Matthew Chiono '17 Recruiting Profile

Although I'm just 17 years old, I've had a few obstacles along the way that I've always worked to turn into opportunities. Opportunities to grow, achieve, learn and work towards playing the game I love, baseball.  It wasn't until I was about 11 years old, playing on a travel team called Sutter Area Storm, that I realized I truly was passionate about baseball and knew, as only a young boy would, that I wanted to play this game forever! Because of the coaches I had, and their positive influences, I really began to feel successful playing this game.

I could see, feel and believe that the harder I worked, the more my results changed and improved.  By working through obstacles, these became opportunities of growth both on the field, in the classroom and in the rest of my life.  In the classroom, I've worked hard to attain good grades, knowing that these grades are key to reaching my goals now and in my future.

I look at all of the work I've been doing in the off-season as opportunities for getting stronger, faster, more agile, smarter and confident.  These workouts give me the ability to learn more about the game and about myself and they teach me discipline and fuel my motivation.  This discipline and motivation tie back to school, so it's a daily requirement for me to find balance in my schedule.  

I believe I am a good student of the game.  I am always eager to learn from my coaches, instructors, peers and other players. I want my learning to continue after high school, I want to continue working hard to play baseball at the college level while earning my degree. The college that I go to will be getting a student with drive, motivation, and a person with a very strong work ethic and sense of purpose, a good young man.  Thanks for taking the time to learn about me as a student, player and person! 

Matthew D. Chiono

Class of 2017