Catching Up With...Lisa Finizio

This week, the Susquehanna Athletic Communications office “Catches Up With” senior Lisa Finizio, a member of the softball team, which is getting set to host the Landmark Conference Tournament.

Name: Lisa Finizio
Sport: Softball
Class: Senior 2012
Major: Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Birthday: March 12, 1990

Why did you choose your major?
I love working with children because they are always smiling and saying the darndest things. I wanted to be an influence in their lives and guide them through their educational experience.

What has been your favorite class or major-related experience so far?
I just finished up my student teaching this week.  I was positioned in kindergarten and I absolutely fell in love with the kiddos. It was my job to teach them but I did not know how much I would end up learning from them. The student teaching program at SU is so great because it gave me the opportunity to get into a classroom and live the life of a teacher first hand so when I eventually get into a classroom of my own, I will already have the experience.

What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to go back home to New Jersey and find a teaching position in an elementary school. I also would like to continue being a part of sports by taking a coaching position. I would love to coach softball, but I also wouldn’t mind basketball or volleyball. Anything to stay involved in sports would be great!

What are you most looking forward to this weekend as your team gets ready to host the Landmark Conference Tournament?
I am most looking forward to finally hosting! We have made it to the playoffs for the past three years and we have had to travel to Moravian each time. It’s about time we got the home field advantage. I am so proud of this team and we deserved this.

What is your favorite athletic memory as a Crusader?
I would have to say making it to Regionals sophomore year. We did not win the conference, but we were high enough in the rankings to get a bid and we did! There were no expectations for us when we got there so we were able to just have fun and enjoy playing the game we love. Getting food paid for by the NCAA was not too bad, either!

What is your go-to song to get pumped up for competition?
Something like “I’m Me” by Lil’ Wayne or just a fast beat that can amp me up!

What is your nickname on your team?
I don’t really have a nickname, but some of the outfielders call ourselves Ninja Cats. It’s a joke with one of our coaches. I do like making up nicknames for other people.

The most embarrassing thing that’s happened to me on the playing field is….
Flipping over a fence. It’s happened quite a few times.

The best part about road trips with my team is…
One word: Karaoke. I feel bad for the bus driver because we’ll just sing at the top of our lungs no matter how bad it sounds. Sometimes the front and back of the bus will even be singing two completely different songs. I won’t lie, I’ve been serenaded a few times.

What advice to do you have for a prospective SU student-athlete?
Enjoy it. It’s no joke when people say how fast the time flies. It’s easy to get caught up in things like school work or social issues but we come here so we can continue being a part of something we love.  Don’t let it go to waste because when it’s all over you don’t want to look back and think “What if?”

My favorite midnight snack is…
Cereal. Usually Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops.

If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
I would like to meet the cast of the Jersey Shore and just fist pump with them. A girl can dream ha!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I would like to travel to Greece. It just looks so beautiful.

Do you have any unique talents/hobbies?
I love to dance. Give me a beat and I’ll go all out.

Something people may not know about me is…
I was a finalist in a poetry contest back in fifth grade. I wrote a poem titled “Paper” and it was published in a teaching magazine.

Favorite:

Color: Green

Animal: Pigs are cute

Food: Pasta

TV Show: Jersey Shore

Movie: The Bird Cage/ I Love You, Man

Band/Artist: I could listen to anything. I’ve recently fallen in love with country.

Athlete: Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson

Vacation Spot: The Outerbanks in North Carolina

Guilty Pleasure: Burger King’s hamburgers fries and coke icee

Quote: “You can’t be afraid to fail.” -My high school softball coach