California State University Northridge Athletics
12/11/2020 10:00:00 AM | Baseball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
Alyssa DeStasio, Women's Track & Field and Cross Country (Junior, Public Health)
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Alyssa DeStasio has earned four letters for the CSUN cross country and track and field teams since joining the program in 2018.
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DeStasio recorded a career-best 6k cross country time at the 2019 Highlander Invitational (23:20.70). Her career-best 5k time was also run in Riverside, as she posted a time of 18:59.10 at the 2018 Highlander Invite.
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During the track and field season, DeStasio has run the 800m, the 5000m, and the mile for CSUN. She lowered her career-low in the 800m by over 10 seconds to 2:38.24 during the lone 2020 outdoor meet, the Mar. 7 San Diego Collegiate Challenge.
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DeStasio is preparing for her life after she concludes her career with the Matadors.
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"After I complete my Bachelor's degree here at CSUN, I plan to go into a Dental Hygiene program to become a hygienist," DeStasio said. "I chose Public Health as a major because it focuses on helping people's health and allows me to think beyond just the individual. As for being a future hygienist, I get to be an active member in improving someone's health and work with different personalities each day."
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An Academic All-Conference selection, DeStasio is proving to be successful both on and off the field of competition in two sports.
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"Education has been an important aspect of my life," said DeStasio. "Throughout my undergraduate years, I have gained new skills and knowledge that I can apply in my future career. Being a student-athlete can be classified as a full-time job. Before the start of each week, I take time and plan out my assignment due dates and workout schedules. This has helped me balance out my days and be able to prioritize. The effort you put into the classroom should be the same you put into your sport. I strongly believe in showing your dedication as a student first, then athlete. Both will help your future career pathway."
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Denzel Clarke, Baseball, Outfielder (Junior, System Operations Management)
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A junior outfielder from Pickering, Ontario, Denzel Clarke is a two-year letterwinner with the Matadors. He is coming off a breakout start to the 2020 season that saw him lead the Matadors in a host of offensive categories.
In the Matadors' 15-game season over the spring, Clarke hit safely in 10 games and recorded six multiple-hit games. He finished the shortened campaign leading the Matadors in batting average (.400), home runs (3), runs scored (12), slugging percentage (.775) and on-base percentage (.529) while managing primarily center field.
In the Big West, Clarke's offensive production put him among the league leaders as he paced the conference in on-base percentage and slugging percentage while he ranked second in stolen bases (5) and home runs and third in batting average. His slugging percentage and on-base percentage also ranked 19th and 34th in the nation, respectively.
Clarke's accomplishments last year were not limited to his success on the baseball field. Clarke earned his first career Big West All-Academic Team award this past year, solidifying his hard work in the classroom. A successful student in the classroom during his time at CSUN, Clarke admits that the importance of education was instilled in him at an early age.
"My mom always stressed how important doing your best in all aspects of life is, especially in terms of education," said Clarke. "Knowledge is power, and the more you go through life, the more you realize how essential education is."
While many positives come in the life of a student-athlete, there are also many responsibilities that go along with it. Clarke has been able to navigate the challenges through preparation, which starts at the beginning of each semester.
"Having multiple important obligations is what the student-athlete life is all about," said Clarke. "Without a plan, it is extremely difficult to stay on top of everything. Creating a schedule at the beginning of each semester and having daily, weekly and monthly check-ups to make sure I am staying on the right course is something that has helped me manage the difficult schedule."
Clarke has dreams of playing professionally after his time at CSUN comes to a close. Beyond his baseball career, he hopes to develop his own sports-related business and travel to different countries.
"After I finish my professional baseball career, I hope to travel the world to see for myself how others approach life with the 'hand they have been dealt,'" said Clarke. "For example, I want to learn how they were raised, how a country's culture differs from the North American way of life and how I can learn from all of their experiences to apply it to my own life."
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Alyssa DeStasio has earned four letters for the CSUN cross country and track and field teams since joining the program in 2018.
Â
DeStasio recorded a career-best 6k cross country time at the 2019 Highlander Invitational (23:20.70). Her career-best 5k time was also run in Riverside, as she posted a time of 18:59.10 at the 2018 Highlander Invite.
Â
During the track and field season, DeStasio has run the 800m, the 5000m, and the mile for CSUN. She lowered her career-low in the 800m by over 10 seconds to 2:38.24 during the lone 2020 outdoor meet, the Mar. 7 San Diego Collegiate Challenge.
Â
DeStasio is preparing for her life after she concludes her career with the Matadors.
Â
"After I complete my Bachelor's degree here at CSUN, I plan to go into a Dental Hygiene program to become a hygienist," DeStasio said. "I chose Public Health as a major because it focuses on helping people's health and allows me to think beyond just the individual. As for being a future hygienist, I get to be an active member in improving someone's health and work with different personalities each day."
Â
An Academic All-Conference selection, DeStasio is proving to be successful both on and off the field of competition in two sports.
Â
"Education has been an important aspect of my life," said DeStasio. "Throughout my undergraduate years, I have gained new skills and knowledge that I can apply in my future career. Being a student-athlete can be classified as a full-time job. Before the start of each week, I take time and plan out my assignment due dates and workout schedules. This has helped me balance out my days and be able to prioritize. The effort you put into the classroom should be the same you put into your sport. I strongly believe in showing your dedication as a student first, then athlete. Both will help your future career pathway."
Â
Denzel Clarke, Baseball, Outfielder (Junior, System Operations Management)
Â
A junior outfielder from Pickering, Ontario, Denzel Clarke is a two-year letterwinner with the Matadors. He is coming off a breakout start to the 2020 season that saw him lead the Matadors in a host of offensive categories.
In the Matadors' 15-game season over the spring, Clarke hit safely in 10 games and recorded six multiple-hit games. He finished the shortened campaign leading the Matadors in batting average (.400), home runs (3), runs scored (12), slugging percentage (.775) and on-base percentage (.529) while managing primarily center field.
In the Big West, Clarke's offensive production put him among the league leaders as he paced the conference in on-base percentage and slugging percentage while he ranked second in stolen bases (5) and home runs and third in batting average. His slugging percentage and on-base percentage also ranked 19th and 34th in the nation, respectively.
Clarke's accomplishments last year were not limited to his success on the baseball field. Clarke earned his first career Big West All-Academic Team award this past year, solidifying his hard work in the classroom. A successful student in the classroom during his time at CSUN, Clarke admits that the importance of education was instilled in him at an early age.
"My mom always stressed how important doing your best in all aspects of life is, especially in terms of education," said Clarke. "Knowledge is power, and the more you go through life, the more you realize how essential education is."
While many positives come in the life of a student-athlete, there are also many responsibilities that go along with it. Clarke has been able to navigate the challenges through preparation, which starts at the beginning of each semester.
"Having multiple important obligations is what the student-athlete life is all about," said Clarke. "Without a plan, it is extremely difficult to stay on top of everything. Creating a schedule at the beginning of each semester and having daily, weekly and monthly check-ups to make sure I am staying on the right course is something that has helped me manage the difficult schedule."
Clarke has dreams of playing professionally after his time at CSUN comes to a close. Beyond his baseball career, he hopes to develop his own sports-related business and travel to different countries.
"After I finish my professional baseball career, I hope to travel the world to see for myself how others approach life with the 'hand they have been dealt,'" said Clarke. "For example, I want to learn how they were raised, how a country's culture differs from the North American way of life and how I can learn from all of their experiences to apply it to my own life."
~#UniteTheValley~
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
/ Women's Track & Field
Wednesday, September 16
Thursday, September 03
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, February 13