Being a student-athlete can be one of the hardest things to do. Balancing athletics, school, home life, and social life simultaneously can sometimes feel impossible. However, there is one student-athlete at Suffield High School who seems to have this skill down to a science. Senior Samantha Ruggieri, also known as Sam Ruggieri, is the assistant captain for the Wildcat hockey co-op team. Sam is also involved in clubs like Spirit Squad, the class of 2025 Student Council, and Model UN.
Sam is currently practicing for the Connecticut Northern Lights team and the Suffield girl’s co-op hockey team. Sam’s two main hockey positions are center and wing. As of right now, Sam has a very busy practice schedule when it comes to hockey since her Connecticut Northern Lights team is a nationally bound hockey team. Sam starts off her night by going to the Enfield twin rinks at 7 pm to practice with her Wildcats hockey team. “I take off my skates and my helmet and I walk out to my car with one of my teammates and we drive from Enfield Twin Rinks to ISCC in Simsbury for my practice from 8:30 to 9:30 and then I finally go home,” Sam says describing her hockey practice schedule.
You’re probably wondering how Sam is able to manage this crazy hockey practice schedule with school. A useful tip from Sam is, ” One thing that helps me is that I plan out my weeks on Sundays because then I know how much time I can spend around hockey and homework. That way I can spend time with my friends and do other fun stuff.”
You will find in high school sports that parents and coaches hold their athletes to a high standard to succeed and to be the best out there on the ice, field, court, or track. “I feel some pressure from them that I just have an expectation to uphold.” Sam says referring to feeling pressure from her parents and coaches. “But I feel like I put more pressure on myself than they do because I feel like I notice how other people are watching or looking up to me and I want them to like keep doing that.” Sam states.
Sam is so lucky to have a great support system around her that she feels like they really do support her. When I asked Sam’s dad Steve Ruggieri if he ever gets concerned about how many things Sam is doing at once he said, “Yeah I am. Like she said it’s supposed to be, it’s meant to be for fun but it’s a very serious and very intense sport and if you have a bad day you can take it really hard and really personally so you want to make sure you keep a good frame of mind while going through it.”
Through the thick and thin of it and even on Sam’s toughest days she always does her best to keep her head and continues to be an amazing role model for others. She is a great example of how your hard work can pay off. I asked Sam and her dad some of the best memories from playing hockey. Steve said, “any time she scores a goal. I love to see not just the goal but the huge smile on her face when she turns away.” Some of Sam’s favorite memories playing hockey were when last year when she made CCC all-conference or when she was announced captain of her Northern Lights team.