels like you're in the race with them." Elena Burkard, Women's Track and Field
"I don't necessarily think the quantity of work you put in, but the quality. The big picture is us winning as a team; everyone has to do their own part but we know the common goal and everyone kind of goes out on their own with that team goal in mind and plays the best they can." Max Alcorn, Men's Golf
Being a team captain for the San Francisco Dons carries with it a sense of honor, responsibility, respect, and a drive to be the best leader possible for the squad. Each team captain for the Dons knows their impact is felt well beyond their field of competition and they embrace and the growth of their teammates and themselves.
Hear from the spring sport squad leaders in this Dons Spotlight, a vignette featured in the latest episode of USF's cable television series, "Behind the Mask." Check local listings for air dates and times on Comcast SportsNet California.
Collective Wisdom – USF's Spring Captains:
"I think a team captain is someone that leads by example, and they're kind of that cheerleader on the team who is aware if the morale is high or low and they are kind of the first person to do something about it. You really have to hold yourself accountable and make sure that you are doing everything you can to reach your goal, on and off the course. People think oh it's just about what you do at practice or at tournaments. No, it's about how you are every day. If you don't know why you tee it up every morning or why you go to practice so early, you're going to have a really hard time performing. I think captains are the people that need to show that passion. The Four Pillars that we have in place are there for a reason, and I feel like that something that separates this athletic program from many others. Being able to be the leader this year has meant a lot to me." Alison Lillie, Women's Golf
"With our team right now there are so many new, young kids and I think knowing that you're going to be what they're kind of looking up to or you're the standard, to be setting a decent enough example that everyone is going to be pulling the same amount of weight. Just being conscious and smart about what you do with your body and not just doing it for the sake of doing things, but doing it because you know you'll get the most out of it. I grew a lot here, and there's a lot I'm going to take away from it." Genevieve McCloskey, Women's Tennis
"It's an honor to be that guy, where everyone else on the team kind of comes to you for advice. If you have positivity going around then you can build up the belief that okay, we can do it. Passion is a unique thing about sport. If I'm not playing, I want to be that guy helping do the best I can to help my teammates to win. Representing the school, especially in conference matches means a lot to me. It's definitely a huge responsibility for us to carry the school name." Woravin Kumthonkittikul, Men's Tennis
"Providing them with someone that they can look at and think like, ok that's what I should be aspiring to do in training. I should be giving it 100 percent. Being focused, and being determined, and being driven. That's why I do it day in and day out, because of that feeling that I get from finishing a race or running a pb or winning. I just want to leave this program knowing that I gave this opportunity I've been given absolutely everything." Ryan Driscoll, Men's Track and Field
"Just someone that you know is going to come in to practice every day or a game every day and give it their all, and if you need anything that they're there for you. It's not always about just getting better as a player it's getting better as a person, going to help out in community service. That work ethic just to do something a little bit more each day is what leads you to become a better person and therefore I think a better player in whatever sport you do. Leave this place better than when you came in." Grant Goodman, Baseball
"Just always putting my best foot forward, working as hard as I can no matter what, because I know that's the only thing that I can control. Making sure I'm going all out for that one dig, that one hit, that one rep in the weight room. We might not win the actual game, but let's try to win the communication, let's try to win the hard work, let's try to win the support, knowing that eventually you'll get those wins. Beach volleyball is a huge team sport, even if it is only with two people you have five pairs that need to win and you need to be there for your teammates always. Putting on this jersey, us as a culture, we've really focused on showing the importance of winning in every aspect of life." Dane Miller, Beach Volleyball
"Being a distance runner, it hurts. You're going to the borders of your physical limits. You need to be strong mentally, and you need to have a good work ethic. Having teammate to support you are really key because you see this glory moment of people celebrating and being really happy, but most of the time it's not like that. Often you don't have a great race always, just struggling with stuff outside of sport and it just helps so much just knowing that there is someone who supports you, no matter what. Watching races is so hard for me because I get so nervous. I feel like my heart rate is as high as theirs because I'm so excited for them and you know that they are doing it with all of their heart so it almost feels like you're in the race with them." Elena Burkard, Women's Track and Field
"I don't necessarily think the quantity of work you put in, but the quality. The big picture is us winning as a team; everyone has to do their own part but we know the common goal and everyone kind of goes out on their own with that team goal in mind and plays the best they can." Max Alcorn, Men's Golf
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