Kicking Toward Her Goals: Olivia Giammanco Balances College Soccer Dreams and Career Ambitions

Senior Olivia Giammanco, '26 has long dreamed of playing college soccer. As a sophomore, her club coach talked to the team about the college recruiting process. That's when she started taking it seriously.

As the oldest in her family, Giammanco had no roadmap to follow. “My parents hadn’t been through this before,” she said. “They were incredibly supportive and helped me find great resources." But the majority of the work fell on her.

Olivia handled every part of her recruiting journey. From researching universities and editing highlight reels to personalizing dozens of emails. She said one of her main goals was to stand out for more than her athletic ability.

I wanted college coaches to see who I was beyond the field. That’s something several coaches said impressed them. It showed that I was genuinely invested in the process.

While soccer is her passion, academics have always been equally important. "Soccer will always be a big part of my life, but I take my studies seriously too.” Olivia searched for colleges that offered a strong balance between athletics and academics. She discovered that Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri offered just that.

“Rockhurst wasn’t even on my radar at first,” Giammanco admitted. “I originally wanted to go far from home, but as time went on, that distance kept shrinking.” I also knew I wanted to pursue a career in occupational therapy. It's a field she describes as “rewarding but challenging.” 

She discovered that Rockhurst offers a 3+2 Occupational Therapy Program. Students in the program can earn a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree in just five years. She knew Rockhurst was the right fit after learning more about the program and meeting people in it.

“My coach always reminded us to pick a school we’d love even if we couldn’t play soccer anymore,” she said.

Giammanco also looks forward to being surrounded by teammates pursuing similar academic paths. “A lot of the girls on the (Rockhurst) team are studying in medical-related fields,” she said. “They’ve shown that it’s possible to balance both, and that gives me confidence that I can too.”

For me, Rockhurst checked every box; the academics, the program, the community, and the team culture.

Watching his daughter navigate the process fills Robert Giammanco with pride. “Olivia managed it every step of the way with positivity and perseverance,” he said.  His 'wow' moment came when they met with the Rockhurst soccer coach. He remembers being blown away by his daughter's take-charge approach. As the meeting was ending, she pointedly asked: 

"‘So, do you have a spot for me on your team coach?’ He said yes. They shook hands, and he told her, ‘Welcome aboard.’ Her confidence to ask that question was awesome.”

As she prepares to take the next step, Giammanco says her time at Aquinas has taught her what it means to be part of a supportive community.

“Aquinas has been amazing in showing me what it looks like to have people cheering you on,” she said. “I’m so excited to start this next chapter - meeting new people, trying new things, and continuing to grow.” 

Giammanco is enrolled in the Intro to Health Professions course this spring, a dual credit course offered at Aquinas in conjunction with the school's partnership with Rockhurst University. Not only will Olivia earn two hours of college credit with Rockhurst before she begins college, she'll get a feel for what a career in healthcare looks like. 

Reflecting on her experience, Giammanco has a few words of advice for other student-athletes beginning their own recruiting journeys. “The recruiting process isn’t easy. It’s time-consuming, and there are moments when you might feel stuck or overwhelmed. But if you know what you’re looking for and stay true to it, everything falls into place.” 

For more information on Dual Credit and College Ready opportunities at Aquinas:

• Visit our Academic Programs
• Email: Deb Castinado