Student-Athlete Spotlight: Alex Syrotynski

9/21/2020 11:00:00 AM

Throughout the fall semester, daemenwildcats.com will feature a Student-Athlete Spotlight series to introduce you to current student-athletes from the college's 17 varsity athletic teams. Today's featured student-athlete is bowler Alex Syrotynski.

QUICK BIO
Alex Syrotynski (East Greenbush, N.Y.) has been a major contributor for the Daemen women's bowling team over her first three collegiate seasons. She'll enter her senior campaign having led the Wildcats to an average of 34 wins per season, including a program record 40 in 2019-20. Syrotynski has earned multiple all-tournament team honors throughout her career, and was also named the team's Most Valuable Player following the 2018-19 season.

A pre-med major, Syrotynski came to Daemen as a member of the program's 2017 recruiting class. She was a five-year letter winner in bowling at Columbia High School (N.Y.) where she earned multiple All-Suburban Council accolades.

syrotynski wbowl action

QUESTION & ANSWER
Q: What is the earliest memory you have playing your sport?
A: When I was six, my mom was driving my brother and I to his summer bowling league after my dance class. Once I saw how much fun he was having with the other kids, I told my mom that I wanted to bowl as soon as possible. The next week I was signed up to bowl with my brother with my very own red bowling ball.

Q; Excluding your parents, what person or persons has made the biggest impact on your life and how?
A: My grandfather and grandmother are my biggest influences to this day. My grandfather taught me to value education first and to learn new things every day. My grandmother has always been supportive of bowling and pushes me to try my hardest to reach my goals. I would not be the person I am today without them.

Q: At what moment did you know you were choosing to attend Daemen?
A: I was choosing between a couple of schools at the time, but I chose Daemen because I had the opportunity to bowl while also studying at a small school that was student focused. I'm still very happy I chose to be here and I wouldn't change anything about it.

Q: Who is the teammate you are closest with? What activities do you enjoy doing together?
A: I've made so many life long friends from this team, but the person I'm closest with is Alex Hasiotis. We got really close during our freshmen year and she's been one of my best friends ever since. Alex and I like to workout together, bowl together, and have nights where we sit and do homework or just hang out with each other.

Q: Who was your childhood idol and why?
A: My childhood idol was Martin Luther King, Jr. When I was in elementary school, it was my favorite lesson and I always admired how he fought for equality.

Q: What is the best advice you ever received and from who?
A: The best advice I ever received was from my Dad. When I was little, he would always tell me and my brother to treat others with kindness and respect no matter their sex, race, or sexual orientation.

Q: What professional sports teams or athletes do you root for?
A: I'm a big Red Sox fan since I grew up going to Boston all the time and going to the games. I really like watching Serena and Venus Williams since they're both incredibly talented and are a positive influence on female athletes.

Q: What has been your favorite academic course at Daemen so far, and why?
A: My favorite course was service learning. I really enjoyed helping the kids at my site organizing science experiments and I also enjoyed learning more about the history of Buffalo.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have one black cat and her name is Esmeralda.

Q: Where did you take your most memorable vacation? Where is a vacation destination that you haven't visited, but definitely plan to in the future?
A: My most memorable vacation was a school trip I took to Delphi, Greece. It was so beautiful there and I really want to go back someday. One place I would really like to visit is New Zealand because the geography is incredible.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your sport? What is your least favorite thing about your sport? Why?
A: My favorite thing about bowling is the focus you have to maintain throughout the day in order to make consistent shots and the feeling you get when you know you're throwing the ball good. My least favorite thing about it is having to change the tape in my bowling balls if my thumb is swollen or when the oil on the lane is messed up.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: In 10 years, I would hopefully be finishing up with school and on track to becoming a physician in a specialty I enjoy. I also want to continue bowling as an adult because it has been a huge influence in my life and I hope to reach more milestones in the sport after I graduate.

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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