Guerra steps up for the Owls

Aaron Johnson – Staff Writer –

As Southern Connecticut State University track and field head coach John Wallin, leaned back in his chair he rubbed his chin. He said that athletes like junior A.J. Guerra are few and far between.

“A.J. is a very serious athlete. He takes everything serious, whether it‘s academics or athletics,” said Wallin. “[It‘s] something a coach can really appreciate and it started from the moment he stepped foot on campus.”

It was no surprise for Wallin and the rest of the coaching staff at Southern when Guerra was awarded the Northeast-10 Conference Men’s Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence award. Guerra, a hammer-thrower, is a physics major from Stafford Springs, Conn. and has a 3.41 cumulative grade point average.

“I found that really great throwers have to be really clever and really bright. When I bring in recruits and they meet A.J. it’s like here’s a guy that’s really bright, really good grades, and came to Southern Connecticut. He provides a pathway,” said Assistant Coach Bill Sutherland.

Guerra has achieved many accolades since stepping foot on campus at Southern. He has been named to the Men’s Indoor Track and Field All-Academic team for a second consecutive year.

In addition to earning All-American honors in the weight throw at the NCAA Championships, Guerra was an All-Region and All-New England choice, as well as the Northeast-10 champion in the event.

Guerra said he was excited to win the award although he did not know it existed.

“I was surprised when I first got it I had no idea there was even this sort of award,” said Guerra. “When I first saw it I was like ‘oh!’ and it’s just kinda like a nice recognition to get for all my hard-work.”

It was Guerra’s work ethic in the classroom, as well as on the field that Wallin said has made him the most proud of his star athlete’s success.

“It obviously makes out coaching staff very proud,” said Wallin. “It‘s a great award. It makes our administration very proud. Our athletic director is very proud of it. I believe that other kids on the team when they find out about the award are like ‘That’s great A.J. got it, I wonder how I can get that award’ because it is a big deal to the kids on the team. Yeah it’s a big deal and we’re all very proud of A.J.”

Throughout his years at Southern, Guerra has been an almost instant success but he said that his success comes from the support of his family.

“My family is a great support to me,” said Guerra. “Whether it’s having someone to complain to or troubleshoot any problems I‘m having. What I should do or where I should go. If I have any trouble in a class or just talking about different things. At least one of my parents always shows up to every one of my track meets so I always have that support.”

Wallin agreed with Guerra about his success and focus coming a lot from his strong family bond. He said Guerra conducts himself with the same amount of focus no matter what he is doing.

“He‘s not a guy that spends a lot of time messing around,” said Wallin. “He has a great sense of urgency in regards to schoolwork and in regards to his athletic work. As a coach you really learn to appreciate young men that are like that and get things down almost immediately. It’s not very common, but I would say that’s why A.J. is successful and he has received this award it‘s a product of his great focus and his ability to get things done when they need to be done.”

The drive, the focus, the seriousness, all these thing set Guerra apart from a typical student-athlete is that he said he came to Southern not only because of the track and field program, but because of the great physics department.

“The physics department at Southern is awesome,” said Guerra. “It‘s probably one of the best departments at the entire institution, in my personal opinion. Professors are always great and their always there whenever I need them and whenever I need help. Track and field is fun. I find it probably the most fun sport, but it‘s not one of those sports when you‘re going to get multi-million dollar contracts.”

Guerra said that although he loves track and field and — the hammer throw, that it is not the be-all-end-all but a means to an end.

“Track and field is kind of an obscure sport,” said Guerra. “Not many people go to the meets. It‘s more of you do it for your enjoyment and that‘s what I use it for. I use it for relaxation. I don’t look at it as a job or something I have to do. I look at school as my future and track is kind of like a hobby. Even though I do good in track, I don’t want it to be the be-all-end-all. It got me into college and here at southern so it‘s really been just a fun addition.”

Guerra said that education and family are the top reasons for his success but he also said that the coaching staff has plenty to do with his continued success.

“The coaches are third, but that‘s just because track and field comes second to school,” said Guerra. “They‘ve been supportive, if I told them I have to study for a test. They said ‘it’s fine just make up the training some other day’. They’re understanding and have given me plenty of opportunity to train.”