PRIOR TO TUFTS: Attended San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California, where she competed in cross country, track & field and golf for the Tritons...A two-year co-captain of both the cross country and track & field teams, she earned numerous team honors, including the Cross Country Triton of the Year Award, Varsity Legacy Award and Outstanding Varsity Athlete recognition in track & field... She earned All-League honors in track & field as a junior and senior and helped lead San Clemente to a seventh-place finish at the CIF Division I Cross Country State Championships, a third-place finish at the CIF Southern Section Division I 4x800-meter Finals and All-American honors at Nike Outdoor Nationals...She posted personal-best times of 2:19.92 in the 800 meters, 4:58.94 in the 1,600 meters, 10:57.45 in the 3,200 meters and 17:43.8 in the 3-mile...In the classroom and community, she served as Vice President of the National Honor Society, Editor-in-Chief of the Triton Times school newspaper, Secretary of Best Buddies and Student Government Activities Director and Community Service Liaison while earning AP Scholar with Honor and Distinction recognition.

PERSONAL: Parents George and Cruz Piantka...one sister, Sophia...father George ran track and cross country at Whitman College...community health major...chose Tufts "because of the close-knit community, welcoming team atmosphere, competitive athletics and academics, proximity to Boston, and the abundance of resources and opportunities that are offered to students. I knew from my visit that Tufts would be an environment where I could thrive and be successful."