Senior right-fielder for Hillsdale’s baseball team, Michael Vanchieri, has learned three languages and showcased his musical talents at multiple Hillsdale events in addition to completing his biochemistry major in the past four years.
Why did you choose to attend Hillsdale College to play baseball?
It was the best deal financially and I aligned with the school’s beliefs. I was getting looked at to play football here and some other Division-III schools, but I ended up here playing baseball inexplicably.
Aside from baseball, what else are you involved in on campus?
I’ve been playing guitar since I was in sixth grade. I begged my parents for a guitar for Christmas – I knew Santa wasn’t real by that time, so I went straight to my parents. They were very hesitant to give it to me because they didn’t think I was going to stick to it. I wanted to prove them wrong so badly that it motivated me to stick to it. I’ve been playing since sixth grade and I’ve done a couple shows here at coffeehouses and I did Battle of the Bands last year and played at Fall Fest this year.
How does playing music parallel with baseball?
It’s a challenge and if you can play an instrument, you can play a sport so long as the resolve and work you need to put into it are there.
Is it true that you can speak multiple languages?
I’m not fluent in anything but English, but I took Spanish in high school, three semesters of French at Hillsdale and then my grandparents speak Italian, so considering they’re all Romance languages, I figured ‘How different could it be?’ And I sort of picked up some Italian.
Has attending Hillsdale allowed you take advantage of your variety of skills?
A smaller school was advantageous in terms of that. I don’t know if I would have gotten to learn languages at another school with going into science and biochemistry. I also don’t know if I’d have the stones to come to the Student Union and play in front of a bunch of people some place else.
How have you balanced playing baseball and a biochemistry major?
I try not to get stressed out about things, because we all control way less than we think. It’s been difficult, but I don’t think I’d change my decision if I had the chance.
Also, you really have to prioritize. I’m a huge list maker, so I make lists and check boxes off.
Another thing is that the relationships with your friends are really the things that you’re going to remember from your college experience. You’re not going to remember how you did on a molecular biology test or being pissed off that you lost a game. You’re going to remember the times that you spent with your teammates, pulling a prank on somebody. Relationships are what matter.
What is your role on this year’s baseball team?
In terms of leadership, my role is keeping things loose and making sure the guys are having as much fun as possible. In my time here, I’ve realized if you’re not having fun, you’re not going to be successful. You might as well go out there and play like it’s your last game and have a blast. If something happens and you trip and fall, I’m going to find it funny, and if I trip and fall, I’m going to laugh at myself. I think as a whole the team is a lot looser this year and I don’t know if I have anything to do with it, but I’ve had a lot more fun this year than I have any other year so far. I don’t like to make predictions because I made one before and we sucked.
How is the freshman class of players looking?
They’re doing their job to contribute. I feel like the seniors right now are like the Last of the Mohicans, there’s only a handful of us that are graduating this year and only three from my freshman class are going to graduate, so it’s a bit of a front-loaded team in terms of age.
What is your favorite Hillsdale memory?
There was one night when I was a freshman where we gathered up a whole bunch of toilet paper, painted our faces, and went out at four in the morning. We went to a residence that will remain nameless and we literally unloaded about 120 rolls of toilet paper on the trees. Being with all your teammates and doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing – we got a little rush out of it.
What are your future plans?
I don’t know what’s in store for me after college in terms of baseball, if there’s a chance for me to play professionally in an independent league. Considering I’ve had some concussion problems, I’m not too sure I want to risk getting knocked in the head again, but whatever comes on my plate, I’ll look at it seriously and decide with my family.
I may take a year off and go to chiropractic school. And I have my cross-fit certification, so I’d like to open a cross-fit gym chiropractic all-in-one nutrition one-stop health shop.
-Compiled by Macaela Bennett
