Student-Athlete Combo

Today on Student-Athlete Combo, Grayson Swkeres was interviewed! Grayson Swkeres is a senior outfielder at Florida Southern College and a former teammate of mine at Hofstra University. In this episode, Grayson and I were able to talk about the importance of taking the initiative for your career. In a lot of my episodes, I have discussed life after sports and I thought it would be a good idea to bring Grayson on to talk about his immediate life pertaining to what he is going to do when he graduates later this year. Grayson and I have similar goals to stay in the game of baseball and help players succeed. With the competitiveness of professional baseball, Grayson started a website and a podcast to showcase his skills as an extension to his resume. The things that he has done so far are really impressive, and I have been lucky to help him with them! In the episode, we talk about the portfolio that we have been building and the transferable skills that athletes can bring to the table as an employee. Tune into this awesome sports podcast! https://www.progressivedevelopmentbsb.com/Twitter @DevProgressivehttp://studentathletecombo.com/

Happy New Year!This week’s episode is with Jonathan Jones, a motivational speaker, and Student-Athlete consultant. He helps student-athletes with the transition into the next chapter of their lives. Jonathan gave a really good interview that left us with some awesome advice from a different perspective. We discussed his eBook that gives athletes a resource for 7 tips they can make their transition smooth. These are the types of things that universities need to have for their athletes before they reach graduation! We also talked about how Jonathan got into his position. He has a lot of great content online with his podcasts, Tedx talks, eBook, and more. I encourage everybody to check out his content, especially his eBook! Tune into this great student-athlete podcast with Jonathan Jones!Link to eBook: https://jonathanjonesspeaks.com/student-athletes-career-readiness-post-graduationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2UpXL7JQDEhttp://studentathletecombo.com/

Today’s episode is with Nicole Kidwiler who is an outfielder on the Towson University Softball Team! In the episode, Nicole talks about her experience through high school and how she ended up at Towson to play Softball. She gave us the rundown on what it’s like to be a student-athlete at Towson and what her schedule consists of. She gives great advice for athletes of all ages and expresses the effect that COVID-19 had on her student-athlete lifestyle. Listen to an awesome sports podcast with Nicole Kidwiler on the Towson University Softball team!http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrt6yXWIgVvMWd5X3O0-UUw

Student-Athletes have a lot on their plate! They have plenty of responsibilities and tasks that define their life in those 4 years. Often times, all of these things going on in their lives can be daunting. It’s important to understand that all athletes go through the same thing and they are not alone when they feel stressed or overwhelmed. Athletes do struggle with mental health problems but sometimes because of their persona, they might feel weak to seek help. In this episode I talk about some things that athletes go through that can bring them stress and then talk about thoughts and approaches that have helped me deal with these times. Tune in to an informational episode!http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today’s episode is a little different- I am getting interviewed! The interview is with a friend of mine, Taj Dashaun on the podcast,” The Power of Story”. In this episode, Taj interviews me about my podcast and my life after university. We get into some projects I have been a part of, and we discuss some things about mindset. It’s a great interview to get to know me and get updates on what’s happening in my life! Tune in to the best student-athlete episode yet!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today on SAC, AJ Lee- Infielder in the Houston Astros Organization was interviewed. AJ played his college years at the University of Maryland and was a big piece to their program while he was there. In the interview we discuss AJ’s high school recruiting days and his transition into Maryland. He discussed the hardships that he faced early in his career and how he overcame them. AJ gives great advice and insight into what college baseball players go through mentally and physically. We later touch on his draft moments and what the transition from college baseball to professional baseball was like. You’ll hear some great stories from AJ through his years at Maryland and experiences that he will never forget! Tune in to this awesome episode with AJ Lee of the Houston Astros!http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agJ3UVWSG3E

Another current athlete has joined the podcast! Langston Jackson from the University of Kentucky is on the track and field team. He came off of a very successful freshman year breaking a record and being 2020 indoors all-American. Langston was 2nd in the country in the 200m race before he got to Kentucky. With that being said, he was a highly-touted sprinter in high school and has carried his confidence and mindset to the collegiate level. In this episode, Langston discusses his time at UK and how he has adapted to it. We also talk about his mindset and personality that he believes is a big reason for how he has been successful. It was good to talk to Langston to hear about how a high-level athlete handles himself and how he feels about his environment. He is getting ready to build on his sophomore season and reach his goals of being a professional athlete! Tune in to this great episode with track & field athlete from the University of Kentucky- Langston HughesTwitter & Instagram @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today’s episode is a great one! Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro League Baseball Museum joined to talk about the museum and the history of the Negro Leagues. Mr. Kendrick was also an athlete in college and a lot of his experiences led him to the position he is in today. Bob Kendrick is from a small town in Georgia and went to Missouri to play basketball at Park College. Through his years there he got involved with the Negro Leagues Museum and never looked back. Mr. Kendrick talked about the 100th Anniversary of Negro League baseball, which is this year. To celebrate, he came up with a campaign called Tipping Your Cap which blew up and gained traction throughout the world! Many public figures and celebrities joined the movement to celebrate the rich history that the Negro League brought to American sports. Tune in to hear how he developed the idea and how it got so big!To add to that, he also gave awesome stories about the museum and his favorite players. This sports podcast is an episode that all sports fans need to listen to! The Negro Leagues were a huge part of the advancement of professional American sports and my conversation with Bob Kendrick really magnifies it.Tune in to this awesome podcast with the president of the Negro League Baseball Museum!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcEHxN3QGMc

