Plainview Alumnus Stars on Baruch Volleyball Court

Some may consider being named varsity team captain and taking home a county championship title in senior year of high school enough to be satisfied. That thought never crossed Nick Godino’s mind.

Godino, 2015 Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School graduate, decided to take his abilities on the volleyball court to the next level when he committed to play for Baruch College after graduation.

The 20-year-old outside hitter won Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 after recording 109 kills and 118 points, and continues to dominate the competition. He led the team to a second place finish in the CUNYAC finals this season with a team-high 235 kills.

“[Playing volleyball] gives me a sense of pride for my school,” Godino said. “It has kept me competitive and gives me something to strive for. Knowing that I was chosen by [Baruch] to compete and represent the school is awesome.”

Godino has an intensive training and practice schedule along with a full class workload. He says the demands have taken a toll on his social life and sleep schedule, and have forced him to improve his time management and organizational abilities.

He hasn’t let his commitments weigh on his academic success, however, as he received both the Baruch Scholar Athlete Award and selection as a 2017 CUNY all-star this season.

“Playing a sport takes up a lot of your time,” he said. “I put in extra hours before practice and extra hours after practice. I watch volleyball, read about volleyball and overall study the sport. I see what mistakes I make and I work to work to improve those specific mistakes so I get it right the next time.”

His teammates attribute his results on the court to his diligent work ethic and love for the sport. Since setting foot on campus, he’s been a leader of the team.

“He’s the first one at practice and the last one to leave every day,” said teammate Kyriakos Semertzidis. “He’s the ideal teammate. He works hard and makes everyone around him better.”

“My favorite part is getting to compete at one of the highest levels of play possible and getting to play against some of the best players in the country,” Godino said. “It keeps me active during my busy college life. It has made me many new social and professional connections.”

From his origins as a Plainview Hawk, Godino has remained humble and motivated. He hasn’t lost his passion and his drive to win.

“I may have fallen short of my goal of a conference championship this year,” he said. “But with hard work and training in the off-season, I’ll be back to make Baruch the best team in New York City again.”

Photo: Baruch College