Reality finally struck Christina Muccio after a few weeks away at college.
"I was so excited that I didn't think about it a lot for a while," said the track star. "But once you realize that you're there, it's really hard. It is tough on a lot of people, but it really was on me."
Those emotional moments only drove the former Andover High star on the track, as she delivered a breakout campaign in her first season as a sprinter for Bucknell University.
While homesickness is normal for a college freshman, Muccio's was a bit more potent. On May 27, 2008, her father Fran Muccio passed away after a 10-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Muccio soldiered on from there. That same week, she took second in the 100 at the Eastern Mass. Division 1 Championships for Andover High. She also stood out at All-States.
After much discussion with her family, it was decided she would continue with plans to attend Bucknell, a school 400 miles — or a full six hours away from Andover, in Lewiston, Penn.
"When my dad passed away, it was already the summer and I was just distracted by everything," he said. "Then, before I knew it, I was already gone to college. The grieving process was so short, that it hit me really hard after a while. But I made it."
Like she had in high school, the freshman found a home on the track.
Muccio had build a legendary career at Andover High. During her senior winter season, she was named Eastern Mass. All-Scholastic Runner of the Year after winning the All-State title in the 55-meter dash. In the spring, she was an Eagle-Tribune All-Star for the third time after anchoring the 4x200 team that set an All-State record.
But there were plenty of nerves when she took her talent to the college level.
"I didn't really know what to expect," she said. "I really wanted to compete, and felt like I could. But I didn't know because I had never run at this level."
During her senior season at Andover High, Muccio had looked at schools such as Lafayette College and Lehigh University when she heard about Bucknell. But her initial impressions was less than exciting.
"The first two times I visited the school it was pouring rain," she said with a laugh. "People kept telling me that the campus was much nicer than it seemed, and to come back. I did, and just fell in love with it. And the coaching staff was just great."
It didn't take long for Muccio to show her talents on the track.
"I was worried because I had never run the 60-meter (dash) before," she said. "But I went right out and ran the fastest time on the team. After that, I kept setting new goals each week."
Her best performance of the winter season came when she won the 55-meter dash (7.31) and the 200 (26.08) at the BU Heptagonal. She also placed third in the 60 at the Bison Open and BU Winter Classic.
"Early in the season my coach called me over," said Muccio, "and said, 'Christina, you can't look at the competition. You have to run for yourself.' After that, I started to feel that I was a competitor in any race I was in."
That success continued once the outdoor season arrived. Her best performance came in the BU Team Challenge when she took second in the 100 in 12.40. That was well ahead of her career-best 12.53 that she ran for Andover High in 2008. She also took seventh in the 200 (25.74).
While she admits the pressure is higher in college, she feel that it has benefited her.
"It's much more intense," she said. "In high school you have dual meets. But in college, you just have the big meets. The training is much more intense. Instead of just having one or two tough days, the whole week is intense. And it is really paying off."
And, as Muccio has seen more and more success, her family has been there to enjoy it with her.
"My mom and brother (Mike) made it out to a few meets," she said. "It isn't easy to travel out here. But my mom did it, and reminded me that she had to drive six hours to get here."
Andoverites star for Wheaton
A trio of Andover residents were the driving force behind Wheaton College's 30-12 season.
Formed Golden Warriors star Paul Malaguti, a junior, stared all 42 games, leading Wheaton with a .425 average, tying for the team-high in home runs (7) while scoring 65 runs and driving in 35 and was named All-New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference first team. Fellow Andover resident and former St. John's Prep star Dan Haugh was named NEWMAC Rookie of the Year after finishing third on the team with a .350 average, seven home runs and 40 RBIs.
While those two were providing the offense, sophomore Kevin Calabro finished 4-2 on the hill, one off the team lead in wins, with 29 strikeouts.
Tracking down success
Former Andover High star Chris Cole has emerged as a star at Gettysburg College. At the Centennial Conference Championship, Cole won gold in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.39. It was his third career individual title. He also took second in the 400 hurdles in 55.39.
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