February 17, 2021 – This week we catch up with Sarah Kyser, a former LCCC Women’s Basketball student-athlete. Sarah continued her path with LCCC and now works in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department. 

Sarah Kyser, Women’s Basketball

Major: Exercise Science

High School: Traverse City in MI

4-Year School: University of Akron

Hometown: Strongsville, OH (Grew up in Traverse City, MI.)

February 3rd, 2021 – This week we catch up with Marshall Farnsworth, a former LCCC Cross Country student-athlete. Marshall is now the Head Track & Field Coach at Brooklyn Middle School. It was great talking with him; we are so glad he was able to continue with Track & Field and Cross Country. Thank you, Marshall, for chatting with us! 

Marshall Farnsworth, Cross Country

Major: Mathematical Sciences

4-Year School: Shawnee State University

High School: Wellington High School

Hometown: Wellington, OH

What are you up to these days? (career/family/kids) 

I just got a job as an Associate Analyst at AML RightSource.

Did you continue your education or playing career at a four-year college? 

I ran cross country for one season at Shawnee State University, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences.

What are some honors you or your team earned at LCCC?

I earned merit roll during my 2013 cross country season and I also ran under 30 minutes in the 8k.

Were there any obstacles you had to overcome as an athlete or in life? 

I suffered a foot stress fracture my sophomore year at LCCC, which took up most of my season. I was able to recover and broke personal records in the 5k and 1600 the next year.

What are some of your favorite memories at LCCC?

Breaking 30 minutes in the 8k at Regionals in 2013 (Lansing, MI).

Do you still compete in athletics or coach? Other interests/hobbies?

I am the Head Track & Field Coach at Brooklyn Middle School and I worked as the Assistant Cross Country Coach at Midview High School last season.

What sports/activities did you compete in during your high school days?

I ran cross country and track & field.

What advice would you give an incoming student-athlete?

Take advantage of it because it doesn’t last forever. You must manage how much you push yourself in order to stay healthy throughout the season.

May 29, 2020 – Dr. Mary Jo DiGiandomenico started her academic path at Lorain County Community College and has continued her path as a professor at LCCC since 1991.  While a student at LCCC, she also competed in field hockey and basketball.  We are catching up with Mary Jo today.  Thank you, Dr. MJ, for being part of our LCCC Where Are They Now? Series!

DR. MARY JO DIGIANDOMENICO, PhD, Professor, CHES, ACE Certified Health Coach

Sports at LCCC: Women’s Basketball & Field Hockey

Major: General Studies (1977-79)
Hometown: Lorain, OH
High School: Lorain Catholic
Four-Year School: Slippery Rock State College (now Slippery Rock University)

What are you up to these days?

I have been a Health & Wellness and Fitness professor at Lorain CCC since September 1991.  I have three daughters, age 22 and twins age 13.

Did you continue your education or playing career at a four-year college?

I continued my education at Slippery Rock State College, now Slippery Rock University, for my B.S, Cleveland State University for my M.ED, and Kent State University for my M.ED and PhD.

What are some honors you earned at LCCC?

I honestly don’t remember any awards the team or myself earned athletically when I was there.

Dr. MJ was honored with the LCCC Foundation Faculty Excellence Award in 2015.

Why did you choose LCCC?

My parents told me I was going to LCCC, I was fine with that decision.  With 6 kids in the family, LCCC was the only choice.

What challenges (if any) did you face as a student-athlete? What lessons did you learn?

It prepared me for life through attending class, doing my homework, and working part-time.  I was accountable to myself to succeed.

What are some of your favorite memories at LCCC?

Playing athletics.

Are there teammates/coaches/professors you still keep in touch with today?

Yes, I keep in touch with a few teammates – Linda Zemenak, Paula Miller, and Leslie Portosky (maiden names).

Do you still compete in athletics or coach?

Not really, I work out 6 to 7 days a week.

What advice would you give an incoming student-athlete?

Attend class, do not look for excuses, do your homework, no one is entitled because you are an athlete – you are a student first.  Complete your assignments on time!

Are you still in the area or have family here?

Yes and my parents are still alive!

What is something cool or unique about you that you’d like to share?

I have completed 3 Tough Mudders and 3 Warrior Dashes in my 50’s and 60’s.

April 28, 2020 – We recently caught up with Christa Wodarczyk when she was named to the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference All-Decade Team in Women’s Basketball and thought it might be fun to get to know the former NJCAA All-American a bit better. Thank you, Christa, for being part of our new LCCC Where Are They Now? Series!

CHRISTA WODARCZYK

Women’s Basketball & Softball

Major:Public Health (2008-2012)
Hometown: Columbia Station, OH
High School: Columbia Station
Four-Year School: Slippery Rock University

What are you up to these days?

I am now 29 years old, working for Dealer Tire as a Carline Specialist. I’ve been with Dealer Tire for 4 years. I am engaged to my Fiancé, David whom also attended LCCC.

Did you continue your education or playing career at a four-year college?

