By Dustin Waleff, Sports Editor
Photo Courtesy of Giovanna Carotenuto
For the last two seasons, rising junior Giovanna Carotenuto, has been unable to step onto the court for the River Hawks women’s basketball team.
Due to a back injury during her first year at Susquehanna, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Carotenuto has been unable to play a game since starting college.
The 5-foot-5 guard began playing basketball in the fourth grade at the age of nine, when she instantly fell in love with the sport.
“I chose to come to Susquehanna for basketball because I immediately felt welcomed and like I was part of a family,” Carotenuto said. “I liked how Susquehanna prioritized academics while still allowing the athletes to play the sports they love.”
While still a member of the River Hawk women’s basketball team, Carotenuto’s training is a little different due to her injury.
“The typical training is a bit different for me, because of my back I can’t do all of the same things that the team does. But I try to do similar lifts that strengthen the same areas and drills that we would normally do during the season, while focusing heavily on stretching and foam rolling before training,” Carotenuto said.
Not being able to be on the court was aggravating, but also enlightening.
Carotenuto said, “It was definitely challenging and frustrating at times, but it has been very eye-opening. I’ve learned a lot about fitness and maintaining a healthy life style that I wouldn’t have known if I never hurt my back.
“I definitely missed being on the court with my team but I felt fortunate to be able to get a more in-depth look at things from the sidelines, and realized things that are harder to recognize while on the court.”
With her back now healed, and the suspension of sports due to the pandemic over, Carotenuto cannot wait to get back on the court and be involved in games again.
“I’m really looking forward to finally being able to get on the court with my team,” she said. “I want to be a reliable and coachable player and teammate, able to help the team in whatever way I can.”