WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University athletics is proud to participate in the annual NCAA Division III Week (April 7-13) to celebrate the impact athletics and Bison student-athletes have on our campus and the surrounding community. GU is joining 429 Division III institutions and 42 voting conferences in this week's celebration.

To help focus on the many student-athletes that represent Gallaudet athletics we will spotlight several student-athletes each day this week that are on a GU 2024-25 Division III sport teams. You will learn more about them as they express their feelings on what it is like to be a Division III student-athlete here at Gallaudet. Interviews were conducted by Gallaudet Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant Pia Garreffa.

Junior Kyle Florio (Franklin, Mass.) is a third-year student-athlete in the men's basketball program. Florio majors in Business Administration and minors in Sports Management and is expected to graduate in May 2026.

In My Own Words: Kyle Florio (Men's Basketball)

What is it like to be a student-athlete in college?
KF: Being a student-athlete in college requires a lot of dedication and hard work, but the experience itself is rewarding and nothing else can replace that. Being a student-athlete is also a privilege that not everyone has, so I try to maximize my experience as a student-athlete, by making the best out of being a student and being an athlete.

What is it like to be a student-athlete at Gallaudet University?
KF: Being a student-athlete at Gallaudet University is a rich experience. You get the opportunity to meet and play with other high-level Deaf athletes while communicating with full ASL access. You can't get that experience anywhere else in the world and I will always cherish being a student-athlete at Gallaudet for that.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being on the men's basketball team?
KF: The greatest lesson that I've learned from being on the Gallaudet men's basketball team is to be able to learn from all of my teammates. My teammates come from different backgrounds, different experiences and different approaches to playing basketball, and I am lucky to be able to learn from them. I've learned many things from my teammates about life, basketball, and more that I probably wouldn't have learned anywhere else, and I am grateful for that.

How do you prepare mentally and physically for a high-pressure game?
KF: I prepare both mentally and physically for a high-pressure game by taking a nap before the game. I must take a nap before every game, so I would do the same thing, by napping for 30 minutes up to an hour around two hours before the game. Napping before games recharges me and gets me focused for all the games, which prepares me for a high-pressure game.

2025 Division III Week Student-Athlete Spotlight: In My Words
Monday: Kyle Florio (Men's Basketball) | Joy Watkins (Women's Track & Field)

About Division III Week
Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct a type of outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment; athletic experience; or leadership/community service/campus involvement. For more information log onto https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/11/15/division-iii-week.aspx.

About Gallaudet
Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world. For more information about Gallaudet University please log onto www.gallaudet.edu and visit the Bison athletics homepage at www.gallaudetbison.com.