Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Staples Finds Her Passion in Journalism
10/28/2021 3:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Student Athlete, Features
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
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One's college years are about learning, growing and finding one's passion.
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Despite her college days not going like she had imagined, Lehigh women's soccer senior Sydney Staples has found her passion… journalism.
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And if it wasn't for soccer, she likely wouldn't be in this position, at a prestigious institution like Lehigh University – a place that's helped set her up for success.
Â
"What brought me to Lehigh was genuinely just the fact that they recruited me," she said. "I wouldn't have known about this place otherwise. My dad knew about it from wrestling here in Pennsylvania. When Coach started recruiting me, my dad was like Sydney, you have no idea how good this school is."
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From Front Royal, Virginia, Staples' heart had been set on Virginia Tech. Things didn't work out there, but Staples found Lehigh was a place where she was wanted.
Â
"Coach continued to call me and continued to show up to my tournaments, including my very last game," she said.
Â
Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus was actually recruiting another player on the opposing team when he first saw Sydney play. But once he saw Staples play, he knew she was a fit for Lehigh.
Â
"As I was trying to get an evaluation of the other player, Sydney kept finding the ball and had such an energy to her play that couldn't go unnoticed," said Lambinus. "As we contacted her and got to know her, we knew Lehigh would be a great fit for her development, and that she would be a great addition to our program in so many ways. This goes well beyond soccer and her ability on the field."
Â
Staples became sold on Lehigh.
Â
"When I came on a visit, I went to a 6 a.m. practice," she said. "That was crazy. I never thought that would be a thing, but I remember seeing just how much of a family it was here."
Â
Quite simply, Lehigh was a place Staples could see herself.
Â
Flash forward a bit and when Staples got to Lehigh, she struggled (which isn't uncommon for many college students, never mind student-athletes). It was a tough transition and not like she expected in a few facets, including on the soccer field
Â
"Freshman year was really hard," said Staples. "When soccer wasn't necessarily going the way I had envisioned, everything kind of came crumbling down with it. [Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics] Joe Sterrett had told us is there are three aspects of being a student-athlete – the academic, athletic and social side. He said it's incredibly difficult to excel in all three.
Â
"When soccer wasn't necessarily going my way, I realized I really had to hammer home and work hard on the academic side of things, being journalism, really immersing myself into what my potential future would be."
Â
At that time in the middle of her first year, Sydney heavily debated transferring.
Â
"But I gave myself until spring break to make a decision," she said. "I decided to try it out in the spring, try something new, try something different. Give it a go and here I am, this many years later.
Â
"It's been the most transformative four years of my life."
Â
Staples' four years have been far from perfect, she'll admit that, but her Lehigh experience has definitely helped mold her into someone who's ready to tackle the world.
Â
"When I decided to stay after spring break, there wasn't anything in particular why I was staying," said Staples. "It was a gut feeling that I made a decision to come here for a reason. Not just because of athletics or not just because of the academic reputation. There was just something in my gut, something in my heart that there's something right about this place.
Â
"For whatever reason… you'll thank yourself in the future."
Â
Today, Staples is absolutely thanking her former self. The present-day Sydney Staples has visions and aspirations of working in sports broadcasting. She is planning on applying to graduate school at Syracuse's prestigious and well-known Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Â
"I wouldn't have known about Syracuse and my potential what-could-be next step (without Lehigh)," said Staples. "I wouldn't have connections with somebody like (former Lehigh women's basketball guard) Kayla Burton of the NFL Network if I wouldn't have stayed here, learned about her and learned about her path. To be a part of the Brown and White (student newspaper), potential internship opportunities with ESPN+ productions, Lehigh Sports and the Patriot League, they're things I knew there was going to be potential for when I was a freshman. I just didn't know what they looked like.
Â
"I've learned within the past year that there's more to my life than soccer defining it," Staples continued. "It was me knowing in my gut freshman year there's going to be more to this, there's more to you and there's more to your identity. You just haven't found it yet."
Â
Staples has found it, due in large part from immersing herself in journalism. She has been a key contributor to the Brown and White, which was very recently awarded second place nationally by the College Media Association in the 2020-21 Best College Media Outlet of the Year.
One story Staples wrote for the paper as a sophomore sticks out to her to this day.
