Sam Apuzzo, NCAA Women's Lacrosse Elite Attacker, Teewaraton Award recipient:  Stay Humble & Play Outside Your Comfort Zone

Sam Apuzzo is one of the most decorated athletes in Boston College history.  During her career with the Eagles, Apuzzo helped lead the team to three consecutive national championship appearances and two back-to-back undefeated regular seasons during her junior and senior years. She holds the all-time program records for career points, goals and draw controls, and is tied with teammate Kenzie Kent for the fastest number of games to reach 100 career points (25). She ranks fourth all-time in assists. She holds the first, third and fourth single-season point records as well as the first, second and third single-season goal records.  Over her career, she had four 10-point performances, headlined by a nine-goal contribution against Navy and multiple eight-goal outputs.    Apuzzo reigns as BC's only Tewaaraton Award recipient (2018) - for those of you not familiar with this award it is the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy for NCAA Football or the Hobie Baker Award in college Hockey - it means she was voted the best of the best.  She was also a nominee the year before she won and a top-five finalist the year after. She also claimed the Honda Award for Lacrosse in 2018 and was a finalist again in 2019. She was a three-time IWLCA First Team All-America selection a two-time IWLCA Attacker of the Year, a two-time Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American, a three-time NCAA All-Tournament Team selection, a three-time All-ACC First Team selection, a three-time All-ACC Tournament Team selection and the ACC Attacker of the Year honoree in back-to-back years but what I loved about her most when we sat down was that, despite all of this, at her core she is just a hard-working, polite and humble young woman with a love for the game that I once played at the same college, albeit not nearly as well as she did.  She made me proud to be a Boston College alum and, as you'll hear, in keeping with the 10,000 "No"s theme, while she has reached heights at a young age that many of us will never reach her accomplishments did not come without resilience and the ability to overcome setbacks and missteps.      SHOW NOTES:  Having to always be ready to play for the USA Lacrosse Team, (3:20 // 6:45). Describing her family upbringing with sports, (9:44). Attending a high school where a few other players have won the Tewaaraton Award, (14:13). Playing varsity lacrosse in 8th grade, (17:02). “She kind of really helped me through the whole thing. She told me, ‘They need you out there,’ which really gave me confidence when I didn’t really have much as a 13 year old playing on a high school field.”, (19:19). “I’m generally a quiet person. For me to yell at someone was a really difficult thing even in college too; I had a hard time with that. My coach always pushed me to say things or explain to the entire team to get me out of my comfort zone.”,(21:45). Coming really close to receiving a first place in several championships, (23:52). Receiving the opportunity to get the team to the Olympic Games 2028, (28:25). Looking up to a senior in high school who won the Tewaaraton Award, (30:12). “I think I’m still not where I should be. There’s always room for improvement. It’s weird to think I’m at the top of the elite lacrosse players now. I still think there are so many great players further above me.”, (32:16). Being an alternate for a World Cup in senior year of high school, (34:37).  “I wasn’t necessarily the top 25 of my class.”, (36:20). Gaining more confidence in making connections with others,(39:13). “It’s part of the lacrosse world, and it is part of the BC world. You don’t really think about it as much when you’re in the moment with all that stuff.”, (44:08).    GUEST LINKS:  Instagram: @Sam_Apuzzo  NCAA Video: Sam Scores Sudden Victory  Boston College's Sam Apuzzo wins 2018 Tewaaraton award  BC Sports: Sam's Lacrosse Stats    SHOW LINKS:  Purchase 10,000 "No"s Apparel Here to Support the Show  Matt's Amazon Influencer Page (shop thru this site for items mentioned in interviews to support 10KNos at no extra cost to you.)    FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PROMO VIDEOS OF WHO'S NEXT, FOLLOW:   Instagram:  @mattydel  Twitter:  @MatthewDelNegro  Facebook:  Matthew Del Negro Fan Site  LinkedIn:  @MatthewDelNegro  Email us feedback, guest suggestions or to be added to our MAILING LIST     RELATED PAST EPISODES OF 10,000 “No”s:  Ep 45: Boston College Women’s Lacrosse Coach, Acacia Walker   Browse Our Episode Archives at 10000nos.com    If you like what you hear, please pass on the word. You can also Subscribe If you like what you hear, please Subscribe, leave an iTunes review and spread the word. You can also listen to all episodes at www.10000nos.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.