Today on SAC, a good friend of mine- Wil Armstrong joined me! Wil is studying at UMD and has been big into athletics. He played high school football for a very good program and while had chances to play in college, he decided to join the club rugby team. Wil explains the process of his decision to pick club sports at UMD rather than playing football at a smaller school. For years, Wil has been big into fitness and loves to challenge his mind and body! He is in a Docuseries that is coming out on December, 4th called “Mind Over Mental” that features him and a friend completing fitness activities that are incredibly challenging. In the episode, he explains how the docuseries came to fruition and how misogi inspired his fitness lifestyle.This episode clarifies several topics about a mentality that directly correlate to athletic performance. I encourage all athletes to listen to this awesome episode to find out about Wil’s crazy experiences!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Od92g11JM

Brent Hanks, the CEO of Recruit-Me a recruiting service joined SAC today. He is also the host of the podcast,” The Athletic Scholarship Podcast”. In this episode, Brent and I discuss the recruiting process from a parent point of view. Brent has a son who is a college pitcher and has another son going through the process right now!There are so many different aspects of recruiting and we could have talked for hours. However, I asked Brent about the experience as a parent. I had plenty of questions that he answered, and there is a ton of information that you can find on his podcast. There are some ways that parents can put their athletes in the right position to get recruited, and we discuss that. Check out this resourceful recruitment episode with Brent Hanks!Instagram & Twitter @_sacombo_https://recruit-me.com/

Brian Kaplan, the Senior Director of Athlete Development at Dunkmama Media was interviewed. Brad also worked for the Oakland Raiders Football team for 12 years. In the episode, we talked about how Brad got into the sports industry. His goal was to be an NFL scout which is what he achieved, he scouted college players with the Raider for many years!Brad explains his process from being an intern to being a director and also what the job brought to him. Brad changed industries and now is a director to help the advancement of athletes. Dunkmama created an app called Athletes Launch which is tailored to help former athletes get jobs after their sport. It is an awesome platform for former athletes to put their brand out there to receive working opportunities. On the app, you can highlight things like your resume, but also athletic successes. For former athletes looking for working opportunities, I recommend you download the app! Brad Kaplan is also available on Twitter and LinkedIn to discuss the app and opportunities!Tune in to this sports podcast to hear about NFL scouting and a vehicle that can help the transition from sports to another chapter of life!Instagram & Twitter @_sacombo_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbbIOVs0gPchttp://studentathletecombo.com/https://athleteslaunch.com/

Today on SAC, Casey Dill from Sports Force was interviewed. Sports Force is a recruiting advisory website and Casey Dill is involved in the baseball world with many different hats! He is currently the recruiting coordinator for the College of the Desert which is a Junior College in California. Casey has also spent time as a baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves, recruiting coordinator for other schools, involvement in independent baseball, and college summer leagues! Casey is a BASEBALL GUY! Today on SAC, Casey and I discussed the perspective of recruiting and scouting from his eyes. Often in this podcast, we talk to athletes about their experiences. However, we have not talked to a coach who is on the other side of the table picking players to play for their program. In a baseball-specific episode, Casey describes his experiences scouting and recruiting players as well as what he looks for in players. Junior college is a different beast than 4-year schools and is arguably a harder job. Casey talks about the players and scenarios that he has been faced with throughout the years.Even though it was a baseball-specific episode, a lot of his points stuck with all college sports when we talk about recruiting from a coach’s point of view. Because he has had experiences scouting players to play professionally, he explained the difference in how he views these athletes compared to looking at athletes to play in college. For baseball fans, this is a must-listen-to episode! We talk about JUCO baseball, Pro baseball, Independent baseball, scouting, recruiting, and much more. Instagram & Twitter @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7iuhfhZ8Jw

SAC has interviewed another great Mayor! Mayor Hillary Schieve of Reno, Nevada has been in office since 2014 and has done awesome things! Mayor Schieve used to be a professional figure skater that had planned to compete in the Olympics before she suffered from medical complications. However, she was a killer athlete and competed at a very high level. In the episode, Mayor Schieve and I have a conversation about her transition into politics and the parallels between the two lives she has lived. She expressed that many lesions she has learned from being an athlete have led her to her position today and that athletes are wired a certain way to be successful. Also, the University of Nevada-Reno is a major University in the city where sports are huge! They compete in the Mountain West conference and have a huge fan base from the community. Mayor Schieve talked about the connection with UNR and the community, and the youth programs implemented in Reno so kids can live out their dreams! Tune in to the awesome story of Mayor Hillary Schieve from her athletic career to public serviceInstagram & Twitter @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjwISj_YX8M

Today on SAC Christian Buck, the author of the coming book “ The Sport of School” was interviewed. Buck is a sports psychologist that has worked with plenty of athletes from High School to College throughout the years. He is involved with mental training, human performance, and a lot of other things that athletes at high levels take value in. It was wonderful to interview Christian as he explained the basis of his book and how the thought and need of his content came to fruition. Have you ever seen athletes that excelled in their sport but not in class? Christian’s books explain these types of athletes and know exactly how to help them! Likewise, he determines different types of athletes and their mindsets, and how they function. Christian and I talk about the main keys for athletes, and all people to be successful! We talk about mindset and vision concepts that separate individuals. Christian explains his path to developing the book and how his work and studies back up concepts that we talk about by examples. He gives several examples and experience stories about athletes that are compelling and intriguing. Make sure to check out this interview, and also to check out Christian Buck’s new book: “The Sport of School!”Instagram & Twitter @_sacombo_www.christianbuck.com

Today on SAC, the mayor of Rochester Hills, MI, Bryan Barnett was interviewed! Mayor Barnett is a Rochester Hills native and grew up a Detroit sports fan. He attended Oakland University which is in the same city he is serving! With an athletic background, and great work in office we discussed:What sports mean to Mayor Barnett and what it means to his communityHow COVID-19 affected Americans through not being able to interact with sportsOakland University and the community How youth programs are implemented in Rochester Hills respective to Oakland UniversityHow his background led him to public serviceThe community connected to Detroit professional sports Tune in to this awesome podcast with the Mayor of Rochester Hills, MI, Bryan Barnett, and SUBSCRIBE to the channel!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iLpaGtVDKE

