By Joseph Staszewski
Veronica Ganzi waited and waited for the right college to come around before she finally found it.
The St. Francis Prep senior shooting guard has interest from numerous Division II schools, but it wasn’t until Roberts Wesleyan increased its pursuit during the middle of this season that Ganzi thought she had found something that seemed like a good fit. The Red Hawks become her focus and she ended up verbally committing to the East Coast Conference school for the women’s basketball team, picking them over Dowling and Division III SUNY New Paltz.
The Rochester school provided exactly what she was looking for. Roberts Wesleyan showed it really wanted her, gave her a chance to get away from home and she developed a strong relationship with coach Bob Segave. Ganzi’s financial package is not complete yet, but she is expecting a combination of academic and athletic money that could come close to a full ride.
“The coaching is unbelievable, the team is so nice,” she said. “I just feel like I’m at home.”
For Ganzi, an All-Queens first team selection by the TimesLedger, getting a chance to play college basketball is a dream come true. She believes that by doing so and earning a scholarship she proved something to herself and others who watched her play during her high school career.
“I proved everyone wrong who thought I can’t do it or I’m not talented enough,” Ganzi said. “It’s just such a good felling that I actually did it.”
She played three years on the varsity for the Terriers and worked to slowly expand her game each year. Ganzi worked her way up from being just a dead-eye shooter to a more versatile offensive player, who also committed herself to improving defensively.
She averaged 16 points per game, including 29-point performances against St. Dominic and St. John Villa last season. Ganzi understands the work ethic that got her there will need to continue if she is going to be successful at Roberts Wesleyan.
“I’m definitely going to prove I can stay there and be a beneficial piece,” she said. “That’s what the coaches are telling me. It’s really exciting. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
