Spotlight: Oscar Melendez, Head Athletic Trainer
Oscar Melendez is the second full-time athletic trainer in SJC Brooklyn history. He enters his sixth season on the Bears staff and enjoys his shiny, new, state-of-the are Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Room on the third floor of The Hill Center, which he designed.
About you
Name: Oscar J.W. Melendez, MPA, ATC, LAT
Joined SJC: 2010
Hometown: Elmont, N.Y.
Where I went to college and major…
I did my undergrad at the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (GO GATORS!) and majored in Athletic Training. It was going to be "Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a specialization in Sports Medicine" but they ran out of space on my diploma.
How I came to work St. Joseph's…
While going to school for my masters of Healthcare Administration at Long Island University-C.W. Post I worked as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer. Maciej Siekierski, then Game Day Operations at Post, and some co-workers had lunch with Frank [Carbone] over the summer and Fall of 2010 I joined the Bears family as the new Head Athletic Trainer.
Summer plans…
Play softball in my firemen's league…work on my golf game (4 Iron baby)… be a part of history at the Belmont Stakes (Triple Crown American Pharaoh)… Family Weddings… 7-day Cruise to Bermuda (Love Shake Baby!)… not blow chunks on a half-a-million dollar 44ft yacht… GOT ENGAGED (sike- that's Iris, Congrats!)
A unique/interesting talent of mine…
I can whistle while smiling… try it :)
Being a Bear...
What I actually do over the summer with no students around…
What do you mean "No Students Around"? Thanks Erica!
Most memorable Bears/Lady Bears moment…
I would say the spine tingling, arm hair raising, electric environment of 2014 East vs. West when we swept SJC-LI in the brand new Hill Center.
Funniest FPC moment…
Way too many… but the most recent one is FPC rocking out to the max, 100% that he got a headache during our road trip from Cape May. ("Talk Dirty To Me")
Most memorable team road trip…
The Men's Basketball California Trip where we almost ended 2014 NCAA Division III Tournament participant Chapman University's 7-game winning streak in overtime in their house. Almost…..
Favorite place to eat on road trips…
Chick-Fil-A…. or the Golden Corral !!
Favorite feature of The Hill Center…
State of the Art Concert Sound System that shakes the third floor during home games
When I found out The Hill Center was finally open, I…
was already inside…lol. Then started screaming from the third floor balcony "We're Open! We're Open!"
Reaction when you heard Starbucks and Chipotle was opening on Myrtle Ave…
Starbucks… (Sarcastic Yeah!) BUT CHIPOTLE…. Fajita Burrito, white rice, pinto beans, barbacoa, mild corn chili, lettuce, shredded cheese, guac…. Bet you can't roll that without breaking the tortilla.
Speed Round…
iPhone or Android… Droid
LeBron, Kobe or Jordan… Jordan
Yankees or Mets... Mets
Knicks or Nets... Nets
Jets or Giants… Jets
Rangers or Islanders… Brooklyn Islanders!
Beach or Pool… Le Beesh
Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks… Dunkin'
Twitter or Facebook… In The Face…book!
On being social media famous…
Number of…
Twitter followers: 100
Facebook friends: 1,589
Instagram followers: 640
The most likes you've received on an Instagram photo and what was the photo of?
91 likes…In my Class A Uniform for the 2013 Nassau County Firemen's Parade
Your favorites…
Favorite sports team(s)…
College Football Florida Gators
Favorite professional athlete (past or present) …
Kevin Mawae #68 Center NY Jets... People say I look like him…
Favorite TV show… Tyrant
Favorite SJC Professor… Dewey Golkin
Favorite quote/motto…
The two that I have at my office desk are "Learn from the mistakes of others, you can't live long enough to make them all yourself" & "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt".
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt… my professional motto!
Final thoughts…
Anything you'd like to share with all the rest of the Bears family …
Wishing the best of health and luck to all athletic teams and student-athletes for the upcoming school year!
Previous Summer Spotlights:
Michael Megafu, Men's Basketball
Lauren GaNun, Women's Volleyball, Swimming & Basketball
Nolan Parr, Men's Tennis, Soccer & Basketball
Shannon Fahy, Women's Soccer & Tennis
Nicholas LoPrinzi, Baseball
Jillian O'Hara, Women's Swimming
Norrin Martinez, Men's Volleyball
Cassandra Nasta, Women's Volleyball
Brittany Cervino, Women's Basketball
Check back every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer for our next spotlight. (If any student-athletes would like to participate on a future spotlight, please e-mail amacapugay@sjcbears.com.)