Student-Athlete Combo interviewed Sarah Cowart today who is an athletic academic advisor! Sarah knows ALL of the ins and outs to help high school athletes complete a smooth transition into college academically. There are several things that an athlete needs to complete to be able to be NCAA eligible, and Sarah has the list to get you eligible! She has a resource for athletes and their families to follow when they’re going through the process to become D1 qualified. In the podcast Sarah discusses:How to become D1 qualified and what it takesWhat the eligibility process is likeWhat the NCAA eligibility center isWhen to start planning for this processACT/SATThe sliding scaleAdvice to our athletes on how to stay on top of your priorities!Make sure to tune into this sports podcast where Sarah Cowart gives us incredible information for high school athletes who are in the process of becoming eligible to be a college athlete!Instagram & Twitter @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oYeykgmx2Ahttps://sidelineconfessions.mykajabi.com/slc1

SAC interviewed the former Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey, Douglas Palmer! Mayor Palmer was the first African American Mayor of Trenton and was in office for 30 years. He is a Trenton native and has brought a lot to his community during and after his run in public service. Likewise, Mayor Palmer was a killer athlete! He was a dual-sport athlete in college at Hampton Institute and excelled at both! He was a great hitter in baseball and had opportunities to play professionally but had other plans for himself which put him in the spot he’s in today! Mayor Palmer presented an awesome interview giving his story of athletics and how/why he got into public service! In the episode, Mayor Palmer talks about his early athletic career and what sports meant to him, particularly baseball. We talk about his college days and the unique moment that led his drive to be the mayor of Trenton!There were things during his life that pushed him towards the path to help people who helped him and give back to his community which he expressed. Apart from helping in the community, he has been part of an initiative for years to give baseball opportunities all over the United States(Mayors PLAY BALL)! Lastly, Mayor Palmer discusses the parallels between being an athlete and public service, giving back to his hometown community means to him, and his biggest accomplishments. This interview with the former Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey is a great motivation podcast for not only athletes, but all people to never give up and sprint towards your goals! Check out this episode with Douglas Palmer and subscribe to SAC!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHqNvO_9V0

Javier Duren joined the podcast today. Javier works in baseball operations as a Coordinator of Technology & Innovation with the St. Louis Cardinals. We brought Javier on the podcast because he was also a student-athlete, and a good one! He was a basketball player at Yale University where he is on leaderboards and had the chance to play professionally after graduating,Javier spent is professional year playing overseas in Europe with a couple of teams and performed wonderfully earning an opportunity to play in the NBA G League. After his time playing pro basketball, Javier ended up receiving the opportunity to be a baseball operations fellow with the Cardinals exploring the ins and outs of baseball. You might ask,” Javier was a basketball star, why did he decide to work in professional baseball?” Well, he explains his path from college to today in the episode! Javier also talks about the process of deciding to be done with basketball and the challenges that he had faced.Lastly, 2020 is a year of many firsts and an unorthodox year. Javier explains how the new baseball season in 2020 changed the front office of the Cardinals. Tune in to this podcast and listen to Javier Duren’s trek from professional basketball to front office baseball operations!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EWAxx5wGbE

SAC has interviewed another great Mayor in Jeff Williams of Arlington, Texas. Arlington is the Sports Capital of the World with several venues for professional and amateur levels of sports to compete! Mayor Williams discusses how Arlington has progressed into a Utopia for sports fans. If you love sports, you gotta visit Arlington! Arlington is home to the Dallas Cowboy and the Texas Rangers in two state of the art stadiums. Both venues are holding great events this year and Mayor Williams talks about the near future schedule of these venues.The MLB is hosting playoffs in Arlington, Texas this year and Globe Life Field( Rangers stadium) is going to be its site! Mayor Williams explains how the city plans to handle the fans for the playoffs and how players and fans will be able to enjoy the surroundings. Texas Live and Live by Loews make up a plaza in Arlington that will give fans and players the ultimate experience for sports! Mayor Williams continued to clarify how AT&T Stadium( Cowboys Stadium) has handled fans and how they are going to be moving forward.On top of that, Arlington is home to many other sporting venues that are new and noteworthy. This is a sports podcast that will be interesting for everybody!All in all, this episode with Mayor Williams describes Arlington and its wonderful features that make it a sports fan destination. Listen in to get the scoop about the MLB playoffs, and the 2020 Cotton Bowl!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2qsWDSB66ghttp://studentathletecombo.com/

Today on SAC we had an awesome guest, Taj Dashaun where we discuss his life after sports. Taj is the host and author of “Thriving After Sports”. Life after sports is a daunting time for athletes since their identity is sports. Being an athlete doesn’t last forever and once they are done they have to start a new chapter in their lives which isn’t always easy. Taj is a career transition coach where he helps athletes in this time of their lives. In the episode we discuss:How hard it can be for athletes to transition into the “real world” after sportsHow Taj dealt with this time in his life and the struggles that he facedFiguring out a career pack with IMPACTThe importance of goals and determinationWhy he wanted to be a career transition coach The process of creating a brand and a business How his podcast and book came to fruitionThis episode with Taj is a must listen! You won’t want to miss this as it acts as a motivation podcast for athletes and people of all ages! Make sure to tune in and subscribe!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUpMI3kJlrMhttp://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.tajdashaun.com/

