Page 11 - Rochester Athletics

The high-caliber basketball program at Rochester taught Nathan Novosel 12 a
lot more than just the game. It taught him how to be a better person. I never
had to choose between being a good student or a good athlete, Nate says.
At Rochester, I could be both. Besides playing basketball and earning degrees
in both economics and political science, Nate was actively involved in service-
oriented clubs and student government, giving him chances to explore all
aspects of student life.

Rochester basketball taught me about discipline, commitment, and leadership,
Nate says. Every day, I practiced those skills on the court. He cited his junior
year as an example of putting these skills to the test. It was a year of change: one
coach had just retired, and a new one was on board. It was a low bench year,
too, meaning there were fewer players on the team. And they wrestled with a
number of injuries.

People thought wed write of the year and use it to adjust to a new coach and

recruit new players, Nate says. We wanted to prove them wrong, so we used
everything that was going against us to motivate us. We became a tight, close-
knit group that really worked great together. That year, the underdogs shone: the
Yellowjackets made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament, and Nate, a
proven forward/center, was chosen for the UAAs All Conference First Team.

Sports provide experiences and lessons

that are hard to get anywhere else.

Nathan Novosel 12