On June 3, one of the Nordonia Knights best athletes in baseball and other sports, Gianni Covelli, declared his willingness to continue his academic and athletic career with Bryant & Stratton College. He currently weighs 170 and is a left-handed power hitter. Graduating with a 3.8 GPA at Nordonia High School in 2024, he played in the middle infielder position. Gianni Covelli shared his journey with our correspondent, Joshua Okeke, and revealed how his college decision was finally made.
How does it feel to commit to Bryant and Stratton?
It feels great that a school really wanted me to play baseball for them at the next level. It was awesome being recruited by a bunch of JucoColleges, but it was an easy choice once I met Coach Austin. It felt like a perfect fit, and I can’t wait to start grinding and playing in the fall.
Can you tell us about your journey in high school sports?
Well, I was a three-sport athlete, lettering in basketball, volleyball, andBaseball. My dream was to always play baseball in college, but I was a really good basketball and volleyball player too. I was the MVP of a basketball tournament this year at Streetsboro, and I was one of the top outside hitters in Ohio in volleyball. I played three seasons of baseball, but started at second base in my senior season, and at the end of the season,was in the top three of all the on-base and power-hit percentages during the season.
What influenced your decision to choose baseball over the other sports for your college career?
Going into my senior season, I was prepared to be one of the best.volleyball players in the state. My dad had put together an amazing team, and we were ready to go to the states, but things changed, and he could not coach anymore due to fake news, so me and my dad switched gears and put all of our focus on baseball. Once I hit my first home runAt Solon, I knew that all my training over the summer paid off and prepared me to choose baseball, Coach Austin, Bryant, and Stratton.
You had a great performance this last season, winning the player of the match three times in April. What do you attribute this success to?
I attribute all my success to how hard I trained over the summer and how hard I prepared for the upcoming season in all of my sports that Participated in.
What are your goals and focus as you prepare to join Bryant and Stratton?
My goal is to be an awesome teammate, to get a business degree, and to start and play in the infield for Bryant and Stratton and lead my team in batting average and runs batted in. I feel like if I can stay healthy, I will be able to play at the highest level in my junior year, but I’m taking everything one day at a time, and I just want to enjoy this new stage in my life.
How did your time at Nordonia and at the Iron Pigs help you grow as an athlete?
I think the things I will remember the most about those teams are myteam-mates. Those were my boys. We have played together since we were 8 years old. and they’re just great friends. Those are the memories I will cherish with those teams. I also feel like I have a chip on my shoulder, and I want to prove it to all of my coaches and that I have a lot more left in me to produce and be the best. baseball player I can be as well.
Who is the biggest influence in my sports career?
This is a no-brainer for my dad, Rocco Covelli. He is just a great father figure and coach. I know a lot of the volleyball players at Nordonia will miss him because he just cares and pushes you to the best of your ability. I loved playing for him, and I love training with him as well. He always makes sure I’m good and guides me in the right direction.
What are you most looking forward to about playing at Bryant and Stratton?
I am looking forward to training for just one sport. I am looking forward to the challenge of playing college baseball, and I am one of the biggest competitors, so I want to win, and I can’t wait to do it with a new team, new coaches, and new players. I am just very excited.
I do want to shout out to my coaches at Nordonia, my coach Glenn Galang atIron Pigs for always believing in me, and finally, all my friends who I have played with. Even though we are going our separate ways, I know we will always have your baseball memories and one awesome senior season. Thank you, Josh.
