Get to know Keiser football player Alessandro Cantillo
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Alessandro Cantillo, an up-and-coming football star, grew up in a football-loving family and was destined to carry on the family legacy while proudly wearing the 55鈥攈is dad鈥檚 number鈥攐n his back.
Cuban American and born and raised in Miami, Cantillo鈥檚 journey and dream officially began when he played for Ferguson during his high school years, leading him to join the Keiser Seahawks Football team and Exercise Science Program in 2017. This program, led by the highly knowledgeable and motivated professor and program director, John Crimmins, 鈥渓ooks at the human body as if it were a machine; how do the parts work together, how do we optimize the machine and how do we fix broken ones?鈥� A huge array of subfields emerges from this program, and it is a fast-expanding and essential domain in today鈥檚 sports society. Crimmins has devoted his last six years to shaping and constantly ameliorating the program into becoming the popular course it is today on the Flagship campus for students like Alessandro.
Besides spending his time on the field, in the weight room, or in a classroom analyzing potential future plays, Alessandro has been overseeing the strength & conditioning for women鈥檚 basketball for the last two years.
鈥淜eiser has been nothing but good to me鈥�, he says with a big smile.
The sport of football has taught him countless, valuable life lessons behind the scenes he will forever cherish; a few of them being discipline, respect, and leadership. These skills will set him up perfectly for what life has to offer, such as the summer internship opportunity with the strength & conditioning program at the University of Georgia. Additionally, it prepares him in how to deal with individuals he might not see eye to eye with, and how to teach the younger generations to thrive and excel in a competitive, challenging environment, just like Professor Crimmins has provided for him in the classroom.
Alessandro is accustomed to working on a long, busy schedule entailing classes in the mornings and football-dedicated afternoons and evenings. He learned the importance of time management through football, and as a result, he places extra emphasis on arriving early wherever he goes.
He states, 鈥淪imply sacrificing 30 extra minutes of sleep or time is a small price to pay but will set you up for greater success.鈥�
Professor John Crimmins has nothing but great things to say about his student.
鈥淭his young man has a big personality; is eager to please, hardworking, determined, and always makes his presence known.鈥�
The deepest bond he has ever created with any student in his six years working at Keiser was with none other than Alessandro Cantillo.
鈥淗e really is like a younger brother to me; I have an immense amount of respect and love for him,鈥� Crimmins declares with a beam on his face.
The way Alessandro has matured and taken on responsibilities, along with the way he expresses his admiration for the program, influencing and passing on his knowledge to many young lives, is what makes Crimmins the absolute proudest professor.
Ten years from now, Alessandro would love to be a head football strength coach at a collegiate level. He is also very close to his brother, and they possess a common future-project goal to open a one-stop-shop gym that offers physical therapy and mental health counseling. Thus, he has had to adjust his mindset, sharing that 鈥渓iving in the moment is just as important as planning for the future鈥�.
Alessandro has been empowered by Professor Crimmins鈥� sage advice to his students: 鈥淏e a Jedi in the field of Exercise Science,鈥� and this line filled Alessandro with the necessary motivation and confidence to tackle anything he desired or wished for upon graduation. 鈥淚 feel confident enough with the knowledge that I have garnered throughout my time here, that I can be a professor like John Crimmins and teach students, that I can be a football coach, I can be a personal trainer; I can become a Jedi in that sense!鈥�
Praise from Alessandro鈥檚 professors:
鈥淕raduate studies are hard enough to accomplish, but Alessandro completed a Masters of Science while participating as a student-athlete in football and working full-time as a Graduate Assistant Strength Coach. The amount of hard work and dedication that Alessandro has is extraordinary! On top of that, he is one of the most amazing people to get to know. He is very smart, funny, and kind. I count it a blessing to be one of his professors, and to get to know him for the amazing young man that he is.鈥� 鈥擯rof. Jason Curtis
鈥淎lessandro is an inspiration. Each day he comes to class with a smile on his face and a willingness to learn and improve. These are admirable traits. In addition, his commitment to his academics is commendable. I have no doubt that he’s going to succeed. I’m proud to call him my student and look forward to seeing what he accomplishes in the future.鈥� 鈥擠r. Fereshteh Ahmadabadi
鈥淎lessandro is a class act. He definitely added to our class environment with his intelligence and kind nature. Alessandro is a high achiever for a reason. He is a quality person and I look forward to seeing him achieve and impact athletes!鈥� 鈥� Dr. Lorenda Beuker
Noam Pritchett is a sophomore student-athlete at Keiser University, studying Psychology. He also works for the Academic Office and is a Peer Supporter in a newly founded student counseling group. Noam is on the Track & Field team, holds the school record in his event, High jump, and achieved All-American at the NAIA indoor National championships in 2023. In his free time, he enjoys traveling the world, going to concerts, and hanging out with friends and family.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.