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New Rochelle's Caldararo to play at AIC
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New Rochelle senior standout Anthony Caldararo didn’t start playing football until he was 12 or 13. Just six or so years later he earned a scholarship to Division II American International College. Caldararo became the second Huguenot to announce his college plans, joining former teammate Jordan Lucas who became Penn State’s first commitment in the post-Paterno era last week.
It only took one visit for the third-team all-state TE/DT to realize that AIC was the school for which he wanted to play.
“It was very stressful,” Caldararo said. "I talked to a bunch of different colleges on all different levels from Division I-AA to Division III. I found out which college was the best fit for me. Actually AIC was the only official visit I made. I was supposed to have an official visit to (University of) New Haven but I just fell in love with AIC and decided to commit."
The 6-4, 220-lb Caldararo garnered plenty of attention from college programs due to his ability on both sides of the ball. He was a pre-season member of MSG Varsity’s WE/HV preseason football all-stars feature and as a three-year varsity player helped lead his team to consecutive Section 1 Class AA titles and an appearance in the state finals at the Carrier Dome as a sophomore.
Caldararo has a clear vision of how he wants to perform at AIC. When you think about how decisively he handled the muddy waters of the recruitment process, it’s apparent that this is a bright young man with absolute dedication towards achieving his goals.
“My expectation for myself is to try to get on the field as fast as possible whether it means I sit out my freshman year or start my freshman year,” Caldararo said. “The coaches are expecting me to go there and be a quality player for the next four years.”
When it came to choosing a college, Caldararo located a balance between the desires of the heart and requirements of the mind. He recognizes the importance of being clear-headed and choosing a school based on quantifiable data but he had a message for those student-athletes who are about to face the recruitment gauntlet.
“Definitely don’t speed your decision up, wait and find the school for you,” Caldararo said. “See what the best fit is for you before you make your decision.”
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