Get to know your Eagles. The Naples Daily News will profile an FGCU athletic program member each week to introduce fans to the players and coaches representing the Blue and Green during the 2024 season.
Pablo Paternostro was a freshman on the Florida Gulf Coast men's tennis squad in 2023-24. He finished his first year of collegiate play with a team-high 13 combined wins in singles and doubles. The Boca Raton native went 5-5 at No. 3 Singles and had a team-high three wins in conference doubles action alongside Harry Michalowski. The Naples Daily News sat down with Paternostro to learn more about him.
Question: What made you choose FGCU when coming out of high school?
Paternostro: So I chose FGCU for three main reasons. One was I can be close to home. Home for me is Boca, and my parents are able to come to the games and I'm able to see them often. And if I went to pretty much any other school in the country, I wouldn't be able to do that. Another thing is I can play outdoor tennis year-round and I don't have to play indoor. I don't like playing indoor. It's bad for my game, it's bad for like my technique and stuff. And then obviously the weather, it's much better to be in Fort Myers than anywhere.
What do you enjoy about being a student-athlete at FGCU?
Paternostro: I think the lifestyle you live here, how you can go to the beach, and the dorm you live in is apartment style. You have all the pools and everything. And then obviously the sports here. I'm a student-athlete obviously, I'm at FGCU for tennis and I think it's it's a good environment to play tennis in. The fitness is very good and all that. It's just more than what I expected college to be. It's better.
What are some challenges you've overcome since getting to campus?
Paternostro: Well, I think one thing was going back to school since the last few years of high school I did online school, so readjusting to classes was something that took me a little bit in the beginning. Obviously, living away from family, I've never spent more than a weekend without them. I'm doing everything by myself is a big change.
What advice would you give to incoming Eagles?
Paternostro: Your teammates become like your family, but it's also good to make sure you're talking to people outside of your team and making friends and branching out with other people in the school. Other sports teams, other normal students, then just branching out and not just being with your team. That would be one of the big things.
Do you have any pre-match superstitions or rituals?
Paternostro: I wouldn't say for the day of the match, but the night before the match I spend the whole time ― it's not really so much of a ritual ― but I just stretch every night before a match and while I'm stretching I listen to my music on the TV loud and I just started focusing from the day before.
What music are you playing to get in the right mindset?
Paternostro: Oh, man. I listen to a lot of different music. So it's a weird mix, but a combination of Spanish reggaeton and The Beatles.
Do you have any favorite classes or subjects so far?
Paternostro: Yeah, so I actually finished all my Gen Eds already, I came in with 24 credits. I'm in the basic business classes now, so public speaking, professional writing, and accounting. I've done the two required accounting classes for my management major, and especially the first two, it's something that goes with my interests and what I want to do.
Do you have a favorite athlete or team?
Paternostro: So I think my favorite pro athlete is probably Jimmy Butler from the Heat. And then my favorite team, I would say my [soccer] club from back in Colombia. It's called Athletico Junior de Barranquilla. That would probably be my favorite team.
Do you have a favorite spot to eat near campus?
Paternostro: I think my favorite sport to eat is actually my dorm room because I'm so into cooking and eventually I want to open my own restaurant. So I don't want to leave the dorm if know I can make something better myself. I like the Cajun style of pasta with the chicken that's like Louisiana style.
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