Rocco Salvitti, class of 2023, is a rising sophomore on the men’s golf team at the University of Notre Dame. He started in every tournament his freshman year and helped to lead the Fighting Irish to a berth in the NCAA regionals and a spot in the National Championship.

•  How did Central Catholic prepare you for life as a Division 1 student athlete as well as a college courseload?

Central emphasizes the importance of time management. You are pushed in the classroom and your respective sport. With high academic rigor and first-class athletics, you have no choice but to have great time management. It transfers directly into D1 athletics and Central prepared me very well in this aspect.

•  Who was the most impactful person to your experience at Central Catholic?

The Central Catholic Community as a whole left the most impact on me. A combination of teachers, students, staff, and coaches pushed me in the right direction every day. The support you receive at Central Catholic is unmatched in a high school setting.

•  What different activities were you involved in at Central?

I played both varsity golf and hockey all four years at Central. Both sports shaped many of the values I have today. Hockey brings a team aspect to the table whereas golf is more so individual. Now, being on a division one golf team, the leadership skills I learned from playing hockey have allowed me to be a good teammate.

•  What would be your advice to any prospective college athlete?

Seek advice from everyone you can. From there you can pick and choose what works for you, but don’t neglect the opinions of others. There is no singular way to be great at your sport. Talent on its own isn’t enough at the division one level, your urgency will dictate your career.