Personal Statement
TRANSFER PORTAL NCAA GRADUATE TRANSFER WITH TWO YEARS ELIGIBILITY REMAINING FOR XC AND TRACK
My name is Cal Puskar and I'm graduating from the University at Buffalo with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Management and Communications. I will be graduating with a 3.1 GPA as I'm looking to pursue graduate school next year. I am also in the NCAA Transfer Portal. For the last two years, I have earned eligibility for a 5th and partial 6th year as a grad student because of Covid and a torn labrum in my left hip.
For the longest time, I faced uncertainty and sitting on the sidelines, which took a major chunk out of my collegiate career in cross country and track. I feel that with my persistence to come back from a career-threatening injury, I display commitment and resilience. I have the experience of 4 years on a Division 1 team and the level of intensity, commitment, and desire to want to be apart of it. I'm an individual who wants to bring the best out of myself and others who share similar goals as I do.
In 2022,, I have been competing in my first outdoor track season since 2019, where I have run 353 in the 1500 and 153 in the 800, which are both PRs for me. I have plenty more competitions this season to run even faster before I graduate from Buffalo and I'm starting to feel confident again. While I was uncertain about my recovery from hip surgery last year, graduate school seemed to be a distant option. However, I feel like myself again and I want to express my interest in pursing an opportunity to explore further graduate school options and have the ability to compete at the highest level of NCAA athletics.