Yes, I played Basketball at Slippery Rock University.

Award: Athlete of the week 2/11/13 Averaged 16.0 points in two games and shot 78.6 percent from the field (11-of-14) and 87.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line (7-of-8).

What are some honors you or your team earned at LCCC?

2009-2010

• Second team All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference
• Third team NJCAA All-America honors
• Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Week
• George M. Day Award Recipient

2010-2011

• NJCAA Women’s Basketball Division III Player of the Week (1/5/11)
• Third team NJCAA All-America honors
• Regional appearance

Why did you choose LCCC?

I was unsure what I wanted to major in and had a scholarship to LCCC. Also, I had wanted to continue to play sports in college.

How do you think LCCC prepared you for life or for what you are currently doing?

LCCC allowed me to continue my career academically and athletically. Almost all my credits were transferrable, making it an easy transition. I think most importantly, LCCC allowed me to be debt free. After graduating from Slippery Rock, I paid off all my college loans in one year.

What challenges (if any) did you face as a student-athlete? What lessons did you learn?

My first year at Slippery Rock was rough. I was a walk-on junior college transfer and had such talented teammates and competitors. It was hard to come from being a starter to riding the bench. I had to overcome several injuries. Ice baths were my best friend and almost a daily ritual. Every day was a grind: 5am practices, 8am classes, late night study tables, and babysitting during my free time was so exhausting. I fell asleep in almost all my classes and could barely focus. I had to switch majors from exercise science to public health just to stay afloat.  I learned how to manage my time and forfeited what one would consider, “a college experience”, in order to continue playing a sport that I loved. Though challenging, I pushed myself beyond what I thought I was capable of.

What are some of your favorite memories at LCCC?

That’s a hard one. Any practice, game, or family (team) dinner was memorable. We just had a blast! My coach, Katie Street did a great job of documenting the season, so now I have a nice slideshow and binder of both seasons on and off the court.

Are there teammates/coaches/professors you still keep in touch with today?

Yes, I keep in touch with a lot of my team as well as Coach Street. We all get together from time to time.

Do you still compete in athletics or coach?

I coached JV at North Ridgeville for two years, but when I moved to Florida for a year with Dealer Tire, I had to give that up. I would like to get back into it again.

To stay active with sports, I play sand volleyball at Razzles every spring/summer and my coworkers at Dealer Tire play pickup basketball on a monthly basis.

What sports/activities did you compete in during your high school days?

Volleyball, basketball, and softball. One sport per season.

What advice would you give an incoming student-athlete?

Enjoy it! You only get so many years to play sports.

Are you still in the area or have family here?

Yes, I am actually moving to North Ridgeville in the fall.  

We recently caught up with former LCCC Student-Athlete and NJCAA National Champion in the 100m and 200m, Jackie Below. Jackie will be the first of our former athletes featured in our new “Where are they Now” series. Thank you, Jackie for all your contributions to LCCC and all you continue to do in Lorain County!

JACKIE BELOW
Track & Field, Women’s Basketball

Major: Business (1977-1979)
Hometown/High School: Elyria, OH/Elyria
Four-Year School: Prairie View A&M University

What are you up to these days?
I have been employed by Elyria City Schools as an Educational Transition Paraprofessional for the past 33 years. I am also the current head girls’ varsity track coach at Elyria High. A position I have held for 29 years. I have two daughters and six grandchildren. I was also a foster parent to many over the span of 10 years.

Did you continue your education or playing career at a four-year college?
I received a scholarship to continue running at Prairie View A&M University.

What are some honors you/your team earned at LCCC (athletically/academically)?
Basketball: co-captain of the basketball team
Track: NJCAA National Champion in the 100m and 200m. Earned All-American status
LCCC Deans list

Why did you choose LCCC?
I chose LCCC because I wanted to continue my education. This time period was really the infancy of women’s sports so there was not a lot of options to compete after high school so when I found out LCCC had a basketball team I knew I wanted to tryout. Track was not even on my radar until I was approached by Coach Jack Wilhelm. I thought he was joking because LCCC didn’t even have a track to practice on.

How do you think LCCC prepared you for life or for what you are currently doing?
LCCC helped me mature. At the time I did not appreciate what a great institution we had right in our own backyard. I had many great professors that not only taught academic lessons but life lessons as well.

What challenges (if any) did you face as a student-athlete? What lessons did you learn?
Being a sprinter and training without a track was definitely challenging but Coach Wilhelm would not let us use that as an excuse. He was creative with our workouts and taught us to adjust to whatever life threw at us. He was such a great motivator.

Were there any obstacles you had to overcome as an athlete or in life?
One of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was fear. On the eve that I was to leave for Nationals Coach Wilhelm informed me that he would not be making the trip with me because his wife was gravely ill at the time and he need to be with her. Though I totally understood, I was terrified. He explained to me that his job was done. He said the training was complete and now it was up to me to dig down within myself and find the strength to finish what we worked so hard to accomplish.