John Semeraro has won awards for hitting the field and his books, but the Saint Leo University junior isn't finished yet.
By STEVE LEE
Published May 14, 2004
ST. LEO - John Semeraro came to Saint Leo University to play soccer, among other things.
A junior, Semeraro is on pace to graduate next May having achieved so much more than kicking a ball into a net. The honor roll student also is on the golf team and serves on several student-athlete committees.
Because of his myriad extracurricular activities Semeraro will forgo playing soccer as a senior.
What else would you expect from the only three-time scholar-athlete winner since that award's inception in 1996.
"John is the example of what you look for or what is defined as a student-athlete," said Saint Leo athletic director Fran Reidy, who also doubled as the Division II school's soccer coach before resigning in February. "He excels at both.
"Certainly John holds himself to a higher standard on both sides. He has a higher maturity level than most college students his age."
A dual-sport standout from Paducah, Ky., who maintains a 3.62 grade-point average as an accounting major, Semeraro relishes his time spent on a soccer pitch and golf course. He also has taken a liking to his athletic pursuits beyond the playing fields.
Semeraro, 21, sits on school and national student-athlete committees.
Additionally, Semeraro has made the Sunshine State Conference commissioner's honor roll every semester at Saint Leo, and is a member of the school's dean's list and university President's Club.
"It's a challenge," Semeraro said of his harried schedule that often leads to studying on road or business trips. "College is another level. Being able to juggle academics and athletics is extremely important."
When Reidy stepped down as Saint Leo's soccer coach, he reasoned juggling both jobs had become burdensome and desired to focus solely on his administrative duties as athletic director. Reidy likened Semeraro's situation to his own.
"Rather than be good at a couple of things," Reidy said, "I think John now wants to be great at a few things."
* * *
Semeraro has four goals and five assists in three seasons as a midfielder for the Lions' soccer team. Unlike his soccer statistics, he has been a leader for Saint Leo's golf team. Semeraro did not play golf as a freshman but has had the lowest stroke average in each of the past two seasons, 76.74 as a sophomore and 79.27 this season.
"I kind of want to see what I can do just focusing on one sport," Semeraro said. "I'm starting to understand I can't do everything."
"I'm happy for him," Reidy said. "He knows where he wants to go."
For Semeraro, that means one day becoming an athletic director.
Semeraro's goals and drive stem, in part, from his upbringing. His father, Joseph, is an executive for a military housing company in Killeen, Texas, who routinely beats his son on the golf course. And his mother, Karen, is one of four female lieutenant colonels in the Army Reserve.
"I've got a lot of big shoes to fill," Semeraro said.
Karen Semeraro said she and her husband always have placed a premium on education and encouraged their children, including 17-year-old Maureen and 11-year-old Ben, to pursue group and athletic endeavors.
John's achievements, however, are "a little bit more than I imagined, but I'm delighted. It sort of amazes me the responsibility and leadership roles he's taken."
