Biography
By Jim Hague
Alessandro Acito never envisioned he would evolve into a collegiate cross country runner or track standout.
Acito just competed in track and field at Roselle Catholic High School and wanted to go on to college to eventually serve in law enforcement in some capacity, like many of his fellow family members did before him in his father’s native land of Italy or in New Jersey.
Never did Acito think that he would be able to compete on the collegiate level.
“I was looking into schools that had criminal justice majors,” said Acito, who first attended Union County College before arriving at Rutgers-Newark last January.
Acito did compete at Union County College, helping to launch the school’s track and field and cross country programs. When he realized that Rutgers-Newark had a track program, Acito figured he might give it a try.
“I think I was just trying to fit in and make an impression,” Acito said. “I had other members of my family go to Rutgers, but coming from a community college, I didn’t think I could actually run at a big school like Rutgers. It turned out to good choice for me.”
It also helped that there was a familiar feel to R-N, considering that Acito’s younger brother, Mateo, was also a student there, as well as his cousin Danny Petraglia.
Plus, several former Roselle Catholic products have gone on to become vital members of the Scarlet Raiders’ track and field program, like Nick DeRosa, Joshua Stinson and Sheana Foster.
“We’ve had a long history with Roselle Catholic runners,” Rutgers-Newark head cross country and track and field coach Juan Edney said. “Alessandro came over to us and he needed some work. He wasn’t in the best of shape and needed to be pushed a little bit. But he showed interest in being a distance guy for us. He said he ran the mile, but we had him run cross country as well. Our distance runners always need to run cross country (in the fall). It builds strength and they can come into the indoor season with the foundation and with endurance.”
Acito said that he felt comfortable with Edney and the R-N program.
“I definitely liked Coach Edney right away,” Acito said. “I didn’t know how to run an 8K (eight kilometer cross country college distance) well, so I had to learn. I also knew I had to work harder. When I was running for Union County College last year, I didn’t have the right passion. But having good coaching has helped me.”
Something definitely clicked, because Acito went from running 33 minutes when he started to a solid time of 28:55 at the end of the cross country season, which recently completed.
Acito also ran with an extra sense of motivation toward the end of the season.
Biago Acito, Alessandro’s father, suffered a heart attack in October.
“There was one day he came to practice and I knew something was not right with him,” Edney said. “Three days later, he met with me and told me that his father was sick.”
Doctors amputated Biago Acito’s left leg in an attempt to help his circulation, but he died Oct. 24 at age 62.
“When he went into the hospital at first, there wasn’t a day where I thought he wasn’t coming home,” Alessandro Acito said. “He was on a respirator, but his heart just stopped. He was an important figure in my life, especially with track. He would drive me to practice, talk to me about it. He was always asking how I did. Unfortunately, I won’t have that anymore.”
Instead of going into seclusion, mourning his father’s untimely passing, Alessandro Acito did what he knew to do best. He came to practice.
“It was the Thursday before the NJAC championships,” Edney said. “The kids texted me that Alessandro’s father had passed away, so I didn’t expect to see him. But he came to practice. He thanked everyone for their thoughts, but he said that his Dad wanted him to be there running. And he just ran outside his brain with that 28:55, his PR (personal record).
Added Edney, “He said he wanted to run for his Dad and that’s what he did.”
Edney said that Acito is still struggling with his father’s death.
“It’s been a pretty big ordeal,” Edney said. “We all love him. Everybody loves him. He’s having a tough time with it. His Dad wanted him to stick with it and he’s done that. He’s a winner in our eyes, because he’s cut four minutes off his times and no one does that in such a short period of time. He appreciates the team and knows we’re there for him.”
Acito knows now that he has a lot to run for.
“I think I take him to track with me every day now,” Acito said. “I take what he has shown me and I think of him every day. He was an important figure to me in my life. I know I have to step up and help my Mom and brothers. I know it’s important for me to finish school and do what my Dad taught me.”
Acito said that he wants to become either a New Jersey state trooper or a local police officer in the future. He already is getting training as a community service officer for the Rutgers-Newark police department, doing traffic control and building checks as part of his patrol.
“Believe it or not, the reason why I wanted to become a police officer is because I like helping people out,” Acito said. “I was originally a biology major, but I went into criminal justice because I want to help people.”
With his determination and dedication, Alessandro Acito is already helping many people at Rutgers-Newark – and will continue to do so in the years to come. He also serves as an inspiration to his fellow teammates for being able to persevere in the face of family tragedy and will do so throughout the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons.
