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Her Space // editorial


A BLESSING IN DISGUISE


Florida’s fi fth-year senior Nicole Graziano grateful for chance to redshirt


T


o the aspiring college lacrosse player, the subject of redshirting rarely is breached. But


when a serious illness or injury occurs, this concept comes to life in a very real way. I recently caught up with Florida coach Mandee O’Leary and her fi fth-year senior, Nicole Graziano, to shed light on the benefi ts of redshirting when circumstances force the decision upon you. Battling a nagging knee injury and unsure if she could return in the middle of her junior season, Graziano sat down with the coaching


staff to discuss her options. She opted to redshirt and remain at Florida for an additional year while pursuing her master’s degree. Being sidelined and unable


to participate in games can be a test of your fortitude and commitment to the game. It also can be an opportunity to learn the game from a new perspective. That’s how Graziano saw it. “It taught me a lot, being on the sidelines,” she said. “It really helped me be a better teammate, supporting and pumping up the players on the fi eld. Persevering through injury [also] taught me a lot, forcing me to put in the hard work both in practices and outside of practice to make sure I could return from the injury.” O’Leary noticed Graziano’s


growth.


“From her freshman year to her fi fth year, Nicole has completely evolved,” O’Leary said. “She has matured both on and off the fi eld, emotionally and physically as a player. She is so


laxmagazine.com


much more mature and worldly about situations and has a great perspective of the game.” That extra year has also elevated Graziano into a natural leader. “Nicole is both a leader by action and words,” O’Leary said. “She has a very strong presence. She really took the freshmen this year under her tutelage, and that went a long way on our team and in our locker room.”


An extra year of eligibility brings with it more opportunities to experience the close losses and the big wins, and to witness what it takes to overcome the disheartening setbacks to achieve the celebratory comebacks. O’Leary summarized the weight of these experiences on Graziano’s fi fth year, noting that her “ability to stay calm, cool and collected makes everyone else feel calm, cool and collected.”


The anchoring element that Graziano brings to the Gators, on and off the fi eld, is irreplaceable. “I’ve now been here for fi ve years, playing for the same team and coach,” Graziano said. “My mindset is totally changed. With the help of my coaches, my lacrosse IQ has increased and I’m able to see the game completely differently.”


Graziano and her teammates all have benefi tted from her redshirting. As with any obstacle an athlete faces, when it is faced head on with diligence, commitment and perseverance, the opportunities to grow and excel abound.


— Kate Hickman Founder, Balance Lacrosse May 2016 » LACROSSE MAGAZINE 19


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