TUFTS SENIOR SARAH NOLET IS A JUMBO FOR ALL SEASONS

By Scott Sudikoff
Tufts Athletics Communications Assisant

Sarah Nolet (right) with soccer teammates Audrey Almy (middle) and Lauren O'Connor

MEDFORD - Tufts senior Sarah Nolet (Los Altos, CA) is the definition of "student-athlete."  A member of the Jumbos' soccer, basketball and track & field teams, Nolet is also a double-major in engineering and psychology. How does she do it?

"What makes it easier for me is that I genuinely love pretty much everything I do at Tufts," Nolet explained. "I am finding that each day is filled with classes I want to attend, projects I am excited to learn about, and practices I don't want to end."

Nolet had a similar experience while growing up in California, playing multiple sports while holding a rigorous course load. At Los Altos High School, she played varsity field hockey and club soccer in the fall, varsity soccer and club track in the winter and varsity track and club soccer in the spring. In her senior year she joined the varsity basketball team and played soccer at the same time.

Tufts can consider itself fortunate to have such a well-rounded athlete. While attending the Brown and Princeton soccer camps in the summer before her high school senior year, an injury sidelined her, leading to a chance visit to Tufts.

"My mom suggested we tour the campus, and then when it was time to apply I remembered hobbling around campus and getting that rare feeling that I could see myself there," she said.

As a captain of the soccer team this season, Nolet helped lead the Jumbos to first place during the NESCAC regular season. Although the squad fell short of their ultimate goals, she relished her role.

"Being captain is a huge honor, and a big responsibility," she said. "It has meant a lot to me to have the respect of my teammates and coach in a more vocal way."

Playing at the Division III level, most athletes realize they will not receive the accolades that are seen at the higher levels. Nolet credits soccer coach Martha Whiting for helping her realize what playing for a team really means.

In the spring, Nolet is one of the region's top javelin throwers

"The basic idea is that as a D3 athlete we don't let down a whole town, school, or state when we lose, but it doesn't mean any less to us. Wins still feel just as good and losses still hurt just as much."

For Nolet, Tufts has been a learning experience.

"I think Tufts has enabled me to grow socially, academically, and athletically in ways that I might not have elsewhere," she said.

With basketball season quickly approaching, Nolet is focusing herself for the beginning of a new campaign. Since she does not have the luxury of a typical off-season, she has to be creative with her preparation for each sport.

"I usually do a bit extra for my non-current sports when it doesn't conflict with my current one. For example, during the fall I try to shoot as much as I can for basketball and during the winter I try to do technique work for track"

Nolet cites that the hardest part of coming to Tufts from California was being away from her family. She credits her father has her biggest influence in being so active in sports.

"As frustrated as I got with my father, his influence on my athletic career has been more far-reaching and positive than even he knows."

With graduation looking in May, Nolet has already applied for the Peace Corps, and she is hopeful that is where she will end up.

For now though, basketball is on the horizon as the season tips off Nov. 20.

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