Written by Chantal Simmons ‘13
A volleyball and softball two-sport athlete, Candice Giordano Damico graduated from Albertus Magnus in 2003 as one of the finest softball pitchers in the history of the program. As a freshman, she finished second in the nation with 9.7 strikeouts per game en route to being named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team for her efforts.
With her father already being the softball coach at Albertus Magnus, Candice felt it was where she needed to be when applying for colleges. She wanted a small school with small classes and teachers who would know her by both name and face. “Albertus Magnus was the right fit for me”. Majoring in Communications with a minor in Management Information System, Candice’s main focus was on school then athletics. Making dean’s list every year, Candice was focused.
Playing softball since she was 8, it had always been her number one sport. Freshman year, she was one of three pitchers, sophomore through senior year; she usually pitched one of the double header games. With volleyball, she went back and forth between being a hitter and setter. “When it comes to sports, either you go hard or go home. Enjoy these years now because once you leave, that’s it. Enjoy it while it lasts. If you don’t enjoy it, then you shouldn’t be doing it”.
Competitive, determined and underestimated are the words Candice will use to describe herself as an athlete but after the serious injuries she sustained during both her sophomore and junior year, I would add committed fighter and diligent hard worker. During her sophomore year of college, she tore her ACL, MCL, and Meniscus in her left knee. Candice spent that summer rehabbing as she was determined to play her junior year. In the last game of the season of her junior year, she tore her Meniscus and ACL again, but this time in her right knee. “It was really tough and people didn’t think I was going to play again because I had done two injuries in 10 months. To come back from those two injuries was one of my major accomplishments.”
Giordano finished her career with the sixth- best Earned Run Average in GNAC history and earned GNAC All-Conference First Team honors in both 2002 and 2003. As of 2011, she ranks third in GNAC history with a .744 all-time winning percentage. Giordano was named the team Most Valuable Player in 2002 and 2003 and served as a team captain during her senior year. She was also a captain for the volleyball team in 2001 and 2002 and was a member of the GNAC Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Most recently, Candice was inducted into the Albertus Magnus Athletics Hall of Fame in October of 2011.
Candice married John Damico ’03 in 2008 whom she met at Albertus as John played soccer for the Falcons as well. The couple has a 17 month-old daughter, Gia.
Currently a 5th grade teacher at Church Street School in Hamden, Candice describes her job as being “fun and ever changing. The kids make it worthwhile. There is never a dull day. I really enjoy it and all the challenges that come with it”.
