By Meghan Savona, Staff Writer
Everyone has a different experience when choosing a college to attend. Some have been raised in families who’ve gone to the same school for generations. Others want to go to a college with a top-ranking football team or an innovative STEM program. Some value small class sizes or an involved Greek life.
For senior Ryan Gallaccio, he had always hoped to play baseball in college, but never knew where. After transferring to First Flight his junior year, Gallaccio quickly became a key player for the Nighthawks’ varsity team. His hard work, positive attitude and perseverance during practices solidified his position as starting pitcher his senior year.
“Ryan was always driven and did his best to better the team,” senior Grayson Shier said. “He took every minute of practice seriously and would do anything for his teammates.”
His outstanding performance on the field and ability to always keep a level-head caught the eyes of a few college coaches.
“The coach (of Chowan University) approached me first and invited me to the campus and to practice with them,” Gallaccio said.
For Gallaccio, attending college isn’t just about playing a sport; it’s equally as important to be at a school he feels both comfortable with his peers and confident he can obtain a quality education.
“I toured and played with the team and got pretty comfortable with the guys,” Gallaccio said. “There was that family feel and that’s really important for me. Some of the bigger schools that contacted me didn’t give me that feel.”
Gallaccio chose to sign with Chowan in May to play baseball, with his first game being in the spring of next year. Excited for the future and nostalgic of the past, leaving for college brings bittersweet emotions.
“What I’m going to miss most are the guys I played with: Quentin Bell, Grayson Shier, Luke Golliday and Allen Eure were my first friends here and have made First Flight my home,” Gallaccio said.
The seniors who will be parting ways this fall have nothing but support for each other and their future endeavors. After a winning season in 2017, their strong team bond has continued to show even off the field.
“I’m going to miss playing for people I see every day, but I look forward to cheering them on in whatever they do,” Gallaccio said.
The feeling is mutual.
“Ryan enjoys playing so much, there was never really a day where he didn’t want to be out there,” Bell said. “He loves baseball and that has rubbed off on me a little bit after playing with him for two years.”
Junior Meghan Savona can be reached at savoname0701@daretolearn.org.