Â
"I think the big turning point for me was when I interviewed Muffet McGraw (former legendary collegiate women's basketball coach, who began her head coaching career at Lehigh)," said Staples. "That was a really big piece (click here to read it) and opportunity I was given by my associate editors and ever since then, I could really see myself doing this. I could see myself interviewing really incredible and influential people within the athletics side of things."
Â
Staples later interviewed former Lehigh men's basketball, and current Portland Trail Blazers', standout CJ McCollum (click here to read the piece).
Â
"At the point of the Muffet McGraw interview, I had been writing for the Brown and White for only one or two, maybe three semesters," said Staples. "There was still a lot of learning I had to do and the fact that my editors trusted me for the story, woah, that was so cool. And again, followed by CJ McCollum.
Â
"Muffet McGraw's is what sparked it, but interviewing somebody like CJ solidified it for me."
Â
Staples' journalism interest was actually born in high school, but after these prominent interviews, it became something she could see herself doing for the rest of her life.
Â
Journalism is competitive, which should help fill some of the emptiness when Staples' collegiate soccer career comes to an end. The Mountain Hawks' regular season finale was Wednesday, with the Patriot League Quarterfinals set for Sunday. Whether it's days or weeks, the time will soon come when Staples isn't involved in high-level, organized soccer anymore.
Â
However, the adrenaline will keep flowing… just in just another way.
Â
"Watching competitors at the peak of their games is going to bring out my competitive side," said Staples. "Journalism and sports journalism in the future in and of itself is competitive. And the fact that I'm a Division I student-athlete right now, I thrive on competition. I've had some people tell me it's going to be really hard moving forward, but I welcome that.
Â
"I'm ready to take on that challenge."
Â
Staples has gotten butterflies before some interviews, especially before the McGraw and McCollum ones. But they're competitive butterflies like before a game, so it's a good thing. It's reaffirming that she's found the career path for her.
Â
Staples' mind is open to different areas of journalism, but her goal is to be in front of a camera one day.
Â
"I envision myself being a sideline reporter, covering the Super Bowl and interviewing the star quarterback of the team that just won," she said. "I love the idea of telling people's stories. I think my story is so unique, and what I've gone through as a Division I student-athlete. It's important to tell stories, and that's appealing to me."
Â
Staples' story is focused on how coming to Lehigh – a place she hadn't heard of previously – to play soccer was a path to a career passion. And that's what college, and college athletics, is really all about.
Â
No matter the setting or situation, a big part of Staples' identity is her relentless energy. It's an extremely valuable asset for the Mountain Hawks' on the field, while serving her well off the field as well.
Â
"I want to be remembered as somebody who had exactly that – relentless energy," she said. "I think that's what sets me apart from so many different people. I am clearly an extravert. I enjoy social situations and enjoy being loud and proud. I want to be remembered as somebody whose energy on the field was unmatched – whether it's the energy I had getting on the bus at 8 a.m. for a trip to Loyola or after a long week of tests, the energy I bring to practice at 4 p.m. on a Thursday when people are drained from the week."
Â
Staples certainly has a lot to be proud of. Within four years, she turned from someone who primarily associated herself as a soccer player into someone who still loves the sport, loves competing, loves the impact it's had on her life, but also understands she is more than just a soccer player.
Â
"It does not surprise me one bit to see that energetic, tough and purposeful player from that first game [I saw Sydney play] develop into such a well-rounded and driven student-athlete who will do incredibly in the field of sports journalism," said Lambinus.
Â
"Soccer is an incredible part of my life and not something I will ever let go of," said Staples. "Now that I'm approaching what-could-be my last week or two of playing soccer at a really high and competitive level, there's been this worry of not knowing myself without it. I don't know Lehigh without having to dedicate three hours of my days over on the Goodman Campus.
Â
"But, that's one of the reasons it's important that I stayed [at Lehigh]," Staples continued. "I knew I'd find myself in a spot where soccer, and how well I do and the accolades I receive on the field, isn't my whole life, it's not my whole entity, it's not my whole being. Being recruited here was not just because of soccer, even though my freshman-year self didn't realize that at the time.
Â
"Tunnel vision, that's all I thought of myself, but I've realized I'm so much more."
Â
Â
One's college years are about learning, growing and finding one's passion.
