ROCHESTER, NY -- To say that junior defender Scott Fishel (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) of the RIT men's soccer team is busy is an understatement. For part of his day, Fishel is a mild-mannered college student enrolled as a Physician Assistant major, one of the most demanding fields of study at RIT. The other part of the day, he is the captain where he is a mainstay in the lineup. As packed as his days are, Fishel wouldn't have it any other way.

For Fishel, the decision to work and study in the medical profession was forged a long time ago. You could say medicine is in the Fishel family. Scott's father, Steve, is a general practitioner at Saratoga Family Medicine in Malta, New York. Scott's brother Jason just began his residency as a general practitioner, and Sean, will be a Physician's Assistant in the Emergency Room at Strong Memorial Hospital.

"My dad is a doctor, my brothers both work in medicine," said Fishel. "I have always been interested in biology, so I knew I wanted to go into medicine in some capacity."
 
A native of Niskayuna, N.Y., Fishel excelled in the classroom and the soccer field at Niskayuna High School, earning all-conference honors in 2012 and as a senior was team MVP and first team all-conference selection. In the classroom, he won two NYSPHSAA scholar-athlete awards.
 
Fishel knew coming to RIT as a first year how difficult it would be to play soccer all four years, while completing his degree. But, his intention from day one was to play all four years, while balancing a very demanding major.

"I knew coming in that it would be difficult to do both. But I knew I wanted to at least try it," said Fishel. "It's been difficult. But, I am determined to finish out my eligibility and complete my degree."

The Physician Assistant major at RIT is demanding on a student's time. It is a five-year program that requires a student to complete 181 credit hours both in the classroom and practical, in-the-field experience. In comparison, other majors at RIT require 129 credit hours for completion.  

Fishel has been nothing less than stellar athletically and academically at RIT. He currently holds a 4.0 grade-point average and has been on the Dean's List four quarters/semesters at RIT. He is a 2014 Liberty League All-Academic Team selection and will once again be honors in 2015 when the team is announced in November.

On the field, Fishel has played every minute of every game his first two seasons, and suffered an injury that caused him to miss the first two games of his college career earlier this season. He was named a co-captain by his teammates for the 2015 season. This season, Fishel has played in six games and tallied a goal versus Nazareth last week. He has five points in 41 career games.

"Since Scott joined our team, he's been defined by his strong work ethic," said senior abd fellow co-captain Geno Rocco (Apalachin, NY/Vestal). "It goes without saying how difficult it is to achieve at a high-level, both academically and athletically. Scott has done both, all while in the Pysician Assistnat program. It's easy to have a lot of respect for a teammate like that."

Bill Garno, RIT's head coach for the last 20 seasons and 1988 graduate of the university, admires Fishel's work ethic, discipline and talent on and off the field. Garno says Fishel is a good role model to his teammates and feels fortunate to have Fishel as a member of the team.  

"A word I would use to describe Scott, is disciplined," said Garno. "He has to be disciplined to maintain a high level of excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

There are no typical days for Fishel, especially in his third year. His day isn't your typical day for a college student. Fishel is up early and at class by 10 a.m. every day. The bulk of his day is spent in the classroom or in lab.

On Monday, while his teammates are practicing, Fishel is spending his time in the classroom, taking History in Physical Examination. He misses most of practice on Monday, and is late on Thursday while at his Pharmacology class.
 
"Especially this year, it has been tough managing my time," said Fishel. "I am either in class, at practice or at a game or studying just about every moment of the day."

He will try and find some time for lunch, but having two 2-3 hour classes every day can be difficult. On Tuesday's and Thursday's he has to miss the bulk of practice due to class work. After soccer, he is home in front of the TV or on his computer doing homework and studying.

"Scott is a no-nonsense guy," said Garno. "He works his butt off and never makes excuses and manages both his academics and athletics."

Those two hours Fishel spends on the field practicing or playing soccer is his respite from class and work. He finds he can let out his frustrations from the day on the soccer field. Fishel also feels he works better when his free time is limited.

"Soccer is my solace," stated Fishel. "It's my stress relief and my way to blow off steam."

When Fishel graduates in two years, he will do so being one of a select few Physician Assistant major's at RIT to compete all four years on a varsity athletic team while completing his degree.

"I am proud to be a Physician's Assistant major," said Fishel. "I am also proud of my soccer career as well. I feel like I have given 100 percent both in the classroom and on the field and I wouldn't change a thing."