Female Student-Athlete: Harriton’s Zuzelo is always looking to do ‘more’

By Bridget Algeo
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/3/08

As she mulls over her decision between the University of Pittsburgh and Boston College, Harriton captain Allison Zuzelo remains undecided.

“You can’t go wrong with either school,” she said, explaining that both schools offer excellent programs in her quest to study medicine.

Zuzelo is quite decisive, however, about one thing.

“I want to learn more than just the sciences in a lecture,” said Zuzelo, the Laxzilla/Phillylacrosse.com female Student-Athlete of the Week. “I want something more.”

In fact, “more” is a word that the senior attack player knows well. As if pulling a 4.48 GPA and balancing five AP courses at her father’s alma mater isn’t enough, the personable Zuzelo devotes her time and talent to volunteerism as well.

Not only does she share in the tradition of Harriton lacrosse players coaching young girls in their youth program, she has dedicated herself to spending time with the patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) since her sophomore year.

“This is something really important to me,” said Zuzelo.

It may well be that, in the halls of CHOP, that she became inspired to look at medicine from what Zuzillo refers to as “a different perspective.”

“I want to study what certain bioethics issues are important in medicine, to look at how a community is affected philosophically, historically, psychologically,” she said.

With the workload that her future studies will bring, Zuzelo is not likely to continue to play competitive lacrosse. She intends, however, to play recreationally.

For now, Zuzelo – one of the Rams’ top scorers on attack – hopes to be a positive part of a young squad trying to re-establish itself.

“For the first two years here, we had two Division I players, and our play was centralized around them,” she said. “Now, we’re rebuilding. We have a lot of freshmen, and it’s going to be very exciting for them. We click very well. Even though I may not be around to see it, I’m very excited being part of the change.”

Rams coach George Dick emphasizes Zuzelo’s impact on his young team. “She is a good leader through her constant hard work in practice and in games,” he said.

He echoes the likelihood that his team leader will find something more in her academic future.

“As successful as she is on the field,” he said, “she is even more successful in the classroom.”