Â
Despite her college days not going like she had imagined, Lehigh women's soccer senior Sydney Staples has found her passion… journalism.
Â
And if it wasn't for soccer, she likely wouldn't be in this position, at a prestigious institution like Lehigh University – a place that's helped set her up for success.
Â
"What brought me to Lehigh was genuinely just the fact that they recruited me," she said. "I wouldn't have known about this place otherwise. My dad knew about it from wrestling here in Pennsylvania. When Coach started recruiting me, my dad was like Sydney, you have no idea how good this school is."
Â
From Front Royal, Virginia, Staples' heart had been set on Virginia Tech. Things didn't work out there, but Staples found Lehigh was a place where she was wanted.
Â
"Coach continued to call me and continued to show up to my tournaments, including my very last game," she said.
Â
Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus was actually recruiting another player on the opposing team when he first saw Sydney play. But once he saw Staples play, he knew she was a fit for Lehigh.
Â
"As I was trying to get an evaluation of the other player, Sydney kept finding the ball and had such an energy to her play that couldn't go unnoticed," said Lambinus. "As we contacted her and got to know her, we knew Lehigh would be a great fit for her development, and that she would be a great addition to our program in so many ways. This goes well beyond soccer and her ability on the field."
 Staples became sold on Lehigh.
Â
"When I came on a visit, I went to a 6 a.m. practice," she said. "That was crazy. I never thought that would be a thing, but I remember seeing just how much of a family it was here."
Â
Quite simply, Lehigh was a place Staples could see herself.
Â
Flash forward a bit and when Staples got to Lehigh, she struggled (which isn't uncommon for many college students, never mind student-athletes). It was a tough transition and not like she expected in a few facets, including on the soccer field
Â
"Freshman year was really hard," said Staples. "When soccer wasn't necessarily going the way I had envisioned, everything kind of came crumbling down with it. [Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics] Joe Sterrett had told us is there are three aspects of being a student-athlete – the academic, athletic and social side. He said it's incredibly difficult to excel in all three.
Â
"When soccer wasn't necessarily going my way, I realized I really had to hammer home and work hard on the academic side of things, being journalism, really immersing myself into what my potential future would be."
Â
At that time in the middle of her first year, Sydney heavily debated transferring.
Â
"But I gave myself until spring break to make a decision," she said. "I decided to try it out in the spring, try something new, try something different. Give it a go and here I am, this many years later.
Â
"It's been the most transformative four years of my life."
Â
Staples' four years have been far from perfect, she'll admit that, but her Lehigh experience has definitely helped mold her into someone who's ready to tackle the world.
Â
"When I decided to stay after spring break, there wasn't anything in particular why I was staying," said Staples. "It was a gut feeling that I made a decision to come here for a reason. Not just because of athletics or not just because of the academic reputation. There was just something in my gut, something in my heart that there's something right about this place.
Â
"For whatever reason… you'll thank yourself in the future."
 Today, Staples is absolutely thanking her former self. The present-day Sydney Staples has visions and aspirations of working in sports broadcasting. She is planning on applying to graduate school at Syracuse's prestigious and well-known Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Â
"I wouldn't have known about Syracuse and my potential what-could-be next step (without Lehigh)," said Staples. "I wouldn't have connections with somebody like (former Lehigh women's basketball guard) Kayla Burton of the NFL Network if I wouldn't have stayed here, learned about her and learned about her path. To be a part of the Brown and White (student newspaper), potential internship opportunities with ESPN+ productions, Lehigh Sports and the Patriot League, they're things I knew there was going to be potential for when I was a freshman. I just didn't know what they looked like.
Â
"I've learned within the past year that there's more to my life than soccer defining it," Staples continued. "It was me knowing in my gut freshman year there's going to be more to this, there's more to you and there's more to your identity. You just haven't found it yet."
Â
Staples has found it, due in large part from immersing herself in journalism. She has been a key contributor to the Brown and White, which was very recently awarded second place nationally by the College Media Association in the 2020-21 Best College Media Outlet of the Year.
The @collegemedia has awarded the @LUBrownWhite second place nationally in its 2020-21 "Best College Media Outlet of the Year" category in its annual Pinnacle Awards. I am so proud of our hardworking staff comprised of @LehighU from all disciplines.
