Three DeSales Student Athletes Exemplify Discipline, Leadership and Dedication Through Their Involvement in Army ROTC

CENTER VALLEY, PA (Nov 10, 2025) -- Student athletes already have a lot on their plate to balance, and the few who are involved in ROTC have even more to manage. Larry Sullivan, Chris Gomez, and Kate Gomez are three student athletes who prioritize their sport, academics and military training. All three are also recipients of three-year Army ROTC Scholarship. As DeSales University takes time to honor those who have served, these student athletes are preparing to follow in that legacy.

All three knew they wanted to attend a university that allowed them to compete in their sport while pursuing their future career through ROTC. Coaches, teammates and the supportive community at DeSales have made that balance possible.

The Army ROTC three-year scholarship is a prestigious and competitive award. Recipients are selected based on academics, leadership, physical fitness tests, essays and interviews, making the honor a significant accomplishment.

Junior tennis player Chris Gomez has known since the start of his freshman year of high school that he wanted to join the Amy. He originally came to DeSales to play tennis and take part in ROTC, and he quickly found community within the University.

"I applied for a national scholarship my high school year and luckily I got it. I applied mainly because I knew I wanted to be in the Army" Chris said when discussing the ROTC three year scholarship.

Time management, study skills, leadership and interpersonal relationships are just some of the skills that Gomez has learned through ROTC and tennis. At the beginning of his academic, athletic and ROTC journey, he struggled with managing his time. Learning to balance all his responsibilities was not easy, but now as a junior, Christ has figured it our and shares advice with younger cadets on how to best manage their schedules.

Junior year is when cadets begin exploring the path they would like to take after graduation. Chris currently hopes to serve as a military police officer. As a criminal justice major, he is drawn to a career that allows him to work outside an office, interacting with the public and helping others.

First-year tennis player Kate Gomez became interested in the military through her older brother, Chris. He joined the U.S Naval Sea Cadets, a youth program, similar to Junior ROTC, and while Kate initially had no desire to attend, her mother encouraged her to give it a try.

"The program showed me I want to do military, this is something I enjoy. Getting up early, having to run a bunch, being disciplined, learning in class about the military." Kate said "I went from the Sea Cadets, which is the Navy to Army ROTC. The schools I was looking at had to have Army ROTC, if they didn't, then I didn't apply"

Kate began playing tennis in fifth grade, but didn't take it seriously until high school. By her sophomore year, she earned a spot on the varsity team, and by her junior and senior years, she served as team captain. When searching for colleges, she wanted to find place where she could play tennis and do ROTC. Luckily for her, Chris was already doing both at DeSales.

In addition to competing on tennis team and participating in ROTC, Kate is also part of the DeSales scholar program. In her short time in Center Valley, she has participated in weekend intensives, taken more challenging classes and visited other Universities.

Kate credits her ability to manage such a full schedule to the discipline she learned through Sea Cadets and ROTC.

"It teaches you to be disciplined with yourself but also how to be a good leader, which is great for school and life" Kate said. "It also teaches you have to follow, which in some situations is just as if not more important"

Kate has long been interested in law enforcement and is considering becoming military police officer after graduation. However, she knows she still has plenty of time to explore other opportunities through ROTC.

Sophomore men's soccer captain, Larry Sullivan, a criminal justice major, has always had people in his family to look up to both in soccer and the military. Sullivan's grandfather inspired him to join ROTC. All three of his grandfathers served in the Army, but one in particular stands out as one of his biggest heroes earning both a Purple Hear and a Bronze Star Medal for Valor.

Like Chris and Kate Gomez, Sullivan chose DeSales because his coach supported his goal of serving in the military while continuing to play soccer. The sport has been a part of his life since he was a toddler. His entire family played soccer at a high level, and he naturally followed in their footsteps.

"Some days I have to wake up early and ruck and then practice or have a game the next day. This semester we had an away game at 7:00pm and then I was up at 4:30am the next day for an AFT, then we had practice later in the day," Sullivan said.

One of the biggest lessons that Sullivan has learned through both ROTC and soccer is that it's okay to fail, what matters most is how you respond.

"When you do tactic missions, or do lanes, things are going to go wrong, but it is how you respond to it" he said "Same with soccer, If you miss a pass, it's about how you make the next pass, it is about not getting in your head".

Sullivan hopes to join the infantry and attend Ranger School after graduation. His goal is to stay involved with the Army for as long as possible.

"It means a lot, I genuinely have high respect for those who served our country, especially those who fought in wars" Sullivan said when asked what Veterans Day means to him. "All three of my grandfathers, my mom's dad, stepdad and my dad's dad are all Army veterans. My dad's dad is one of my biggest heroes in life and the reason I wanted to join the military. He enlisted at 18, earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal of Valor, and he's been a huge influence in my life. He came to all of my games, and if he can't make it, he streams them. We talk after games, and I can talk to him about ROTC."

The three student athletes have a newfound appreciation for Veterans Day now that they are working closely with the military. They see the hard work and sacrifice that goes into the roles they aspire to fill.

"It has been exciting going through all of this. It has been a lot of change, but being able to do it all on my own and knowing that I can is amazing." Chris said of his ROTC experience.

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