SALISBURY, Md. – This is "Nest to Nest," a regular series spotlighting the big miles and bigger stories of the Sea Gull student-athletes on each team who traveled the farthest to be at Salisbury University. This week, we follow
Nicholas O'Dea of SU men's tennis quite literally halfway across the world, all the way to the suburbs of Sydney in the Land Down Under.
Nicholas O'Dea | So., Men's Tennis
Hometown:
Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Population:
10,590
Distance from Salisbury:
9,832 miles
Travel Time:
30 hours
What would you say your hometown is known for?
My hometown has some pretty good views of the Sydney Harbour. I get to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House from certain parts of my neighborhood.
What's your favorite hometown hangout spot?
There's this kind of lookout about 10 minutes from my place
called Watson's Bay. It's an abandoned lighthouse and it gives great views of the sea and the Sydney skyline.
Which local sports teams do you root for?
Back home there's a National Rugby League (NRL) team
called the St. George Dragons. St. George is a district in Sydney where my grandpa grew up, so I follow his team.
How did you hear about Salisbury University?
I went on this recruiting website called NSCA, and coach [
Randy Halfpap] from last year reached out to me and liked my profile. So I came for a visit and just liked it here.
What's the biggest difference between life in your hometown and life here in Salisbury?
One thing I've said to a lot of people is that everyone in Australia kind of walks everywhere, and everything is pretty close by. The shops, the movie theaters, really anything is a pretty walkable distance. But here, I feel like everyone drives places; everything's spaced out here so no one really enjoys walking as much.
What's something you can turn to that reminds you of your hometown on the days when you miss it?
Well, other than photos and videos I have of my friends, I always try to FaceTime with them or call my mom whenever I'm missing home a lot. I think I keep up well with my family that's still back there, so that always helps.
How would you sell someone on visiting your hometown?
You should definitely make the visit. I know people are usually scared of the animals in Australia, but they're really not that bad. I'll be your tour guide if you choose to come!
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 206 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
