Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island Women's Cross-Country team had big plans for 2020, and still do thanks to the incoming of several new faces who are sure to make a difference. One of those student-athletes is freshman Julia Calvo, a versatile and decorated star who made the choice to attend CSI and who is anticipated to be a bedrock for the team moving forward.
A 2020 graduate from the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies, Calvo made the decision to attend CSI over several big-name NCAA Division I institutions, such as borough-neighbor Wagner College, nearby LIU-Brooklyn, and across the water in New Jersey at Monmouth University. Ultimately, it was CSI's prestigious Nursing program and the chance to showcase athletically that got her to attend the school in her own back yard.
"I chose CSI because of the Nursing program and because I was admitted into the Verrazano Honors Program," Calvo stated. "I've heard great opinions about these programs at CSI and I know they will help me to become successful in my future career. I was happy to be selected as an honors student, and I know that these programs are going to provide me with great opportunities. I also always wanted to become a college athlete since I was a freshman in high school. Since CSI became Division II, I was excited to apply and become a part of the Cross-Country and Track and Field teams."
For relatively new Head Coach
Andrew Gangemi, having Calvo come aboard and make CSI her choice was sweet. Calvo's dedication to her academic pursuits were a major draw. She graduated on the Summa Cum Laude Honor Roll, and was a part of the National Honors Society, where she served as Treasurer in 2020. Also in 2020, she was bestowed the Public Advocate Award for outstanding academic achievement, was awarded the Nicole Malliotakis Community Service Award, and received Certificates of Excellence in Pre-Calculus, Spanish, Advanced Placement U.S. History, Geometry, and Living Environment.
"Julia is someone that we are definitely looking at to help us set the standard at CSI that we are looking for," said Gangemi on his star recruit. "Having her academic background and having someone as successful and hard-working in the classroom as she is really boosts our entire program. She's the model student-athlete we are hoping for at CSI, someone who is just as competitive in the classroom as she is on the course."
Calvo's exploits in the classroom are what attracted her to CSI's Nursing program. "I chose this major because I'm greatly interested in the medical field," she said. "I always wanted to work in the pediatric field and thought that nursing will greatly expose me to this field. I want to help and care for children's needs in the future."
As focused as Calvo is on her studies and her future after higher education, she is equally adept on the Cross-Country circuit and the Track & Field arenas as well as a mid-distance and distance ace. Her personal-best 5K time of 21:01 at CSIHS and at the club level with CYO would already be the third-fastest time in CSI history, and her personal-bests in the 600- and 1000-meter runs on the indoor circuit and 800- and 1500-meter runs on the outdoor scene would all be current CSI records. Her Mile time is just five seconds off of a current CSI record as well. The former Freshman MVP in Cross-Country was named a 2nd-team Staten Island Coaches All-Star in 2017, followed by a 1st-team honor the next year and a junior year MVP in 2019 during the indoor season. Unfortunately, an early senior-year injury derailed her competitive season, and then COVID hit, knocking out track as well. The silver lining is that Gangemi knows that Calvo's best running is still very much ahead of her, and he can't wait to see her make her mark in the college ranks.
"Athletically, Julia is someone we have had our eyes on for a long time," explained Gangemi. "She has a tremendous amount of talent, but we also know that she still has extraordinary potential and a lot of room for growth in the sport. It's exciting to know that as gifted a runner as she is, she is going to get even better."
Having never won a CUNYAC Championship in Cross-Country at the Division III level, and with their Track & Field program still in their relative infancy, Calvo is a player that will be looked at to raise the competitive bar of the program right out of the gate, enough to make them a championship-caliber contender when they exit provisional status within the ECC and NCAA Division II. That's quite alright for Calvo, who is going to do whatever possible to aid the team wherever needed. "Having run the 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 meters and the mile races, I feel I can help out in these races and also on the relays in these distances," she noted. "I also believe I can have an impact on the cross country team with helping the team score in races. Now that CSI is Division II, I hope to make an impact with my performances and help CSI be competitive scorers at meets."
Like all fall sport student-athletes, Calvo was hoping that process would have started already. The COVID suspension of the season crippled that opportunity, but it hasn't stopped Calvo from working her way back into top form. She is still working hard everyday to make sure that when the gun goes off, she will be ready. "I am continuing to run and maintain my body to stay in shape," she explained. "I do strength training at times when I don't have school or work. I do workouts on my own or with my two friends who are in the Macaulay Honors College and are on the team as well."
With that said, Calvo has made clear that she is already integrating well with the team, feeling right at home these days, even though classes are remote and training hasn't officially started yet in-person. "Even though there hasn't been any in person meetings, it is very enjoyable being on the team," she noted. "All of the returning athletes are so kind and welcoming. They have been helpful with giving me updates and information about the team. The coaches have been very helpful as well in letting me and the other freshmen know about the school, athletics, and anything else we would need to know."
Calvo is anxiously looking forward to the next chapter. Already adapting nicely to her classes, the final piece to the puzzle will be to continue to operate in the sport she loves and can't wait to come back to. "I'm looking forward to competing again," she said simply. "Especially after being injured and then COVID, I'm excited to get back on the cross country trails and on the track to compete as a Dolphin. I'm looking forward to being on a team again and meeting new people along the way. I'm excited to get the experience of college athletics and to receive college-level training. I'm looking forward to running a sub 5:10 in the mile and a sub 2:20 in the 800 meters. I would also want to get my 5k time down under 20:50."
Calvo with her siblings in 2016.
With those goals in mind, it's no wonder Gangemi and the team can't wait to get back to action. Calvo's motivations are in line with so many others on the team, alongside the academic component, if they all hit their marks athletically, CSI Women's Cross-Country and Track & Field is going to be a force to be reckoned with. "One of the biggest things that we tell the team is that we want champions and All-Americans in the classroom, and having someone like Julia and others we are bringing in gets us a step further in that direction. Then on the track and in cross-country, we have ECC-elite level competitors who are going to give us a chance to get on the podium and compete for championships. That's our standard moving forward, and Julia is right there with us."
Staten Island born and raised, Calvo currently lives in the Westerleigh section of Staten Island with her parents, Jennifer and Louis. She is the oldest of four siblings where sports is a norm. Her sisters Jenna, 17, and Isabella, 14, both run Cross-Country and Track for CSI High School, while her brother, Louis, 10, runs track and plays basketball, soccer, and baseball for Blessed Sacrament. Calvo laughs that she may be the first in her family to attend CSI, but maybe not the last. "We will have to see what happens there," she laughs. "It's been great being from a sports family. It's always enjoyable going on long runs with my sisters. It's a great stress release and a way to spend quality time together. They motivate me to be a better runner and it's a great bond we all have."
The College of Staten Island can't wait to see Calvo in action bonding with her Dolphins team. Like many, she chose CSI, and the Dolphins will be better for it.
