Photo Courtesy of Sports Information
By Ted Wolfe, Staff Writer
Antonio Puzzangara grew up watching Philadelphia Eagles legends Brian Westbrook and Brian Dawkins. Now, he is a senior linebacker on the Susquehanna football team.
Puzzangara is a finance major with a minor in economics, and is from West Chester, Pa. He loved watching football with his dad growing up, and he also enjoyed the general physicality that the sport possesses.
He originally came to Susquehanna for the business school and so he could play football, but his experience ended up being so much more.
“Seeing the growth between me and my brothers is something that I loved to see year in and year out. Off the field, my favorite memory was meeting some of the best friends I could ever ask for,” Puzzangara said.
One thing he will never forget is the disappointment he felt his junior year. The Susquehanna football team missed the playoffs, and Puzzangara said he will never forget that. However, he gained a life lesson from this loss. “The feeling of disappointment has forced me to focus on the details and never take anything for granted.”
He had great memories overall, whether it be watching each player progress and improve on the field, or the impacts of Coach Kitchen and Coach White. Puzzangara attributes a lot of success to those two coaches, who he said pushed them to the limits, and brought an energy and mindset that rubbed off on all the players, and helped them to improve.
COVID-19 has affected every single one of us, but many seniors have lost their seasons due to the virus. However, Puzzangara learned from his experiences with the virus. “COVID-19 has made me a more grateful person. I was able to spend a lot of time with my family and I saw myself grow with them as the spring and summer went along,” Puzzangara said.
Losing your season is hard for anyone, especially when you are a senior. Puzzangara wanted to leave some words of encouragement for everyone, not just athletes. “I would say to love and embrace everyday and take it as an opportunity to improve yourself in every facet: personally, physically, as a student, brother, sister, etc. Be honest and hard on yourself to find purpose and have the ability to fight through adversities.”