Today on SAC Kamrin Dawkins, a University of Connecticut Swim and Dive alum was interviewed. Kamrin is the first swim and dive athlete to come on the podcast for an interview and it is an awesome episode. All athletes have different stories about how they got to a university, but Kamrin’s is very unique! Its a motivation podcast that all athletes should listen to. In this episode with Kamrin we talk about these points:Her decision to cut gymnastics/ track out in high school and pursue diving in collegeHer process of deciding what was best for her athletic career at the next levelHigh school diving in Connecticut The change in academics from high school to collegeHer experience of the pace of college academics/ athleticsThe daily schedule as a diver at UConnHow UConn matured her as an overall personHow her mindset changed as an athlete to reach goals she never thought she could have reachedHow COVID-19 altered the end of her undergraduate trackThis is a sports podcast that gives the insight of a student-athlete as it goes in-depth about the schedule and lifestyle. It’s a must-listen, remember to SUBSCRIBE!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_

Today on SAC, Lauryn Harris from the University of Pennsylvania Track and Field Team was interviewed! Lauryn is a sophomore and competes in the 60m hurdles, long jump, and the 200. She had a stellar freshman year and is just getting started with her college career! In the interview she discusses:Her high school track career and the sacrifices that she took for a better futureHer recruiting process and what she valued in the universities she was choosing betweenHer experience at UPenn her first year and what she likes about itHow she has become acclimated to the student-athlete lifestyle and how she handles her timeHow her first college season went and how it was affected by COVID-19What she plans to accomplish in the futureLauryn is the first T&F athlete on the podcast and she gave great insight as a student-athlete! It’s a great sports podcast to getting insight and make sure to check it out!Instagram & Twitter @_sacombo_

On today’s episode of Student-Athlete Combo, we wrap up the recruitment segment. This episode discusses the importance of travel sports in the youth sports world. In the past interviews, athletes expressed that they were able to play in college and get recruited through the avenue of travel/club sports. Through travel sports, they were able to develop and receive exposure to college programs. Therefore, making the decision to want to play your sport at a high level should entail finding a way to engage in travel sports. With that being said, it is imperative that research is done with certain travel teams and programs to find the right fit for you as an athlete. There are certain aspects that go into this decision-making process that we talk about in the episode. This motivation podcast is essential for young student-athletes for knowledge about the beginning of a long athletic career! Twitter & Instagram: @_sacombo_

Today on SAC, Mo Sillah, a junior defender on Towson University Men’s Lacrosse was interviewed! In the interview we discuss:His upbringing and how he started to play lacrosseHow his area and schools encouraged him to start playing( The Landon School)The competitiveness of the DMV region with high school lacrosseHow he got recruited to schools and how he utilized club teams and coaches to play at the next levelHow he manages the academic time management as an athlete at TowsonThe injury he went through and what the experience was likeHis success as a freshman making the CAA All-Rookie Team The mindset to have come into a successful program as a freshmanCompeting regionally against other Maryland universitiesPlaying against University of Maryland Men’s Lacrosse in the 2019 NCAA Lacrosse Championship playoffsTune into this sports podcast for some awesome content about the college athlete lifestyle!http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today on SAC, A West Virginia University Gynmast Alum, Julia Merwin was interviewed! Julia graduated in the spring from WVU and gave some great insight into the college athlete lifestyle, and what it’s like to be an athlete at WVU! As a Maryland native, she explained that her region doesn’t have high school gymnastics, so she competed with a club since she was a little kid. She started gymnastics when she was 5 and has loved it ever since!Julia discussed her recruiting process and how she ended up at WVU. With this sports podcast, you can see that all athletes had different roads into college. With that being said, you shouldn’t compare your process to anybody else’s! In her athletic career, injuries were prevalent similar to many other athletes. She had to go through injuries in high school and college but overcame all of them, this is definitely a motivation podcast as well when you listen to it.We talked about her experience at WVU and what she studied. She clarified how her team and herself managed to stay on top of classwork while they were in season and had to travel to different schools. In 2019, her squad took a trip to Cancun, Mexico for a competition and she talked all about it. Something that is really cool about college sports is that you will be able to experience things you might not ever experience without being an athlete! Lastly, we had a conversation about the effect of COVID-19 on both of our seasons and teams. Julia is doing a lot of awesome things with her platform online and we talked about that as well. This episode will give you plenty of great content for the college athlete’s lifestyle! Make sure to check out the day in the life of a student-athlete segment as well! Tune in to this great college athlete podcast! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1106450/5332264-interview-with-julia-merwin-west-virginia-university-gymnasticshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsB5jCINj9kTwitter & Instagram: @_sacombo_

