FACES OF BROCKPORT
The College at Brockport’s athletic community continues to shine through the hard work and dedication of its student athletes who go above and beyond both on and off the field. Senior basketball player Emily Nestler is a prime example of just this.
Born and raised in Rush-Henrietta, N.Y., Nestler began playing basketball at the young age of five. Her grandfather was one of her biggest influencers in creating the passion she has for basketball today. Initially, Nestler was recruited to play for Roberts Wesleyan, but after her first year there, decided it wasn’t right for her. After doing some research on nearby schools she came across The College at Brockport.
“I liked the size, the athletic community and the sports vibe I got here. After talking to Coach Jones, it seemed like a really good fit for me,” said Nestler.
In just her first season at Brockport, Nestler contributed to a record book year, helping the team to their first playoff appearance since 2008-2009, and considers it her greatest basketball memory. When comparing this year’s squad, to the effectiveness they achieved in her sophomore year, Nestler sees countless similarities.
“We’re all really competitive. We want to get deep into playoffs and we want to win,” said Nestler. “It’s important to still have that mentality of wanting to keep going and wanting to win even at the end of the season and I definitely see that here with our team’s work ethic,” she continued.
Being the only senior member of the team she is relied on heavily to lead on and off the court. In just four matchups this season she is averaging 17.3 points per game and a .533 field goal percentage. Nestler was also recently selected as State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Athlete of the Week and earned herself the Most Valuable Player award at Brockport’s Tip-off Tournament. She’ll look to continue her hot start deep into the season.
Nestler remains just as busy off the court when it comes to her academics. As a history major and a criminal justice minor, she’s interested in both the legal field as well as criminal justice. She has taken full advantage of Brockport’s study abroad program and internship opportunities. Her most recent trip was to Washington D.C, where she worked with the International Center for Terrorism Studies and caught her interest for a potential career in Homeland Security.
Between all the interesting experience’s Nestler has had, her study abroad involvement was the highlight of her time at Brockport. She had the opportunity to travel to Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Throughout her travels she was able to experience culture and history throughout Central Europe which specifically focused on World War II and the Holocaust.
“We went to Aushwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp, which was a really intense and emotional experience,” said Nestler. “As a History major it was really interesting and worth it to see everything.”
After graduation, Nestler intends on gaining an internship with the District Attorney’s office in Batavia, N.Y. and hopes it will help her decide whether she wants to continue in the criminal justice route. She credits Brockport for being a huge reason for her success in athletics and also academics.
“The number of things I’ve done in my three years at Brockport has been so rewarding and I’ve had the opportunity to accomplish so much,” Nestler stated. “The College at Brockport has been so good to me.”
With her senior season underway and heading into her final semester, Emily Nestler will continue to build her legacy as a Brockport student-athlete and create meaningful experiences along the way. Her positive attitude is truly infectious to everyone around her and can be easily seen in whatever she puts her mind to.
