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Gianino and Schuttee: October Athletes of the Month

Q and A with Dominic Gianino (soccer) and Ava Schuttee (volleyball)
Byline photo of Lillian Richter
Lillian Richter, Web Editor-in-Chief
January 14, 2026
Left: Senior Dominic Gianino is kicking the ball down the field to his teammates on Nov. 10. Gianino is a Midfielder and Defender and is vital to the Spartans' defence (Aaron Alavi). Right: In high spirit, junior hitter Ava Schuette, during the second set, springs up to hit the ball at the volleyball game against Francis Howell on Sep. 23. Schuette and her team were determined to secure a victory (Olivia Unash).
Left: Senior Dominic Gianino is kicking the ball down the field to his teammates on Nov. 10. Gianino is a Midfielder and Defender and is vital to the Spartans’ defence (Aaron Alavi). Right: In high spirit, junior hitter Ava Schuette, during the second set, springs up to hit the ball at the volleyball game against Francis Howell on Sep. 23. Schuette and her team were determined to secure a victory (Olivia Unash).
Tactfully maneuvering the soccer ball around others, senior Dominic Gianino begins to pass the ball to his colleague. The athlete reaches his leg back to generate enough force to kick the ball in the intended direction.
Senior Dominic Gianino- Varsity Soccer

Q: When did you start playing soccer? 

 

Gianino: I started playing when I was four or five.

 

Q:  What made you stick with it? 

 

Gianino: It just ended up being a passion for me. I had family members who played, I watched on TV, and I just enjoyed the sport and thought it was fun, so I stuck with it. 

 

Q: What challenges have you faced as a student athlete?

 

Gianino: Balancing out homework and soccer, and just sports in general, can be difficult sometimes, but if you just stay disciplined, then you can get it done. 

 

Q: What’s been the greatest moment of the season for you? 

 

Gianino: A month ago, we won the GAC cup. That was a good moment for us. We were happy, and it was a big one. 

 

Q: What makes you a great player, individually and as a teammate? 

 

Gianino: As a teammate, I think I’m a good leader, and I can be a good role model, especially as a senior, and lead by example and work my hardest, and hopefully that feeds off into the rest of the team, and then for myself, I just like to work hard and I practice a lot and play with confidence.

 

Q: How has your sport changed your life?

Gianino:  It’s brought me a lot of friends. Obviously, I’ve made a lot of relationships through soccer, and it’s just given me a passion and kind of given me something to strive toward every day. 



Tactfully maneuvering the soccer ball around others, senior Dominic Gianino begins to pass the ball to his colleague. The athlete reaches his leg back to generate enough force to kick the ball in the intended direction. (Rachael Latzel)
Outside hitter sophomore Ava Schutte jumped up to block a ball from the opposing team. She jumped up with her teammate to try and prevent a point.
Junior Ava Schutte- Varsity Volleyball

Q: When did you start playing volleyball? 

 

Schuette: When I was 12

 

Q: What made you stick with it so long? 

 

Schuette:  Just the team sport, it’s fun, and it’s always something you can improve on.

 

Q: What challenges have you faced as a student athlete?

 

Schuette:  Games can go to five sets, and then you don’t get home until like eight o’clock, and then you have all your homework to do.

 

Do you struggle balancing school work and athletics?

 

Schuette: It’s not that bad, but sometimes it can be difficult.

 

Q: What’s been the greatest moment of the season?

 

Schuette: When we beat Howell, because we’ve lost to them in previous years, and beating them was has always been a goal for our school.

 

Q: What makes you a great player, individually and as a teammate?

Schuette: I feel like, as a team, we’re always uplifting each other, and individually, I work hard and do a lot of stuff outside of just practice.

 

Q: How has your sport changed your life?

 

Schuette: The people I’ve met and just determination, [being] hard working.

 

Outside hitter sophomore Ava Schutte jumped up to block a ball from the opposing team. She jumped up with her teammate to try and prevent a point. (Izzy Dunlap)
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