— Matt Veto (@MattVeto) October 22, 2021
One story Staples wrote for the paper as a sophomore sticks out to her to this day.
Â
"I think the big turning point for me was when I interviewed Muffet McGraw (former legendary collegiate women's basketball coach, who began her head coaching career at Lehigh)," said Staples. "That was a really big piece (click here to read it) and opportunity I was given by my associate editors and ever since then, I could really see myself doing this. I could see myself interviewing really incredible and influential people within the athletics side of things."
Â
Staples later interviewed former Lehigh men's basketball, and current Portland Trail Blazers', standout CJ McCollum (click here to read the piece).
Â
"At the point of the Muffet McGraw interview, I had been writing for the Brown and White for only one or two, maybe three semesters," said Staples. "There was still a lot of learning I had to do and the fact that my editors trusted me for the story, woah, that was so cool. And again, followed by CJ McCollum.
 "Muffet McGraw's is what sparked it, but interviewing somebody like CJ solidified it for me."
Â
Staples' journalism interest was actually born in high school, but after these prominent interviews, it became something she could see herself doing for the rest of her life.
Â
Journalism is competitive, which should help fill some of the emptiness when Staples' collegiate soccer career comes to an end. The Mountain Hawks' regular season finale was Wednesday, with the Patriot League Quarterfinals set for Sunday. Whether it's days or weeks, the time will soon come when Staples isn't involved in high-level, organized soccer anymore.
Â
However, the adrenaline will keep flowing… just in just another way.
Â
"Watching competitors at the peak of their games is going to bring out my competitive side," said Staples. "Journalism and sports journalism in the future in and of itself is competitive. And the fact that I'm a Division I student-athlete right now, I thrive on competition. I've had some people tell me it's going to be really hard moving forward, but I welcome that.
Â
"I'm ready to take on that challenge."
Â
Staples has gotten butterflies before some interviews, especially before the McGraw and McCollum ones. But they're competitive butterflies like before a game, so it's a good thing. It's reaffirming that she's found the career path for her.
Â
Staples' mind is open to different areas of journalism, but her goal is to be in front of a camera one day.
Â
"I envision myself being a sideline reporter, covering the Super Bowl and interviewing the star quarterback of the team that just won," she said. "I love the idea of telling people's stories. I think my story is so unique, and what I've gone through as a Division I student-athlete. It's important to tell stories, and that's appealing to me."
Â
Staples' story is focused on how coming to Lehigh – a place she hadn't heard of previously – to play soccer was a path to a career passion. And that's what college, and college athletics, is really all about.
Â
No matter the setting or situation, a big part of Staples' identity is her relentless energy. It's an extremely valuable asset for the Mountain Hawks' on the field, while serving her well off the field as well.
Â
"I want to be remembered as somebody who had exactly that – relentless energy," she said. "I think that's what sets me apart from so many different people. I am clearly an extravert. I enjoy social situations and enjoy being loud and proud. I want to be remembered as somebody whose energy on the field was unmatched – whether it's the energy I had getting on the bus at 8 a.m. for a trip to Loyola or after a long week of tests, the energy I bring to practice at 4 p.m. on a Thursday when people are drained from the week."
Â
Staples certainly has a lot to be proud of. Within four years, she turned from someone who primarily associated herself as a soccer player into someone who still loves the sport, loves competing, loves the impact it's had on her life, but also understands she is more than just a soccer player.
 "It does not surprise me one bit to see that energetic, tough and purposeful player from that first game [I saw Sydney play] develop into such a well-rounded and driven student-athlete who will do incredibly in the field of sports journalism," said Lambinus.
Â
"Soccer is an incredible part of my life and not something I will ever let go of," said Staples. "Now that I'm approaching what-could-be my last week or two of playing soccer at a really high and competitive level, there's been this worry of not knowing myself without it. I don't know Lehigh without having to dedicate three hours of my days over on the Goodman Campus.
Â
"But, that's one of the reasons it's important that I stayed [at Lehigh]," Staples continued. "I knew I'd find myself in a spot where soccer, and how well I do and the accolades I receive on the field, isn't my whole life, it's not my whole entity, it's not my whole being. Being recruited here was not just because of soccer, even though my freshman-year self didn't realize that at the time.
Â
"Tunnel vision, that's all I thought of myself, but I've realized I'm so much more."
Â
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