Fisher-lympics
Students excel in winter sports
By Eddie Ramos
Last Updated:11:28 AM EST 3/8/10 Section: Sports
From participating in sports as a hobby to competing at a national level, skiing and figure skating are two sports that have played a large role in students' lives at St. John Fisher College.
Freshman Brendan Kennedy remembers the first time he went downhill skiing at the age of nine. His dad influenced him to go out and try the sport.
"I began skiing through my local community center and we would go every weekend," Kennedy said.
Skiing was a leisure activity at first for Kennedy, but over time, his liking for skiing grew and it became more than just a hobby.
In his junior year, his high school formed an alpine racing ski team. Kennedy had never raced before, but he was more than willing to try.
After a few downhill races, he realized how competitive the sport really was.
"There were kids that were absolutely incredible, the racing aspect was new to me,"he said. "Racing is so much different than just going out and skiing with your buddies."
Kennedy learned the skills of downhill racing and continued to race until he graduated.
"It was tough to get used to the racing side of downhill skiing, but after a few races I got the hang of it," Kennedy said.
Now, as a freshman in college, Kennedy no longer competes, but he still loves to hit the slopes.
"I go back home and help out with my high school team whenever I get the opportunity," he said. "Skiing is something that is great to get involved in."
Fisher sophomore Christian Cassara has been downhill skiing since he was three years old.
"My parents would take me skiing every weekend and I really didn't like to go until I was about five," Cassara said. "I eventually picked up on it and began to enjoy it."
At the age of 10, Cassara went to Colorado to take lessons, where his love for downhill skiing really began.
"I went out to Colorado and learned from some instructors, it was really fun," Cassara said.
He used these skills later on when he began racing at McQuaid.
Freshman Brendan Kennedy remembers the first time he went downhill skiing at the age of nine. His dad influenced him to go out and try the sport.
"I began skiing through my local community center and we would go every weekend," Kennedy said.
Skiing was a leisure activity at first for Kennedy, but over time, his liking for skiing grew and it became more than just a hobby.
In his junior year, his high school formed an alpine racing ski team. Kennedy had never raced before, but he was more than willing to try.
After a few downhill races, he realized how competitive the sport really was.
"There were kids that were absolutely incredible, the racing aspect was new to me,"he said. "Racing is so much different than just going out and skiing with your buddies."
Kennedy learned the skills of downhill racing and continued to race until he graduated.
"It was tough to get used to the racing side of downhill skiing, but after a few races I got the hang of it," Kennedy said.
Now, as a freshman in college, Kennedy no longer competes, but he still loves to hit the slopes.
"I go back home and help out with my high school team whenever I get the opportunity," he said. "Skiing is something that is great to get involved in."
Fisher sophomore Christian Cassara has been downhill skiing since he was three years old.
"My parents would take me skiing every weekend and I really didn't like to go until I was about five," Cassara said. "I eventually picked up on it and began to enjoy it."
At the age of 10, Cassara went to Colorado to take lessons, where his love for downhill skiing really began.
"I went out to Colorado and learned from some instructors, it was really fun," Cassara said.
He used these skills later on when he began racing at McQuaid.
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