University of Massachusets Athletics
Uliano Qualifies for Regionals
April 28, 2003 | Men's Outdoor Track
April 28, 2003
With a long list of accomplishments next to his name, this University of Massachusetts Minuteman defines what it means to be a student-athlete. He has delivered nationally recognized results while remaining a leader to his teammates. As last year's top outdoor scorer for the Maroon and White, Eric Uliano is a leader on and off the field.
Uliano's hard work has long paid off. He finished second in the shot put with a mark of 52-0 and fifth in the discus with mark of 142-10 at last year's Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championship meet. He was the outdoor team's top scorer with 55 points. At the A-10 Indoor Championship meet last year, he placed second in the shot put with a season-best mark of 51-2 and was the second-leading scorer during the indoor season with 37 points.
Already this season, Uliano has named Atlantic 10 and ECAC Performer of the week after winning the Southern Connecticut Inivte with the third-best mark in school history and a personal-best heave of 53-11.25.
Uliano's dedication to his Minuteman squad runs deep.
"He practices year round and is committed year round. He is one of the few that has gotten better," said Bob Otrando, strength and conditioning coach who has worked with Uliano for three years.
"He works hard and competes well. He throws farther in meets than he does in practice," said Otrando.
Uliano humbly attributes his success to experience. "I know how to prepare myself for a meet. I focus and think of what I have to do and who I'm competing against. And I get pumped up," he said.
In the two meets so far this season, Uliano has recorded marks in shot put good enough to qualify him for the NCAA regional meet. He is the first athlete in the history of men's track and field to qualify for the NCAA regionals.
"It [qualifying] is good for now. I'm just looking toward the next competition," he said modestly. "It is the first year I have qualified. It feels good to qualify."
"The fact that Eric qualified [for the NCAA regionals] will make subtle difference on the team," said Men's Track and Field Head Coach Ken O'Brien. "They feel like 'we're in the ball game'."
As a tri-captain on this year's squad, Uliano is "your classic lead by example performer," boasts O'Brien. In his four years on the team, he has not missed a single practice. "We [men's track and field] practice at any chance we get. Anywhere. Sometimes at seven o'clock in the morning. Eric hasn't skipped once, hasn't forgot to set his alarm. He finds the time to get there. He is a big influence in that he doesn't miss practice. He is the kind of guy who doesn't miss practice," said O'Brien.
"Eric has a laid back personality in being a leader. He is actively involved in taking an interest in others and takes time to get to know them. His involvement is personal," O'Brien said.
"[It is] a personal quality Eric has: the mark of a champion. There is a level of excitement generated within them [champions] and he has it. He is a person with a lot of character," said O'Brien.
Uliano currently holds the third-farthest shot put throw in school history: "My goal for the season is to beat the school record."
A Haverhill, Mass., native, Uliano captained the track team at Haverhill High School as a senior and was named All-State in both indoor and outdoor track and field as a senior. He was also a three-year letterman in football. Uliano is a sociology major with aspirations of someday opening a restaurant with his older brother.
Uliano's legacy will not soon be forgotten when he graduates in May.
"This year's freshmen are going to remember Eric in how he approached his event. For the next half a dozen years, kids will use him as an example and talk about him. They may not have felt [his] impact directly, but he has more than a direct effect [on the team]," commented O'Brien.