Today on SAC, Averee Dovsek another member of the Hofstra Pride was interviewed. Averee is a Junior on the golf team She is a SoCal native majoring in Journalism while competing with the gold team. The interview with Averee was a great one, we talked about topics ranging from how she got to Hofstra, to how she has been able to parlay her student-athlete experience into endless opportunities to start her career early. Also, she is a podcast host! She is the host of the podcast, “Why you suck at golf!” which has many great guests and awesome content.Averee and I discussed her decision to come across the country and chase her dreams on the east coast and how she has been handling it. We also talk about how she managed to put herself in the right position to advance her career in journalism outside of going to school!Secondly, Averee explains the functions of the golf team and their schedule mentioning they play during two seasons. We talked about the competition of the CAA and how the distance of the conference plays a part in the competition. Internships are an important part of a student’s career and also a college athlete’s career. A lot of the time, schedules are packed and athletes don’t have time to receive work experience. However, if you have the time, you should make it happen! Averee has been able to parlay a lot of her opportunities in bigger ones that are setting her up for success.Lastly, Averee gives very real and important advice to our current and aspiring athletes. Learn from the ones ahead of you! We have made mistakes but have also learned from them and came out on top! Listen in to a very good motivation podcast!Instagram & Twitter @_sacombo_https://www.buzzsprout.com/1106450/episodes/5268991-interview-with-averee-dovsek-hofstra-university-women-s-golfhttps://www.facebook.com/studentathletecombo/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-you-suck-at-golf/id1498130060http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today on SAC, the current Mayor of Newport News, VA was interviewed, McKinley Price. McKinley Price has been the first black Mayor to be elected in the city and he is also the president of the African American Mayors Association. In the interview, Mayor Price discusses his upbringing of athletics. He came upon watching baseball and later fell in love with Tennis. He had a connection to Tennis and played it through his years until he received a scholarship to play at the Hampton Institute which is now Hampton University. At Hampton Mayor Price played on a very talented Tennis squad where they set the foundation for success and paid it forward to those coming in. They made it to nationals his senior year. Mayor Price explained what he thought athletics and competition brought to the personality of people and how it can be an essential part of somebody. He discussed how and why he thinks athletic competition should be a part of his and all communities. He gave great examples into how sports is a benefit for him and many others, also how he has used sports to help him. Mayor Price grew up watching Arthur Ashe who was a great African American Tennis player and tried to mock his game to Ashe’s. We had also talked about how the transition from athletics to the real world fared for him and how he was able to manage it. He gave great examples and information that can help all athletes of all ages. The interview with Mayor McKinley Price should act as a motivation podcast as his greatest tip of advice is something that all humans should have at the forefront of their success model. Tune into this sports podcast to find out how public service and athletics mesh! Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_https://www.buzzsprout.com/1106450https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrt6yXWIgVvMWd5X3O0-UUw

Today on SAC, Richie Palacios, an infielder in the Cleveland Indians organization was interviewed. Richie was drafted in 2018 in the 3rd round after a stunning career at Towson University in Maryland. Richie set records and had several All-American records during his time there. I played against him being that Towson and Hofstra were both in the CAA acting as rivals. In the interview we discuss many things:Richie is a very talented player but played his college ball at Towson which is a mid-major. We talked about his recruiting process and his thoughts on his development as a player mentally and physically. He gave great insight and examples of how he took his college recruitment and how he fueled it into his dreams. Secondly, mid-majors do not have the facilities that power 5 schools have. Richie didn’t use that as an excuse to hinder his development and finished what he needed to for reaching his goals. He mentioned his background of baseball which is very cool!Richie gave great mental insight for all athletes and this sports podcast can definitely help all student-athletes get the information they need to overcome adversity from self-esteem, to injures, to the competition. Lastly, we discuss the small rivalry of Hofstra and Towson in the CAA for baseball! In 2018 the series between our schools was a heated, exciting series where Towson ended up winning it all to Richie. The advice that Richie gives in the interview should act as a motivation podcast for all athletes. His advice will put all athletes in the position to be successful, so make sure to tune in!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_https://www.buzzsprout.com/1106450

On Today’s episode of SAC, the former Mayor of Akron, Ohio, Don Plusquellic was interviewed! You are probably wondering, “what does a mayor have to do with student-athlete?” Mayor Plusquellic was a college athlete! Along with his prestigious career and several accolades, he played football at Pittsburgh in the early 1970s and was a quarterback! In this sports podcast, Mayor Plusquellic gives insight into his very impressive football career!He explained how his career started and the highlights of his athlete days. Secondly, he gives a timeline of his college days leading to how he got into the industry of public service.You may not realize, but public service and athletics have several important and interesting parallels that gave him the urge to pursue this kind of career. In the episode, Mayor expresses those parallels and the great lessons that athletics have to offer for all humans. I was curious and asked Mayor Plusquellic as a Mayor how important he thought the implementation of athletic programs for kids and his community was, and he answered greatly! He gave an outside the box answer that brought everything to come full circle! The insight he gave to young athletes on how to go about their lives was priceless and this episode is a must-listen! This episode with the former Mayor of Akron, Ohio, Don Plusquellic, acts as a motivation podcast to our athletes clarifying that the lessons and morals learned through competition can take you anywhere you want in life! This is definitely a must-listen episode!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_https://www.buzzsprout.com/1106450https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrt6yXWIgVvMWd5X3O0-UUw

Today on SAC, La Salle University Women’s Lax player, Mikki Raymond was interviewed. Mikki is a senior who was affected by the COVID-19 stoppage in early March like me. In the episode, we discussed our experiences going through the stoppage while we were in the middle of our seasons and how it changed the whole NCAA dynamic. The year 2020 was the year of many firsts. The firsts included many things happening for college athletes around the country. The NCAA had many rules and changes in place to keep athletes safe and help them. Unfortunately, the timing still left a lot of athletes without a senior year of sports.Mikki talked about the evolution of her lacrosse career along with the evolution of the sport in her area. She explained her recruiting process and how she ended up at La Salle. This sports podcast features her A-10 experience and her school experience. We discussed the hardest part for her about being a student-athlete and how she manages some common struggles. Lastly, a lot of people shy away from being college athletes because they think they won’t have enough free time. They are wrong! With time management, your social life can be 100% better as a student-athlete. You will create the best memories and relationships that Mikki touched on as a college athlete. She talked about their social life dynamic as an athlete at La Salle and I touched on my experiences at Hofstra. All in all, social life is a part of college and you won’t miss it as an athlete. Make sure to tune in to the motivation podcast to hear about what it’s like to be an athlete at La Salle University!Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrt6yXWIgVvMWd5X3O0-UUwhttp://studentathletecombo.com/

