Athletes From Around The Globe

by Kelsey LaCour '17
This article was originally featured in the spring 2017 issue of M, Manhattan Magazine

Riverdale, NY - It seems that Manhattan College sports fans can be found in all corners of the U.S. In fact, most students, faculty members and alumni can attest to the likelihood that wearing an article of Manhattan branded clothing will ignite recognition in almost any city, and, quite often, a spirited, "Go Jaspers!"
 
Manhattan College draws student-athletes to its Riverdale campus for a variety of reasons. Although the first thing that typically attracts a prospective Jasper is his or her future team, the educational community entices them, as well. The small class sizes offer students more opportunities for one-on-one attention from professors, which is essential to student-athletes who may miss class for games or need extra help in a subject.
 
The New York City location isn't a hard sell, either — midtown Manhattan is easily accessible on the No. 1 train, as are the city's array of notable sports venues and other cultural offerings. And while the College does boast many student-athletes from the tristate area, a surprising number of athletes come from across the U.S. and the globe. Approximately 10 percent of Manhattan College's 398 student-athletes are international, while 44 come from either the West Coast, Midwest or South.
 
The following Jasper examples are only a few of the renowned student-athletes that have trekked from faraway places to lend their talents to Manhattan, before going on to excel on and off the field in all corners of the U.S. and the globe.
  
Allie Yamashiro '17

Allie Yamashiro '17, a senior volleyball player, came to Riverdale from Kapolei, Hawaii. During the fall of 2017 — her final season as a Jasper – Yamashiro set the record for career digs with 2,264, snapping the previous record 1,812. While she filled up the stat sheet on the court, what she has done off the court in her local community is equally as impressive. Yamashiro is vice president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), where she is in charge of creating the committee's weekly newsletter and organizing community sports. She is also on the executive committee of Student Government as vice president for communication, and is the editorial director for Manhattan College's Spoon University chapter.
 
While it's safe to say that Yamashiro has made the most of her time at Manhattan, why she would want to leave Hawaii is the big question.
 
"There was no doubt in my mind that I would be leaving the islands to go to college," Yamashiro explains. "My parents always made it a point to me that Hawaii is only so small and that there is so much more opportunity to see and explore elsewhere, but that no matter what, the state will always be home."
 
The athletic opportunity was what attracted Yamashiro to the school originally; however, after meeting with Shawn Lada, Ed.D., professor of kinesiology, on a visit to the school, Yamashiro knew she found her place at Manhattan. Now an exercise science major, Yamashiro serves as the president of Phi Epsilon Kappa Alpha Eta Chapter, the honor society for kinesiology.
 
Zane Waterman '18
 
Junior basketball forward Zane Waterman '18 arrived at the College from Kernersville, NC. Waterman spent the first 16 years of his life in a small town on the outskirts of Winston-Salem, before moving across the state and finishing up his high school career in Fayetteville, N.C. Moving to New York from the South was a big transition for him, but the program and coaching style of head basketball coach Steve Masiello is what made the decision easy for him.
 
"I really liked the coaches, and they showed a lot of effort in recruiting me," he says. "I also really liked the team when I visited. I like being in New York City because it's a lot different than what I'm used to in North Carolina."
 
In terms of athletics, Manhattan College has been a good fit for Waterman, who earned a spot on the Third Team All-MAAC. In his spare time, psychology major, who has a minor in business, enjoys fishing, golfing and spending time with his teammates.
 
Jenny Bitzer '17
 
Senior soccer player Jenny Bitzer '17 has lived in the U.S. and abroad but has found a home at Manhattan College. Bitzer was born and raised in Messstetten, Germany, but her love for soccer and desire to go to new places brought her to the United States. She played at Louisiana Tech for two seasons, and then transferred to Manhattan College for the big city and a better soccer experience.
 
"After living in a rural area for two years, I wanted to experience life in a big American city," she says. "I love the school for its close-knit community and its great support system. I love the location for its unlimited possibilities, its diversity and its culture," she says.
 
Bitzer has flourished on and off the field as a Jasper, earning 2015 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and landing a spot on All-MAAC Second Team following both her junior and senior seasons, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA as a management major. In her spare time, Bitzer relishes in spending time with family, traveling and reading books.
 
Lina Bengston '17
 
For Lina Bengston '17, who hails from Malmo, Sweden, the balance of school work and athletics that the U.S. had to offer is what made her venture across the globe to become a Jasper.
 
"I came here to be able to do track and field and study at the same time. Back home, you usually have longer school days, especially if you are studying engineering, and it would be harder to combine both school and track," she says. "So when I got the offer to come to America and go to a D-1 school that has a good engineering program, I thought I would give it a try."
 
A thrower on the women's track team, Bengston has had a great Jasper career. She won the silver medal in the discus (156'5") at the MAAC Outdoor Championships, and qualified for the ECAC Outdoor Championships in the discus for the second year in a row, earning 18th place in 2015.
 
Her 3.91 GPA in electrical engineering earned her a spot on the 2015 Capital One Academic All-District Team, and a position in Manhattan's oldest college-wide honor society, Epsilon Sigma Pi, Tau Beta Pi Nyx, which recognizes all engineering disciplines, and Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical and electronics engineering honor society. When she is not in the gym or in the classroom, Bengston tutors and does research with a professor in her department. She prioritizes time for venturing into New York City as well, one of her favorite perks of attending Manhattan College.
 
"The location is great. I love New York — it's an amazing city, and there is always something new to see," she says. "Even though the campus is not in the city, it's only a subway ride away, and I like that it's not in the city, so it's not too hectic around campus."
 
José Carrera '17
 
Senior baseball player José Carrera '17 came to the College from a bit shorter of a distance. Carrera was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Miami, FL., where he was raised. The decision to move to a completely different climate from his adopted hometown was sparked by Manhattan's ability to provide him the best of both worlds.
 
"To be completely honest, the scholarship was too hard not to be accepted, and I wanted to go to a school where I was going to be given the chance to play baseball and get my studies in a great school such as Manhattan College."
 
Although dedicating his time to baseball and his major in finance and minor in mathematics leaves little time for extracurriculars, Carrera loves just about everything that has come with his Jasper identity.
 
"What I love about this school is the kids that come here. They're genuine and always involved in sports activities," Carrera says. "I also love that Manhattan College is just 30-40 minutes from a tremendous city. Most importantly, I love my teammates and coaches."
 
Carrera had a fantastic junior year on the diamond, hitting .314 and being ranked among MAAC leaders in doubles (22-1st), runs scored (48-4th), triples (4-t-2nd), total bases (107-4th), stolen bases (22-t-2nd) and at bats (236-1st). In early March, the NCAA named Carrera one of the top-five stolen-base threats in Division I.