Allie Gusmano was in the summer of Junior year casting lines out to schools hoping to get a bite. Salve Regina University took interest in the second baseman after coming across Allie's film. Alie was invited to an overnight where she was able to meet the team, watch practice, and tour the school. She left knowing that Salve was the one. Allie felt comfortable with this coach who even helped Allie get into the nursing program which is in the top 15% of the country.
Things were going well and Allie felt confident going into her freshman year…until things took a turn for the worst.
One week before move-in, Allie and the other recruits were attached to an email from Salve's assistant athletic director to the women's softball team. The email stated that the current coach would not be returning and gave no reason as to why. Allie felt uneasy to say the least. “I feared going into my freshman year after hearing the news,” she said. “I've heard horror stories of recruits going into programs where the coach was fired and the incoming freshman lost their recruiting spot. My confidence level plummeted.”
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When Allie got there she said the vibe with the team was off, and no one knew if there was going to be a season. No one was in line to replace the former coach. She recalls a huge separation with the upperclassman and the recruits, there were rumors going around about the coach and it created tension amongst the team. There was a three-month period where the team was led by the seniors. “We gained so much respect for the seniors during this time,” Allie said. “We were forced to work together and lean on each other. It made me want to work harder for my seniors.”
In November, Salve hired Jannelle Iaqunito as head coach. Each player had a one-on-one meeting with the new coach and during Allie's meeting she was told that she would need to try out. Allie recalls feeling nervous but felt like she was in a better position compared to the other recruits. Iaquinto made no cuts that year and the Seahawks went on to win their conference and make it to NCAAs.
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It was a bumpy ride, but Allie still said “I am grateful for the way everything worked out, had I not been recruited by the former coach and had she not been let go the team would not have created the bond that they did. I now have lifelong friends that will have my back no matter what. What we went through made us a better and closer team.”
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* Originally published on May 31, 2022, by Madison Machado