Today Former NC State standout on the volleyball team, Lauryn Terry was interviewed. She was a star at NC State with a 2019 team-high of 96 blocks! In the interview, Lauryn discusses her volleyball career from beginning to present. She emphasized what club volleyball did for her and how it gave her the opportunity to play at NC State.She mentioned that club volleyball is essential to receiving the opportunity to play at the next level. Along with many other sports engaging in the competitive travel/club sports world will give an athlete exposure and make them better athletes because they are competing for a lot and facing good competition. In this sports podcast, she gives a full recruiting process story and why she picked NC State over other schools.While at NC State Lauryn emphasized the importance of using academic resources that are given to you! They are essential to help us, athletes, since sometimes our schedules can be crazy. Every student-athlete has a story about the overwhelming times of their career where they had to have late nights or stressful days based on the things they had to do. Lauryn too gave some examples of her going through this. As this can be frustrating at the moment, it only makes you stronger and gives you plenty of skills that stick with you for life!Lastly, we had a conversation about Lauryn starting her professional volleyball career in Lugano, Switzerland! She talks about the process of her trek to play pro and the steps that she took. It is a very interesting and exciting part of her career as she is starting very soon. Lauryn is living her dreams, tune in to hear her story and student-athlete experience!Twitter & Instagram: @_sacombo_https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/student-athlete-combo/id1517239780https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrt6yXWIgVvMWd5X3O0-UUwhttp://studentathletecombo.com/

Today on SAC, Vin Messana from Axcess Baseball was interviewed. Axcess baseball is a platform that covers baseball on Long Island. They do everything from reporting games, to showcases and player rankings. It is a beneficial platform for ballplayers on Long Island and gives great info on what the sport is doing in the area. On top of that, Vin Messana is also an area scout for the San Diego Padres which he does through his Axcess platform. In the interview, we discuss how Axcess baseball came on the scene and how the purpose has changed. We also talk about how the baseball recruiting process has changed from early in the decade to now. The topic is TECHNOLOGY. The internet has changed the college recruiting scene for baseball and every other sport. Nowadays it is a lot easier and simpler to come in contact with school and coaches. Likewise, this and new baseball technologies compliment Axcess’s purpose. Lastly, listen in to hear about the recent current Hofstra players representing Hofstra University with their hard work and character. Vin and I talk about some of the teammates I’ve had at Hofstra University and talk about their game and personalities. It’s an awesome episode, make sure to check it out, and….. SUBSCRIBE!Twitter & Instagram : @_sacombo_https://www.axcessbaseball.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/student-athlete-combo/id1517239780

Today on SAC, Hannah Eslick, an infielder on the George Washington Unviersity Softball team was interviewed. Hannah is a Maryland native who transferred from the University of Maryland to GW. In the interview, Hannah discussed several aspects of the sport and her softball career.In Maryland, high school softball isn’t a sport that is as popular as others so travel softball is the way to get recognized by college coaches. Hannah played travel ball at a young age and when she was playing, the recruiting process for softball started very early. When she was in MIDDLE SCHOOL, she was playing in front of college coaches and getting scholarships offers to play at schools. She committed to play softball at the University of Maryland when she was in the 8th grade! That is insane! However, the recruiting process is different now. She talks about the process that she went through at a young age and how it has changed to the process today. We also talk about her transfer process and the aspects of the new school that she was looking for. After spending time at UMD, she knew what she wanted in a new school and we discussed how she went about that. Hannah discussed the dynamic of GW being in D.C. and how she utilizes academic resources to help her succeed! She took us through a day as a George Washington University softball player and how she manages her time.GW had a stellar year in 2019 winning their A-10 conference and going to an NCAA regional tournament at Liberty University in Virginia! We discussed that year and how she felt like a transfer going in and contributing immediately. Lastly, she mentioned things about being a student-athlete that she loves and gives some great advice, make sure to tune into this awesome sports podcast!Twitter & Instagram: @_sacombo_http://studentathletecombo.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrt6yXWIgVvMWd5X3O0-UUwhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/student-athlete-combo/id1517239780

Today on Student-Athlete Combo we interviewed Patrick Watkins, a midfielder on the DePaul University soccer team. Patrick is a DMV native who has been playing club soccer since he was a little kid. In the interview, we discuss the importance of youth and High School soccer in playing club affiliate soccer for the benefits of playing at the next level. Patrick also explained the student-athlete life at Depaul in season and how he has been managing to study Chemistry and be a threat on the field for his team. He talks about resources that are getting him through school that was also mentioned in the “Tips and Tricks” episode of this podcast!He is a big contributor to DePaul and it started right away when he joined the team in 2018. We talked about his transition from the club and high school soccer to college and how he was able to see a lot of time on the field early. This is something that is harder than people think, playing time doesn’t come easy! Listening to him really expresses the importance of hard work and this episode really acts as a motivation podcast!All in all, Patrick gave some great information on how to succeed as a student-athlete on and off the field! Make sure to tune in to this episode for Patrick’s story and the student-athlete view from Depaul!Tune in to this sports podcast!http://studentathletecombo.com/Twitter: & Instagram @_sacombo_https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/student-athlete-combo/id1517239780

Today Maddie Warfel joined Student-Athlete Combo and we had a great interview. Maddie is a recent Hofstra graduate like myself and was on the Field Hockey team. She is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania native and we discussed the competitive region of Field Hockey that she came up in. In Pennsylvania, Field Hockey is a very popular sport where talent is abundant and they even have national ties in that area! In the interview, we discuss her experience going through that circuit and how she liked it. We also talked about the Field Hockey recruiting process and how the process treated her. Everybody has a different experience with the recruiting process and all sports have different timelines and blueprints on how players interact with schools. It’s important to know how to go about your sports process and how to put yourself in the right position. Maddie gave a great example for Field Hockey, so use this as a motivation podcast to put your career in the right position!Maddie had a great career at Hofstra. She was a huge contributor during her time there while having a stellar senior year. She was a captain during her last to years and started the beginning to a culture rebuild, tune in to listen to how her career went, and what her senior season entailed!Lastly, we talked about her next step after graduation which is going into coaching college Field Hockey! She is pursuing her Master’s Degree at Wagner College while taking on the Graduate Assistant position for the Field Hockey team! Tune into this sports podcast to hear her story!Let’s connect! Follow me on Twitter & Instagram @_sacombo_ http://studentathletecombo.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/student-athlete-combo/id1517239780Thanks!

