Continuing our Division III Week student-athlete series is women’s volleyball and track & field senior Alyssa Jasper. Division III Week is a week of celebration of the great opportunities that Division III provides by allowing student-athletes to discover their potential, develop their passions and dedicating themselves to success, on and off the playing field.
With 24 hours in a day, you wonder how senior Alyssa Jasper balances it all as a three-season athlete and a nursing major.
Between competing on the volleyball court and as a multi-sport student-athlete during the indoor and outdoor track season, Jasper is a nursing major which requires her to maintain a higher grade point average than the regular student body.
In addition to rigorous coursework required to be a registered nurse, upperclassmen participate in clinical studies outside of the classroom, which often require long hours. Jasper herself is an active member of the Student Nurses Association.
“You take it one day at a time,” said Jasper. “I’ve compete year round throughout my whole life, so managing athletics and sports has never been an issue. I determine what needs to be done first and then prioritize my time.”
Over the course of her Worcester State career, Jasper has competed at the NCAA Division III National Championships three times in the javelin, once in the pentathlon and this past spring as a junior, she received All-American honors in the heptathlon.
“I think aspects of my personality really show in athletics (and competition) and that attitude helps me achieve what I do,” said Jasper. “The driving factor that makes me so competitive is simply the fact that I don’t like to lose. Once you make nationals once, you want to make sure you get back there again.”
On the volleyball court, Jasper will graduate as the programs all-time leader in kills. In the fall season of her senior year, Jasper was named the MASCAC Player of the Year and she helped guide the squad to the conference tournament finals.
Embodying the true definition in being student-athlete, Jasper said that enrolling at Worcester State has given her to chance to reach her potential in three sports all while graduating in four years with a nursing degree.
“Worcester State has allowed me to compete at the collegiate level and succeed both athletically and athletically,” said Jasper. “I have been able to continue the foundation of my educational and career goals.”
Even with one outdoor track season remaining to compete in as a senior student-athlete, Jasper has high expectations as she looks to continue her education and develop her passion in the field of nursing.
“The goal is to continue the journey of becoming a registered nurse and then specializing in Emergency or Critical Care nursing,” said Jasper. “Ultimately, one day I hope to be working on MedFlight.”
Division III Week - Student Athlete Profile Series
April 8, 2015
Opening up this week’s Division III Week student-athlete series is women’s basketball senior Julie Frankian. Division III Week is a week of celebration of the great opportunities that Division III provides by allowing student-athletes to discover their potential, develop their passions and dedicating themselves to success, on and off the playing field.
Senior guard Julie Frankian recently wrapped up a solid three-year career, leading the women’s basketball team to a pair of appearances in the MASCAC tournament, with a berth to the semifinals this past season.
Her senior campaign was her most successful to date as she earned First-team All-MASCAC accolades while finishing third in the league in scoring and she broke a 15-year school record for three-pointers made.
But it’s been a long road of recovery for Frankian, who bounced back from tearing her ACL during a practice in January of 2013. A month following her transfer from Assumption to Worcester State for the second semester, she injured her knee during a practice. Frankian tried to play through the injury for two games, however, the pain was too much to handle.
After surgery, Frankian immediately started rehabilitation and has not looked back since as it was instrumental in the success for her comeback during her junior and senior years.
“During the time of my injury, physical therapy allowed me to still be active while making me work hard to get back on the court,” said Frankian. “Without physical therapy to push me, I wouldn’t have been able to play the game I love for these last two seasons.”
Honing in on the passion she has for working with student-athletes, Frankian switched gears this semester and focused her efforts on injury prevention. She is currently working this spring at Holy Cross as a strength and conditioning intern, primarily focusing her efforts with the men’s and women’s crew teams and with the football team.
Putting her health education degree to good use this semester, Frankian has helped assist with workouts, has demonstrated new exercises and she’s critiqued form, so no one gets injured. After graduation, Frankian said that the future potential is there to continue being a strength and conditioning coach or working elsewhere in athletics.
“I want to work in either of these two fields because I love working with athletes and I love sports,” said Frankian. “I don’t know what I would do if sports weren’t a part of my life anymore.”
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