Colosimo getting the most out of her career

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

As the high school soccer season gets underway, this is just the start of the athletic season for Kenmore East High School’s Gianna Colosimo.

Over the past four years, if there is a sport to play Colosimo is probably on the roster. Her athletic career is more than a page at this point. She is a star soccer player for Kenmore East, but in her spare time she also ran track, played lacrosse and added flag football to her impressive resume.

Being the youngest sibling playing sports is something she has always done, Colosimo's older sister is her role model when it comes to getting out there and playing, and not being scared to try something new.

“Being the younger sibling I always saw my older sister being involved in everything and making the most of her high school experience, I wanted the same for myself. I can thank high school sports for giving me some of the best friendships,” stated Colosimo. “I was never scared to try new things and I always had my sister there to guide me.”

As a junior last season, Colosimo came into her own on the soccer field. The talented forward scored a career-high nine goals to lead the line for the Bulldogs. She has taken that momentum into this year as Colosimo has already scored three goals and added an assists in her first two games.

While the team has had its ups and down over the past couple years, Colosimo’s confidence has never wavered. Last season she came up big against Niagara Falls, scoring the game-winner as Kenmore East was able to battle back for the win. It’s that type of confidence, and leadership, her coaches, and teammates, love about her.

“The team has definitely had its ups and downs when it came to scoring during my junior season. I knew I had to step it up and take on more of a scoring role. Going into each game, I was focused on creating opportunities and capitalizing on them,” stated Colosimo. “I remember one game against Niagara Falls we were down by one and I managed to score a late goal to secure the win. In tough moments like that I realized how important it is to stay composed and confident, this has shown me how to lead by example and manage pressure.”

Managing pressure is something Colosimo has to do all the time. She knows other teams are going to try and spy her throughout the game, That other teams are going to game plan for when she steps out on the pitch.

There were times when Colosimo did feel the weight of the expectations on her shoulders, especially when the games were close and everyone looked for her to take charge.

“Definitely, there was pressure to perform and deliver as the leading scorer,” stated Colosimo. “I tried to just focus on having fun and reminding myself why I love the game. There were times when I felt the weight of expectations, especially in the close games, but I focused on staying present and listening to my coaches.”

Colosimo also knows there are times she needs to just take control of the game and be a little bit shellfish. That is the mindset off a forward most times. They cam try and set up another player, but for the most part they need to take the shot when give the chance.

Earlier in her career, Colosimo struggled with trying to make the right decision. But, then the game would just slow down and come to her. Once the game slowed down, Colosimo was able to realize what the right plays were.

“I definitely struggled to find a balance, it was hard knowing when to pass or when to take the ball myself. My coaches taught me to trust my instincts and to make the best decision based on the situation,” stated Colosimo. “Soccer is all about team strategy, knowing when to pass or take a shot is crucial. In order to succeed you need to make the right play.”

Once soccer ends at the end of October, Colosimo goes into the other sports. Each sport she has played throughout her career has shaped her in different ways. Every sport she has participated in has taught her something about herself.

Whether is was discipline, or toughness, each sport has taught Colosimo life lessons.

“Each sport has definitely shaped me in different ways. Track has taught me so much about discipline and pushing my limits. The long hours of training have built my explosiveness and mental toughness,” stated Colosimo. “Lacrosse has really improved my endurance and agility. It is a fast paced game that requires quick thinking and decision making. These sports have each taught me to rely on my teammates, communicate effectively and to always have positive energy.”

If Colosimo wasn’t busy enough, she recently added flag football. Flag football is the largest growing sport, and more than 50 NCAA colleges have added it to their rosters. When Colosimo heard about Kenmore adding flag she thought to herself why not give it a shot.

Colosimo has played both offense and defense for the Kenmore squad, a team made up of both Kenmore East and West.

“I heard about flag football starting in different school districts around the buffalo area, and I thought it would be a great thing for me to try,” stated Colosimo. “I went from playing lacrosse for two years and I wasn't truly enjoying the sport itself but I loved the environment with players from both east and west. Flag football was a risk I wanted to take and as an athlete that has played and participated in so many different sports, the idea of trying something new is always interesting to me.”

As a defensive back last season, Colosimo had 30 flag pulls and four interceptions. She has picked up the game quickly and has become one of the best defensive players on the team.

“When I step on the field, I think about the game plan that our team has come up with, I also make sure that I am positioned correctly and that I’m actively communicating with my teammates,” stated Colosimo. “I always try to think about what I personally need to do to help our team win, and how I have practiced and trained for this. As the season went on I realized it was very important to move on quickly from my mistakes and keep my energy up.”

As her high school career comes to and end, Colosimo is trying to make the most of what time she has left. Playing a sport at Kenmore East since seventh grade, this is all Colosimo knows. She wants to have fun this year, while also staying on top of her recruiting as she looks to play sports at the next level.

“Going into my final year of high school sports, there’s a lot of things going through my head this summer. Thinking about what the next chapter of my life will look like, trying to stay on top of recruiting,” stated Colosimo. “The want to win, the push to make an extra effort to be better, working harder to be in the best shape I can, but the main thing I’m thinking about is making this year fun. I’ve played at Kenmore East in some sports since 7th grade, and for my final seasons I’m going to give every game my all but have as much fun as I can to make memories that will last a lifetime.”