Today on Student-Athlete Combo, Worth Gregory, a former kicker at ECU was interviewed. Worth gave insight into what it was like to be an athlete at ECU and Alabama. Worth went to Alabama out of High school to play for Coach Nick Saban where they won the National Championship!He was a highly touted kicker out of High School in South Carolina and went to play for Coach Saban as a preferred walk-on. After his freshman year, he decided that it would be better for his career to leave Alabama football so he went to ECU, where he was a three-year player and captain. He ended up being a captain and setting a single-season record. In this motivation podcast, he went from not playing to being an important part of his football team!Worth also killed it in the classroom earning awards and getting his degree in Marketing! After graduation, he was invited to the Jacksonville Jaguars Mini-Camp where he had the opportunity to pursue his dream.After a short experience with the Jaguars, he got into coaching at UT State football and later NC State football. As a coach, he was able to see student-athletes from a different perspective and gain an appreciation for coaching as well as see how student-athletes could improve as people and players. Now in his professional career, he works with One on One kicking which is a service that helps college kickers, punters, and snappers with their athletic development and recruitment to get them to the next level. They have been very successful!Lastly, Worth expressed what he is doing with Game Plan which is an athlete development service that helps athletes on and off the field. It acts as a software where athletes can get information about several topics like financial literacy, recruiting, social justice, and so much more! This service is a one of a kind company that does wonders for all levels of athletics. They have also helped a number of professional sports organizations. They contributed to the NBA’s return to play and have also done things with the MLB and NFL! Game plan is a new and rising service that you need to know about! You can find out more here:https://wearegameplan.com/Make sure to tune into this great sports podcast!Twitter: @_sacombo_Instagram: @ _sacombo_

Today on Student-Athlete Combo, Dan Blewett, a man who wears many hats in the digital sports community joined! Dan is a former college and professional baseball player who uses his experience and brand to give a story to all athletes and all people. He encountered a unique athletic experience playing baseball for a long time with injuries that have defined him as a person and taught him how to overcome adversity. His platform also strives to help people and athletes develop thoughts on life steps through his personal storytelling. On top of that, Dan Blewett is also the author of a book called,” Dear Baseball Gods” which is a memoir of his baseball career which essentially was written for him to get closure on what his baseball career did for him in his lifetime. He is a host on three podcasts:Morning BrushbackGood Advice: Softball GuidanceDear Baseball GodsIn the podcast, we talked about what Dan’s purpose is of his platform and what he strives to express through his presence. Likewise, we talk a little bit about his story which is COMPELLING, and how it formed who he is today.He talked about his pro experience as well as college experience and gave insightful information to our high school and college athlete about an aspect of the lifestyle that he wished he has implemented more when he was a student-athlete. This episode is a motivational podcast that will give you a great perspective on athletics and life. Tune in to this sports podcast! You won’t regret it!https://danblewett.com/Twitter: @_sacombo_Instagram: @_sacombo_

In today’s episode, we discuss a little more about the recruiting process! Most of the time it can be more of a complex time and situation than people think! Essentially, you want to be thorough when making choices and going through options because you are signing away to hard work and dedication for four years!In this episode, we discuss showcases, prospect camps, and playdays. I give examples of the experiences that I went through attending all of these recruiting events. I have good, and bad stories to go with my experiences. However, it is good that I experienced these things so I can help all listeners get the best experience out of their recruiting process. There are a lot of great things that you can get out when attending these types of recruiting events for every sport. The most important part of this episode is, YOU HAVE TO TAKE INITIATIVE! With most sports, you have to show that you want to be recruited. Not all sports allow you to have highlights from just a few games, and you get recruited from that. It takes more than that! Listen in to this sports podcast to hear about these types of events and the experiences that I have had with them! This is an episode that you want to hear! IG: @_sacombo_Twitter: @_sacombo_

Today on SAC Emily Coffman, a former student-athlete from The University of Oklahoma was interviewed. Emily was a coxswain on the Rowing team at OU. In the interview, we talk about her experience at OU as a student-athlete and how she handled the dual responsibilities. Emily also is the host of a podcast called,¨Girls Gone Healthy¨which is a podcast geared to help women maintain a healthy lifestyle. Emily explained that she had missed the athlete lifestyle once she had graduated and wanted to create the podcast to teach and express the lifestyle and habits of living healthy with exercise and nutrition. All in all, it is a podcast about motivation advocating for a healthy lifestyle!As a student-athlete, we are all aware of the busy schedule that we deal with. The Rowing team at OU practiced every day at 5 AM! She took us through a day being on the Rowling Team and how she prioritized her time. Also, for her team traveling was necessary which meant times there were many times where doing homework and assignments were not ideal. Emily is a prime example of how to manage your time as an athlete and implement a routine! Make sure to listen to this episode, as it is definitely a motivation podcast episode! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-gone-healthy/id1517530142Twitter: @_sacombo_Instagram: @studentathlete_combo

