Mass Impact: Liesl Sitton

AMHERST, Mass. -- Welcome to Mass Impact, presented by the UMassFive College Credit Union! Mass Impact is a series featuring alumni discussing how their experiences at the University of Massachusetts helped shape their lives and made them the people they are today.

Today, Liesl Sitton reflects on the impact her UMass tennis career had on her professional career as the Managing Partner/Principal at BayBoston Managers, LLC.

What transferrable skills did you learn as a student-athlete that have helped you be successful in your field?
Many aspects of being a student athlete have assisted me in being successful in my field, but I will limit my response to: learning how to listen, being part of a team and going the extra mile. To be successful in any field, the first step is to listen and learn from others.

My recommendation is to focus on the good qualities that you want to pick up and try to recognize the ones that may be detrimental. Remember that being an individual contributor has its benefits but can also limit you in the long term. Be cognizant that at certain periods of your career you will switch between playing the role of an individual contributor and being part of a team. This is very similar to tennis. Finally, you design your success and much of it depends on what you want to put into your career as well as your personal life. I have never been disappointed when I put in the extra mile. Your performance improves because of this.

Who had the greatest influence on you during your time at UMass?
There are many to pick from. Coach Judy Dixon: she managed me beautifully knowing when to push and how to get me into peak performance at the right time. Judy was able to get the best out of her players both on and off the court. This is something that I have learned transfers into the workforce and has benefited me as I manage my teams.

I also have to mention Pam Levine who was the person responsible in reinstating the tennis team in 1993 my freshman year. She taught me the value of doing your homework and fighting for what you believe in and what is right. It has been over 25 years since my time at UMass and I continue to stay in touch with them throughout tennis, life and work. They have been instrumental and I am very thankful for this.

How did being a Division I student-athlete help shape who you are today?
As a student-athlete you need to maintain focus, balance life and manage to have a little fun in the process. I try to maintain the same focus, balance and fun in every aspect of my life, in particular during the pandemic. This has been instrumental during this period of time having a family that can be balanced and have fun. Luckily I have two children that have a passion for sports so we are able to have fun on the tennis court, soccer field and dance studio helping us stay balanced.

How has UMass Athletics left a lasting impact on your life?
UMass Athletics, and UMass for that matter, is my second home. Driving to UMass there is a point that you see the library tower from afar and I think to myself I am back home. The Athletic Department had a comradery that was second to none. While we were considered the underdog (many teams underestimated us and would laugh at us), we had the benefit of having good athletes and had some great results.

Some of the teams that did not have the funding compared to other universities, like swimming, water polo, volleyball, soccer, etc.) also had great results. I am from Puerto Rico and there were a group of us that contributed to these teams, including the basketball team (Carmelo Travieso and the Padilla brothers). These athletes were all very passionate, hardworking and talented. I am very proud that I was part of that group of athletes from that era and remember and carry with me their passion, commitment and hard work throughout my life.

What Judy did in those early years with the talent that we had and budget was incredible. I am proud that I was there at the start of it all for the UMass tennis team. As I mentioned - the impact in my life is simple: UMass Athletics and UMass is home to me. There is nothing more impactful than considering the friends, coaches, athletes and teachers that you were surrounded by as your family at that time, today and into the future they are my family or Familia as we say in Puerto Rico.

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