2006-07 Athletic Awards Night Speech

The following speech was given at the 2007 Athletic Awards Night and Dessert Reception by student-athlete Dan Campagna.

I was so excited when the Athletic Department informed me that I would be the this year's Student Speaker. It's such an honor to represent my fellow class and teammates this evening. And with this honor, I also knew I had some pretty tough shoes to fill from the previous two speakers in Kelly Dunn and Laura Mason, so I made sure to put a lot of thought and love into this speech. Being a four-year veteran of this event, I also knew that I was last and by now everyone wants this event to wrap up soon as possible, so I promise, my remarks will be brief.

I'd first like to start off by thanking all of the parents in attendance this evening. Your support means the world to your son or daughter, and I speak on behalf of all the student-athletes in the room that when I say we couldn't do it without you, so thank you. I'd also like to personally thank my parents for their support over my four years at EC — especially my father, who is my biggest fan and arguably one of EC's biggest fans, so thanks Dad!

Before I even enrolled at Emmanuel, I knew this place was special. From day one, the entire atmosphere and community environment made me feel right at home. On my first campus visit, everywhere I looked there were smiling faces. People I didn't even know were taking the time to say hello and welcome me. I knew then that this would be the new place I'd call my home.

My high school soccer Coach was a little skeptical when I told him that I'd decided to attend Emmanuel and join their Men's Varsity Soccer Program, and he had every right to be. I was coming off of an All-State season in goal and was being recruited by schools up and down the east coast, some of which were nationally ranked programs. Emmanuel, on the other hand, was coming off of their inaugural season, with an overall record of zero wins and eleven losses. That year's team only scored five goals for the entire season. Now, what could possibly draw me to a program such as this? Well, somewhere behind that ugly record I saw lots of potential. Potential to grow and to excel into a team that one day would be respected. Walking off the field for the final time in a Saints uniform last November, I can confidently say that that potential has turned into a reality.

Over the past four years, as the Men's Soccer Program has grown, so has the Athletic Department. While at Emmanuel, my class has witnessed every program experience their best overall record, 24 playoff bids, 11 appearances in the finals, and 7 conference championships. That excludes the numerous amounts of school records that have been broken during these years as well. It's been an exciting time to be a member of this Saints family, and now as a senior, I'm just sad I have to say goodbye.

This past year has been the most challenging yet rewarding experience of my collegiate career. With four games left in the fall soccer season, I suffered a serious injury to my kicking leg, partially tearing the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in my right knee. After two MRIs, the doctors told me to pack it in and wait until next year to lace up my cleats again. But I knew that there wasn't going to be a next year for me. I wasn't going out that way, not without a fight. So, after our wonderful trainers pulled some strings so that I could see a specialist at children's hospital, I was fitted for a special brace and returned to the action for the final three regular season games. Call me crazy, but with our other goalkeeper in a cast with a broken wrist, I had a commitment to my teammates to play if I could. So I did, and we won all three of our final regular season games. The final two were both shutout victories and with the score tied 0-0 I even stopped a penalty kick late in the second half of my Senior Day game to propel us to the win.

To overcome adversity and succeed takes courage, determination and a whole lot of heart. These are things that coaches can't teach, but somehow the athletes at Emmanuel all seem to possess. From the class of 2007 all the way down to the class of 2010 I just look out and see winner, after winner, after winner. The Seniors may have helped put Emmanuel on the map, but you will all help keep it there.

Although our main focus at EC is to succeed in the classroom, I've certainly done my fair share of learning while in between the athletic boundaries. As you all know, I played volleyball for the first time in my life this year. When I told my family and close friends that I had decided to play, they thought I was kidding, especially since most of them knew what had happened my freshman year. You see, four years ago, I actually tried out for the Men's Volleyball team and was cut because at tryouts, when the Coach at the time asked me what position I played in high school, I told him I was a shooting guard. I guess he didn't appreciate my humor.

Honestly though, playing Volleyball this year made me look at sports from a totally different perspective from how I was used to. I had always preached the concept of team, but that was easy to do when you're a starter and playing time is of no concern to you. This volleyball season I learned that even the last guy on the bench (that was me) can contribute in a big way to the overall effectiveness of a team. I may not have had a clue what I was doing out on the floor at times, but I knew how to motivate my teammates, and sometimes that's what it took to win. Never before had I taken so much pride in sitting the bench, but for this particular team, it was my role and I loved it. For a team to come together and be successful, we all have to acknowledge our individual roles. For those of you returning to EC next year, I wish you the best of luck in finding and excelling in the role that suits you and your team best. Once you find that role, cherish and accept it because, as Coach Wright always says, you're just building a foundation, and it can only get better from here.

Emmanuel College Athletics isn't about getting drafted, or making it on Sportcenter. It's more of a deep need that comes from the heart. We need to practice, need to play, to hustle, to sweat. We do it for our teammates and for ourselves. We don't practice with future pros; we practice with future doctors, lawyers and teachers. Sometimes we play in front of hundreds of fans, and other times we can count everyone in the stands. But we still play hard. We don't sign autographs. When we mess up, we don't let down an entire state, we let down our teammates and coaches. But the hurt is the same. We train, lift, throw, run, hit, kick, tackle, shoot, and train some more. Then in the morning we go to class. It's all about the love and passion for the game. And when its over, we'll walk off that field one last time, exhausted and emotionally drained . But we'll forever be what few can claim: college athletes.

I wish all teams the best of luck in the future and to my fellow seniors, I thank you for sharing this experience with me.

It's been a privilege to call you all my teammates, and an honor to call you my friends and no matter where you or I end up, we will always be a Saints.

Thank You.