Men's Track & Field: Get to Know the Blue Devils
CCSU athletics is rolling out a new series to "Get to Know the Blue Devils." Despite sports competition being suspended during the fall season, CCSU student-athletes continue to succeed in the classroom and have an impact in the community. Through a series of questions and answers, CCSU fans and supporters can become familiar with many of the Blue Devils' student-athletes and learn who their favorite athletes are, what talents they have, bucket list goals and other interesting tidbits away from the field of competition.
This will be an ongoing feature throughout the semester, check back on our social media channels and at CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.
Alex Pratcher | Jr. | Milford, CT
Major: Exercise Science
Why did you choose CCSU?
The track team/major
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at CCSU?
Graduating
Who is your inspiration and why?
My parents
What is the best advice you've ever received?
Not to rush things and let them come to you
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Going all state in hs when I wasn't supposed to
What are your future plans?
Going to grad school
What is one thing you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
Need to be more patient
Who is your favorite athlete to watch and why?
Usain Bolt best sprinter of all time
What's at the top of your bucket list of things to do?
Winning NECs
Besides playing your sport, do you have any other talents?
Call of Duty
Do you have a favorite quote?
The difference between impossible and possible lies in determination - Usain Bolt
Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
Tyler James Williams
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Steak
What is your favorite childhood TV show?
Teen Titans
What superpower would you like to have?
Read Minds
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Polo G
EJ Wynkoop | Jr. | Plainville, CT
Major: Exercise Science
Why did you choose CCSU?
Great environment, academics supported my goals, and recruiting visit felt like home.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at CCSU?
To be remembered long after I graduate.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
"There's a group of human beings, that'll never be who they're supposed to be, until you become the best version of you that you can be."
What are your future plans?
Provide generational wealth, give back to my community, invest in real estate & start a business.
What's at the top of your bucket list of things to do?
Skydiving
Do you have a favorite quote?
"The struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose."
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Jamaican Patties
What is your favorite childhood TV show?
Ben 10
What would be your spirit animal?
Lion
Nick Gianni | So. | Glastonbury, CT
Major: Physical Education
Why did you choose CCSU?
In-state tuition, along with the great teaching program this school has. Also, the track team.
Is there anything interesting about you that you would like us to know?
The most notable award for an athlete in the town of Glastonbury, the Verie E. Hartwell Award in 2019. Gifted to the most dedicated athlete and shows responsibility in their works.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at CCSU?
Getting the credentials to becoming a physical education teacher and coach.
Who is your inspiration and why?
My inspiration is my mother because she is an amazing educator, for the past 22 years, and I want to be following in her footsteps to continue our teaching legacy.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
To never give up; no matter how hard it gets.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment is attaining a spot on the Presidents List for my grades, my freshman year here at CCSU. (4.0 GPA)
What are your future plans?
Becoming a physical educator along with a coach for track and field.
What is one thing you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
That online learning is arguably one of the most stressful things ever.
Who is your favorite athlete to watch and why?
My favorite athlete would have to be Russell Wilson. Reason being is he is such a humble athlete, who is arguably one of the best quarter backs in the NFL, and he knows exactly how to take criticism and stay poised throughout.
What's at the top of your bucket list of things to do?
Having the ability to buy myself a house, with a stable income.
Besides playing your sport, do you have any other talents?
I am an avid basketball coach in my town, and I take coaching very seriously.
Do you have a favorite quote?
"If it was easy, everyone would do it"
Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
I think I'd enjoy to see Sylvester Stallone as my character, he's one of my favorite ac-tors.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
PASTA.
What is your favorite childhood TV show?
Spongebob Squarepants
What superpower would you like to have?
The ability to teleport.
What would be your spirit animal?
Silverback Gorilla
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Lil Baby
Christian Estefani | Fr. | Torrington, CT
Major: Exercise Science
Why did you choose CCSU?
I chose CCSU because it felt like home and I liked how there was a fitness center and there is one in my dorm. I felt like as an athlete this is the highest level I can go. There was also Exercise Science and that I wanted to do Athletic Training.
Is there anything interesting about you that you would like us to know?
I made it to New England for the 4x100 Relay and got third overall but was the best in the CT and also broke the 4x100 meter Relay school record as well. I broke the school record for the 55 meter dash for indoor track. I can't remember but I did get All NVL in track a few times. I won scholarship for the Lou Zandergo that was one of the fastest athletes on cleats for my school. I also won the Offensive Player of the year for my high school football team. I won the Leadership award for my high school team.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at CCSU?
To become a better overall and to successful in school and in Athletics. I hope to fix my academic problems and to improve in my athletics. I hope that I can get a great paying job once I leave CCSU. Also to make new friends and to have a job on the side.