Today a Maryland Basketball Star and recent WNBA draft pick, Kaila Charles was interviewed! In the interview with Kaila, we talked about everything from high school basketball to the beginning of her pro career. Kaila is a guard for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA and she is about to start her first season as a professional basketball player! Kaila gave nothing but great advice in the interview about how to be successful on and off the court. The best part about it is, the advice that she gave was what she did at UMD and what she is doing now getting ready for a pro season! So, it is safe to say that the advice works! This podcast definitely holds the place as a motivation podcast with the things she has to say and inform our listeners. Tune in for a great interview!http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today on” Student-Athlete Combo”, Paige Hailstock from Wesley College Basketball was interviewed. Paige is a rising senior on the basketball team at Wesley and gave great insight into what it’s like to be a student-athlete at Wesley. Paige discussed her decision on picking Wesley College as opposed to other options and what she likes about it. She mentioned some things that are very important in the decision-making process and should be common in all situations. We talked about the daily schedule of being a basketball player at Wesley while you’re in season and out of season. With certain programs, these schedules can tend to change based on practice and workout availability. Lastly, we talked about her battle with ankle injuries. Paige had to get multiple ankle surgeries during her time at school and has battled recovery. Injury recovery is something that is tough for athletes physically and mentally. I also had to battle an injury that I talk about in the episode called” A Freak Injury”.http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today on Student-Athlete Combo Kito Delgado, the host of “Full Ride College Recruiting Podcast”. Kito is a former football player at Northeastern University in Boston. In the interview we discuss his career and experience being a student-athlete. Kito, like many other former and current student-athletes, expressed a story that is very common. Being an athlete in college can be challenging for a teenager. Kito expresses his whole story from start to finish and the things that he learned along the way. We discuss the recruiting process and also the opportunities available to athletes after college. This episode is 100% purpose to act as a motivational podcast to our aspiring and current student-athletes! Also, In Kitos podcast,¨Full Ride”, he expresses what it takes for high school kids to get recruited by colleges and how to make a successful transition. Tune in to the episode to hear Kitos story and more about Full Ride College Recruiting Podcast!http://studentathletecombo.com/https://urecruitu.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/full-ride-college-recruiting-podcast/id1401756482

Today I interviewed a WR on the Shepherd University Football Team! Rodney is a killer athlete and he also gave great insight into what it's like to be a football player at Shepherd. In the interview, we discussed his study habits and routines as well as the schedule he had focusing on pre-season classes and workouts. We tapped into his experience of transferring from Towson University to Shepherd University and how he adapted to a new environment and new teammates. Rodney clarified what he studied and what courses entailed. He has a very interesting major that will give him room for opportunities in several directions. Shepherd had a talented team in 2019, playing in a very competitive PSAC conference. Tune in to this sports podcast to hear a little about their 2019 season!http://studentathletecombo.com/

In this episode, we discuss some factors of the college recruiting process. There are a lot of things to take into account when going through the process, and it can be tricky at times. However, this is just the beginning of a multi-part segment where we will be discussing things to consider and giving experiences about the process. With that being said, this should act as a recruitment podcast and a motivation podcast to our athletes who are currently or planning to get into the process. With some tips and advice, hopefully, your recruiting process can go as smoothly as possible! Make sure to tune in!http://studentathletecombo.com/

Today former Vanderbilt Women’s Soccer player, Nia Dorsey was interviewed. In the conversation, we discuss how the student-athlete life was as a soccer player at Vanderbilt and how she managed it. Lastly, Nia explains her time being a soccer player at Vanderbilt and what she loved about it. She clarified how memories and milestones were created while she was there and it’s something she will always cherish. Tune into a great episode with a great guest! This episode is definitely a motivational podcast to be a college athlete!

Today's episode talks about the help that student-athletes can receive for academic help. One thing about these resources is that you have to be proactive for the majority of them. Remember to use your time wisely when you are in the study hall. Don't make the mistakes that I made. It makes a difference, trust me! As one of the few podcasts for athletes, it is my job to help fellow student-athletes. So use this as a motivation podcast to find options that fit for you and your schedule!

Today I interviewed John Rooney, a former teammate at Hofstra and a 2018 3rd round draft pick to the Los Angeles Dodgers! He is one of the Dodgers' top MLB prospects. The podcast consisted of his experience at Hofstra, especially when he was getting ready for the MLB Draft is junior year. Tune in to our conversation about teammate and coach connections, and the college to pro transition. Likewise, use this episode as a motivation podcast to achieve your dreams!

Today Justin Lango was interviewed! He worked in the athletic department at the University of Maryland when he was a student there. We talked about his view of the University of Maryland athlete trends and routines. We also touched on how different athletes handled their schedules differently. It was nice talking to Justin because he gave a perspective from the Athletic Department, and being a regular student. There are numerous benefits to being a student-athlete. Sometimes you just have to step outside of the frame to see it. Listening to the conversation will show you that SAC is definitely a podcast about motivation for aspiring college athletes. Tune in for a discussion about the benefits!

In this interview, we discuss the comparisons of classes and athletics with a Hofstra Professor. She talks about what she teaches, and what exactly the courses entail. Through her experience, she clarifies how student-athletes can benefit in their sport from academics. It is awesome to get the point of view from somebody who deals with student-athletes from the other side. In this episode, you will see that SAC is also an educational podcast. You will definitely learn something in this interview!

Do you remember the injury that Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett had? I had the same one! This episode contains the craziest story of my life. I dealt with a sports injury that affected many aspects of my student-athlete experience. One of a kind! In the story, I explain the first week of my college career, and how the end of my athletic career flashed before my eyes. Luckily, the sports medicine and athletic training program at my school did the best job of keeping me as healthy as possible. If any of these podcast episodes is a podcast about motivation, it's this one. Make sure to tune in to the best motivational podcast for athletes! It's a MUST listen!

Today Reese Mona from Maryland Basketball was interviewed! In the interview, he explained what it’s like to be an athlete at the University of Maryland and how he managed to graduate in 3 years! Also, we had to talk about the 2019-2020 Maryland basketball team and the success they had. The squad was at the top of college basketball rankings for the whole season! In the interview, you can understand what it was like to be on a team that was at the top of their sport, and ready to compete for a national championship. Listen to this episode and use it as a motivation podcast to excel in the classroom, and in your sport!