Male Student-Athlete Spotlight: Nicholas Chan

Nick Chan has spent the last four years of his high school career actively involved in athletics, culminating in his final lacrosse season as a Marian Mustang. In addition to being a tri-sport athlete, Nick is an active member of the Marian Mainstagers and is a staple of the Marian social scene. For his dedication to sports, commitment to academics, and overall positive disposition, he was selected as March’s selection for student-athlete spotlight.

As Nick approaches his final lacrosse season, he nostalgically remembers the positive memories he has shared with so many of his teammates, many of whom he grew up playing with. A participant in both golf and track and field, Nick prefers lacrosse above all else because of the unique team dynamic. He has honed his skills through over nine years of competition, including supplemental league play during the winters. His younger sister Elena, a sophomore at Marian, and his friend Paul Walter, a senior committed to Nazareth College to play lacrosse, are his favorite practice companions. Prior to games, Nick is known for taking a solid nap on the bus. To supplement his snooze sessions, he always listens to music, preferring country music or Mike Stud. As goalie, he provides the anchor for a very promising season. Ultimately, Nick hopes the team can return to the playoffs and win a state championship.

He finds that sports at Marian are where he has found “a great sense of community”. Prior to beginning his freshman year, he was able to meet upper classmen and his future classmates during preseason golf. This initial familiarity made the transition to high school significantly easier. Moreover, he emphasizes that sports help to “unify everyone” because all athletes, especially those on the same team, “are going through a lot of the same things together”.

A big fan of The Little Mermaid, Nick enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, especially if these hang outs are centered on sports-related activities. His favorite party food is chips and medium salsa, and he is an expert griller, frequently making delicious steak meals for his entire family. At Marian, his food of choice is tacos, with the single complaint of “only getting one taco”. His favorite class at Marian has been Spanish, primarily because of the overall atmosphere and the contribution of his classmates. He does feel as though Mr. Barry’s science classes have best prepared him to succeed in college, as they taught him to manage a heavy, challenging workload. He prefers Christmastime to all other holidays, primarily because of the high level of familial interaction he enjoys. Since excelling in an epic trumpet solo, Nick has held a special place for “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. Nick says his dad is his hero because “he does so much to help other people”.

Next year, he would like to pursue his interest in piloting, either at the Naval Academy or at an ROTC program at a different university. Thus far, he has been accepted to a myriad of universities, including Holy Cross, Virginia Tech, Embury Riddle, and Norwich. He is most interested in “meeting new people and becoming more independent”, really allowing for the opportunity to “challenge himself without so much support”. Eventually, he would like to work as a pilot, potentially owning and operating his own hanger.