Lehigh University Athletics
Student-athletes share holiday memories
12/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
With the fall semester in the books and the holiday season upon us, lehighsports.com checked in with several Lehigh student-athletes and asked them to share with us their favorite holiday memories growing up as well as what the holidays mean to them.
Here are some of their thoughts:
“The holidays are a great time to go home and relax after the semester is finally over. One of the best things though is when we arrive back at Lehigh the day after New Years. We create a bond over our training trip that won't ever be forgotten. The hard work and challenges that we all face together make the experience one to look forward to each year. It's great knowing that although you have to leave your family, you are going back to another one.”
- Julie Mitchell, Swimming and Diving, Sr.,
“I really enjoy the holidays because I can spend time with my family and friends. One of my favorite family Christmas traditions is that every member will hang an ordinary sock on the banister on Christmas Eve and awake to the surprise that the socks turned into Christmas stockings under the tree. Other memories that I associate with the holidays include baking cookies, singing Christmas carols on the 24th, and searching for three presents that Rudolph annually hides in the family room for which my two younger sisters and I must seek. Underlying all of the fun and excitement of the holidays, I certainly appreciate that both of my parents have four siblings, as I especially love the cheer of our large family gatherings!”
- Christy Smith, Field Hockey/Women’s Lacrosse, Jr., Downingtown,
“The holidays are a time to relax and enjoy spending time with my family. My favorite childhood memory is watching the Pee-Wee Herman Christmas special over and over every year.”
-Joe Ercolano, Baseball, Jr.,
"The holidays are a time for giving and for making other people smile. The easiest way to enjoy the holidays is by spending time with family and friends and not getting too stressed out. My favorite childhood memory from the holidays is when it snowed on Christmas day. Usually, my house is full with relatives, but they couldn't make the drive in the snow. The snow made the whole day exciting because we got to play outside. I had a fun time with my parents and brother out in the snow and we still were able to see our relatives the next day.”
- Emily Roth, Women’s Track and Field, Jr., Havertown, Pa, Sociology/Social Psychology
“My favorite holiday memory is one of the funniest times I can remember in my family. One year my brother and I were given scratch-off lottery tickets as stocking stuffers. While doing my Christmas shopping, I came across joke scratch-offs that always win a ton of cash. I thought it would be funny to stick one of these in my brother's stocking for a laugh. When Christmas morning came, one of the first presents my Mom opened was a new camcorder. We decided to set it up and tape the family opening our presents. When it got time to empty our stockings, the lottery tickets were the first thing my brother and I went for. He finally got to his "winning" ticket, and began jumping around the room in amazement. My parents were in on what I had done, and when my brother saw the smirks on all our faces he threw the ticket and we all rolled on the ground laughing. He was upset at first, and most of the laughter was at his expense, but after showing him the tape of it he found it hysterical as well. It was a great time for the whole
family and we found it nice to have a good laugh on Christmas morning. That’s exactly what the holidays mean to me. It is about spending time with family and having a good time. There are no worries, and I am always thankful to be around the people I love.”
- Eric Spirko, Men’s Lacrosse, Jr., Manlius, N.Y., Finance
“The holidays to me mean a time to recognize and spend time with the people that you love and appreciate, and also a time to realize all the wonderful things in life that you have been blessed with. My favorite holiday memory is playing hide and go seek on every Christmas Eve with my family.”
- Marquis Hall, Men’s Basketball, Fr.,
“For me, the holidays are a time to be thankful for and be with our families. I believe our families are the greatest gift we enjoy during the holiday season. I also think the holidays are a time to remember and preserve the great traditions and heroes upon which our country was built. My favorite memory from the holiday season was December 27, 1993, the day my youngest brother, Sammy, was born.”
- Alan Borowsky, Men’s Golf, Sr., Bala Cynwyd,
“To me the holidays are a time when you have a huge excuse to be happy and thankful. You get to focus on what really matters. You get to spend time with your family and close friends and share in the season of giving with these people. Ever since I can remember my entire family has gotten together and had your normal Christmas celebration. We exchange names and give presents, have a huge
- Kaela Pearce, Women’s Basketball, Jr.,
“For me, the holidays mean being able to go home and see friends and family that I don't get to see during the rest of the year. One of my favorite childhood holiday memories is playing Balderdash on Christmas Eve with my cousins, a hilarious tradition that I still look forward to today.”
- Tom Zubulake, Men’s Soccer, Sr., Marlboro, N.J., Accounting
“The holidays are very important to me. Not only am I able to forget about school for a while, but I can finally get together with my family that I am not able to see throughout the year. My favorite childhood memory must have been when I was about five yrs old; I woke up one morning to see Santa's sled marks in the snow. Right then and there I believed in Santa more than ever!”
- Steve Rosinski, Men’s Cross Country, Sr.,
“The holidays are a time to spread spirit and joy with the people that you care about. My favorite holiday memory is when it snowed on Christmas Eve and there were two inches of snow on the road Christmas morning. For Christmas that year my brother Josh and I got brand new bicycles. We got our jackets and our shoes on and rode our bicycles out in the snow. It was like we were out there for hours just enjoying riding together and trying out these new bikes.”
- Jon Warren, Football, So.,
From all Lehigh student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, our best to you for a safe and happy holiday season.