Who is your inspiration and why?
My inspiration is not really a person but there is Usain Bolt and Tom Brady but for the future of my family, the children that I will have. I hope that I can provide them and when I have a loving and caring wife someday to provide for them and put them in the best possible future and avoid mistakes.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
The best advice that I received is to treat others that you want to be treated. Everyone wants to be respected and to feel like they have a propose.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
The proudest accomplishment is going to New England's and getting thirds place overall and the best in CT.
What are your future plans?
Being an athletic Trainer, Being a football or Track & Field Coach one day and to make in impact in the community or in the worlds if possible.
What is one thing you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
You can't slack off and hope for the best. You have to work and work to prove to others.
Who is your favorite athlete to watch and why?
Tom Brady because he has that Champion mindset where he is passion about what he does and wants to play forever.
What's at the top of your bucket list of things to do?
To have the best friends that I can rely on and to do things together and have fun. To travel to the Philippines to meet my grave grandfather
Besides playing your sport, do you have any other talents?
Video games might be one of them. That I am good at Cornhole when I am in the grove.
Do you have a favorite quote?
"Treat people the way that you want to be treated".
Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
Yeah I hope that there would be people who would understand what I go through even though it might be small problems but they get big eventually. I hope that people would step up and support me if they feel like it
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chile because it has a lot of meat and that it has some water in them too.
What is your favorite childhood TV show?
Little Bill
What is the most ridiculous fact you know?
I don't really know Tom Brady tied with the Pittsbugh Steelers for the most super bowls wins
What superpower would you like to have?
To read minds
What would be your spirit animal?
Dark Green Snake ( Philippine pit Viper)
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Lil Uzi Vert
Carlos Villarini | Jr. | New Britain, CT
Major: Early Childhood Education
Why did you choose CCSU?
Near my house and sports.
Is there anything interesting about you that you would like us to know?
Honor roll and All Conference for Track in High School. School record holder for the 4x200m relay.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at CCSU?
Getting my Master's degree for Early Childhood Education
Who is your inspiration and why?
My Child Development teacher from high school because she motivated me enough to love working with children.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
It's great to watch over people, but always put yourself first.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
School record holder for the 4x200m relay, making the CCSU Track team and mak-ing it this far in getting my degree.
What are your future plans?
Probably a Teacher Assistant as a starter.
What is one thing you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I am mentally stronger than when I was in middle and high school.
Who is your favorite athlete to watch and why?
Usain Bolt since he's held 2 world record and is the fastest man alive.
What's at the top of your bucket list of things to do?
Drive around town and be around friends and family.
Besides playing your sport, do you have any other talents?
Drawing (not hardcore.)
Do you have a favorite quote?
"Failure is not the result, it's only a step."
Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
Adam Sandler
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chicken
What is your favorite childhood TV show?
The Wiggles
What superpower would you like to have?
Teleporting anywhere.
What would be your spirit animal?
Lion
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Kendrick Lamar
Nicholas Kocienda | Gr. | Seaford, NY
Major: Master's in Construction Management
Why did you choose CCSU?
The education, the sport, and location.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at CCSU?
Graduating with a Masters Degree
What's at the top of your bucket list of things to do?
Travel to Europe
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chicken Parmigiana
What would be your spirit animal?
Polar Bear
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Old Dominion
Samuel Baker | So. | West Hartford, CT
Major: Media Studies
Why did you choose CCSU?
Close by, and not too expensive
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing at CCSU?
Making it far in competition during track season.
Who is your inspiration?
Usain Bolt
What is the best advice you've ever received?
To not doubt myself because I'm better than I think I am
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Qualifying for states during indoor track
What are your future plans?
To be able to give actual advice to people younger than me so that they can be guided onto the right path
What is one thing you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I learned that I have a lot more patience than I thought, and I already thought I had a lot of patience to begin with
Who is your favorite athlete to watch?
Usain Bolt, but now Noah Lyles
What's at the top of your bucket list of things to do?
To raise my math grade because my professor couldn't figure out who to work the camera so 3/4 of the class couldn't see what she was doing and we did bad on the first test.
Besides playing your sport, do you have any other talents?
If being "good" at a video game counts then yes
Do you have a favorite quote?
"Sorry, but I don't lose" - Dylan Sprouse
Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
The antagonist
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mac and cheese
What is your favorite childhood TV show?
Tom and Jerry
What is the most ridiculous fact you know?
Apparently you can legally marry your first cousin in Connecticut
What superpower would you like to have?
Stopping time
What would be your spirit animal?
Black Panther
