Becca Iannotta is not your typical Division III women’s lacrosse player.

A senior at Waynesburg University, Iannotta never played the sport before her junior year of college.

Iannotta was only looking at Christian schools because her father was only going to let her live at a faith-based college. She was drawn to Waynesburg because of the faith aspect and its Forensic Science program. The athletic training major decided against forensic science prior to arriving at Waynesburg.

“I really love how caring the faculty is and I really love how they’re willing to make time for you and they know your name,” Iannotta said.

Iannotta had struggles after starting a brand new sport at a collegiate level. Even though she was used to the competitive aspect, she said she had a hard time adjusting to other aspects of the sport.

“It’s really hard to get used to all of the very nit-picky rules,” she said. “Women’s lacrosse is very much a rule based sport. It was something I had to get used to. I feel better adjusting to it this year than I did last year.”

Being only one of four returning players from last season, Iannotta felt that she stepped into a mentor role this season.

“I am able to help the new girls,” said Iannota. “This year we have so many new players.”

Interim head coach Gennaro Bonaventura has only positive things to say about Iannotta.

“She has been a really good leader,” Bonaventura said. “She is always trying to talk to them, teach them, show them what they are doing wrong [and] trying to help them as much as she can, and it’s been helping a lot.”

Bonaventura knew that Iannotta was a special individual from the moment he met her.

“I thought she was a really good person,” he said. “She’s super positive, she’s always talking, trying to be the best teammate and person that she can be. She is there for her teammates and tries her best all the time.”

Praise of Iannotta goes beyond the people she knows at Waynesburg.

“A ref actually came up to me and talked about [Iannotta] and [the referee] was overwhelmed by her being a really good sport and a classy person,” Bonaventura said. “She is always talking to her teammates, even opponents and officials the right way. She’s overall a great person and that is what will always stand out to me.”

It has been difficult for Iannotta to manage her time since starting lacrosse midway through her collegiate career, though.

“My time management has always been poor,” she said. “[Playing lacrosse] actually helped me, but I don’t think it would have gone well if I had done it much sooner.”

Iannotta is a member of that Athletic Training Student Association, and is proud of making it through the athletic training club and earning a spot on the dean’s list last year during lacrosse season.

“The athletic training program has helped me a lot,” said Iannotta. “We get a lot of hands on experience right from freshman year.”

As far as athletic training is concerned, Iannotta wants to be known for her willingness to be of assistance whenever called upon.

“I want to be remembered as the helpful person, so someone can look back and say ‘she helped me with that injury and helped me realize that my season wasn’t over,’” said Iannotta.

On campus, Iannotta wants to be remembered as someone who is easy to talk to.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Iannotta wishes to get a position as a graduate assistant. She would really like to get a position at William Patterson University, which is located in New Jersey.

“Hopefully I can continue my education in athletic training or a related field and eventually work at a college level,” said Iannotta.