Transferring to Holy Cross Helped Cavataio ’11 Score On and Off the Court

It is not often that a collegiate athlete transfers schools midcareer. The adjustment to a new team can be difficult and the NCAA mandates that transfers sit out all games during their first season at a new institution. For Mike Cavataio ’11, however, the chance to play for the Crusaders was certainly worth the wait.

After spending a year at St. John’s University, only eight minutes from his hometown of Forest Hills, N.Y., Cavataio was unsure about his college decision. Living at a primarily commuter school, he was not content with either the social or academic aspects of the university. When his basketball career also showed signs of turning out differently than he expected, the 6’4” guard knew it was time for a change.

Cavataio says his decision on where to transfer was difficult, but it was the strong tradition of academics and basketball at Holy Cross that solidified his choice.

“I also had formerly played [basketball] with Andrew Beinert ’11 through AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] teams,” Cavataio adds. “With a former teammate and friend being at Holy Cross, it made the decision much easier.”

Once arriving at Holy Cross, the sociology major found it wasn’t hard to form relationships on Mount St. James. While he was unable to participate in games his sophomore year, he noted that the year off allowed him to create a bond with his teammates, saying they treated him like a freshman and showed him the ropes of being a Crusader. The strong connection the team members already had with each other, and welcomed him to be a part of, made him feel like he was joining a new family.

Off the court, Cavataio has found the rest of the Holy Cross students and faculty to be just as welcoming.

“Being at a smaller school makes you feel like you are a part of a tight-knit community rather than just being a number at a university … I have already made some lifelong friends,” he says.

His decision to transfer has proved beneficial for his basketball career as well. On Feb. 15, Cavataio was featured in the Top 10 plays of the day on ESPN’s daily television show “Sports Center.” Cavataio was shown in the number six slot for an exceptional block he made during an away game at Bucknell the night before, a moment he says he will never forget.

“As a guy who always watched the Top 10 plays, even as a child, it was definitely a shock when my name was mentioned in the same minute as players such as Dwight Howard and LeBron James.”

Upon graduation Cavataio plans to continue his basketball career by playing overseas for a few years before entering either the business or teaching world. Additionally, he hopes to coach basketball at the high school level where he believes coaching and teaching can have a significant impact on the lives of young adults.

For now, though, Cavataio is relishing his time at Holy Cross and playing in the Hart Center where his fans and teammates are glad he decided to make his home.

By Mary Moczula ’11

Related Information:

• Holy Cross Athletics

February 26, 2010|nm