Students Work Hard, Play Hard at Emerson

In recognition of National Student Athlete Day on Monday, April 6—as well as Division III Week April 6-12—Emerson Today caught up with student athletes Kaylin O’Meara ’27 and Filippo Nocchi ’27 about their experience at Emerson, how they balance academics with athletics, and some highlights from the year. 

Name: Kaylin O’Meara ’27
Major/Minor: Marketing Communication major with a minor in Sports Communication
Sports: Women’s Soccer and Women’s Basketball

Why did you choose to come to Emerson?
I chose to come to Emerson because of the strong academic communication programs that it offers. My club soccer coach at the time recommended it to me because I wanted to play soccer at a DIII school and major in communications. I also loved the location of the school, too; being in a city was a must for me! It ended up being the perfect fit, and I was able to walk on to the basketball team as well.

How do you balance academics with athletics? Any tips?
I balance academics with athletics by making sure I schedule time in my days to complete homework assignments in advance, prioritize important tasks, and make the most out of the small amounts of time that I have in between classes, practices, and meetings. I rely on time management and to-do lists to stay organized. 

What’s the best thing about being a student athlete at Emerson?
The best thing about being a student athlete at Emerson is the built-in community you become part of as soon as you come to campus your freshman year. Everyone understands the demands that come with being a student athlete, which creates a really supportive environment. Being on a unique campus in the middle of Boston also makes the experience even more special because we’re balancing athletics and academics while being surrounded by so many opportunities in the city. It really creates a close-knit team atmosphere that I love being a part of.  

What are you most proud of this year? Any specific highlights to mention—athletically and/or academically?
This year, I am most proud of my induction into the Gold Key Honor Society, where membership is extended to Juniors ranking in the top 5% of their class and Seniors ranking in the top 10% of theirs. I am proud of this academic achievement because I have held a 4.0 GPA while juggling two collegiate sports and finishing my first year as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President. 

Name: Filippo Nocchi ’27
Major/Minor: Sports Communication major and double minor in Economics and Business Studies
Sport: Men’s Tennis

Why did you choose to come to Emerson? 
It was a big decision for me because my path wasn’t really clear at first. I grew up in Italy and spent my whole life there, but for my senior year of high school, I moved to Florida to train and study at a tennis academy. That was the first time I really stepped out of my comfort zone, and it also made me start thinking seriously about what I wanted for my future. At that point, I still didn’t know if I wanted to go back to Italy or stay in the United States for college. I just knew that if I stayed, I wanted to find a place where I could keep competing in tennis, but also be in a strong academic environment. Then, during a tennis showcase, I had the chance to talk to my current coach, Burke Paxton, and that was a really important moment for me… [O]nce I started learning more about the school, it felt like it had exactly what I was looking for. What really stood out to me was the balance. Emerson gave me the opportunity to keep playing the sport I love at a competitive level, while also being part of a strong academic program, especially in sports communication, which really interested me. For me, that was important because I didn’t want college to be only about tennis; I wanted it to help me grow as a person and prepare me for my future too. So in the end, I chose Emerson because it felt like the right place for both parts of who I am: as an athlete and as a student. 

How do you balance academics with athletics? Any tips? 
It can be really challenging, especially during the season. There are definitely moments when it feels like everything is happening at once: practices, matches, travel, classes, assignments, and it can get overwhelming if you’re not organized. For me, the biggest thing is being very aware of my schedule and learning how to manage my time well. I’ve realized that balance doesn’t just happen naturally; you really have to create it, and that means planning ahead, staying disciplined, and sometimes making hard choices. One thing I’ve learned is that the way you handle pressure in school is actually very similar to how you handle pressure on the court. If you can stay calm, focused, and disciplined in one area, it usually helps you in the other, too. So I try to look at both academics and athletics as opportunities to grow and become a better version of myself. If I had to give advice, I’d say that maturity is a big part of it. Sometimes you do have to sacrifice certain things. For example, if your friends want to go out, but you have a big assignment due and an important match the next day, you have to be honest with yourself about your priorities. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a social life; it just means knowing when to put your responsibilities first. So overall, I think balancing both comes down to discipline, organization, and understanding what matters most in the moment. 

What’s the best thing about being a student athlete at Emerson? 
I think the best part is being constantly challenged in different ways, not just in the classroom but also on the court. Every day, you’re put in situations where you have to figure things out, whether it’s academically or athletically, and I think that really helps you grow. For me, learning how to handle challenges on my own has been really important. It has pushed me to become more independent and more confident in the way I deal with problems, and I’ve realized that those same skills are going to matter a lot after college, especially in a work environment. Another big part of my experience has been the people. Most of my closest friends at Emerson are on the tennis team, and I’m really grateful for that. Being part of this team has given me strong support, people who genuinely care about me and want to see me succeed, both on and off the court. So overall, I’d say it’s the combination of personal growth and the relationships you build that makes being a student athlete here so meaningful. 

What are you most proud of this year? Any specific highlights to mention—athletically and/or academically? 
Athletically, I would say this has been my most meaningful year since I came to Emerson. What makes me most proud is not just the personal results, but also seeing how much the team has grown. I still remember that before I committed to Emerson, during my senior year of high school, I was looking at the team’s record and saw that they were 0–12. At that moment, I told myself that if I came here, I wanted to help change that and be part of building something better. So now, being in my third year and seeing that we’re currently 7–6, that means a lot to me. It shows how much progress we’ve made as a team. Of course, we still have some of the biggest matches of the season ahead of us, so there’s still a lot to prove, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come and of the mentality we’ve built. A big part of that also comes from the people around me. Our coach, Burke Paxton, has been a huge influence because he genuinely cares about us, not just as athletes, but as people, and he always pushes us to become better versions of ourselves. I also have to mention my teammate and team captain, Finn Leeves-Coben, because he’s someone who has worked really hard alongside me to help change the mentality of the team and create a more competitive and committed environment. On a personal level, I’m also proud of some of the results I’ve been able to achieve this season. I earned two NEWMAC Singles Player of the Week honors in a span of three weeks, and I was also named NEWMAC Doubles Team of the Week with my doubles partner, Connor Leung. That was really rewarding, especially because I know how much work Connor has put in over the years, and it felt great to share that recognition with him. So overall, I’d say what I’m most proud of is being part of a team that has truly grown, while also seeing my own hard work pay off. The season’s not over yet, and we still have a lot to do, but I really believe in this group.