During his three years attending St. Clair College, Rodi Mazloum had a stringent regiment of waking up, going to class, working out, going to practice, studying, then going to bed.
Little did he know that this grind would pay big dividends in his life, both athletically and professionally.
The St. Clair College Computer Systems Technology graduate carried a "sports-first" mentality into his first year of College, where he was recruited out of Holy Names, and played on both the varsity soccer and basketball teams at St. Clair.
"I wanted to play both sports, because I've been doing it my whole life, since I was a kid," Mazloum recalled, noting he came to St. Clair College in 2021 with the promise of being a two-sport varsity athlete.
But at first, Mazloum admits he wasn't as concerned with his education as he was with athletics.
"I was going to college for sports. So, I was like, okay, let's find the program," said Mazloum.
After much family discussion regarding which program best suited his skill sets and future job market possibilities, Mazloum enrolled in Computer Systems Technology. The three-year program focuses on advanced computer network administration, including network security.
"I wasn't overly interested in anything. I literally just wanted something where I had a good shot at getting a job after," he joked.
Mazloum made it through his first year playing both sports, where he was a point-guard for the basketball team and a right-winger on the soccer squad.
But he ultimately realized the load was too great, and that his schoolwork was suffering. He made the tough decision to leave the soccer team to focus on basketball and his studies.
"Sports was keeping me in school, if I'm being honest, which was always a good thing," said Mazloum. "Without sports, I don't know what I would have done."
What Mazloum didn't realize at the time was by balancing a busy schedule, he was getting an invaluable education in soft-skills like time-management, resilience, and teamwork. Mazloum said his grades got back on the right track, noting the varsity coaches play an integral role in keeping student-athletes on top of both their game and their education.
"Coaches stayed on you all the time. They're in good contact with all your professors, especially the basketball coached, Brendon Seguin and Matthew Sykes. They're super on top of that," recalled Mazloum, who ultimately graduated with a 3.0 GPA. "Staying in class and getting your work done is a major priority for them."
On the court, Mazloum was best known for his mid-range jumper. Standing 5'5, his shooting, dribbling, and speed were major assets against larger opponents.
"I'm always guarding these huge guys. It's tougher for me, but definitely something that I've never shied away from," said Mazloum. "I just used that to my advantage. I'm lower to the ground, way faster than everybody, so that was my strength."
The team was also very successful during his tenure, winning silver medals at both the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) Championship, and Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship in the 2021-2022 season.
During Mazloum's second year with the basketball team, they won gold at the OCAAs, followed by a fourth-place finish at nationals.
He says the "Saints Nation environment" is partly what drew him to St. Clair College, and the winning culture was electric.
"There was just this environment at games, it's just like a family," he said. "Everybody knows everybody at the SportsPlex and every day it felt just like home."
By his third year at the College, Mazloum became a mentor on the team, helping shepherd in the next generation of players.
"It was just being that role model to the younger guys, to rookies," Mazloum said.
That's also when he started looking to life after St. Clair College, when an exciting opportunity came up to do his Capstone project with Vollmer, a Windsor-based industrial and commercial multi-trade contracting company.
Known primarily for its mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and millwright services, the company also offers data communication and security, a large array of services which needed a new IT administrator. Having Mazloum around during the Capstone project was such a good experience for Vollmer that he was offered a job right out of school.
"I felt St. Clair prepared me to do the basics of the job. But right when I got to Vollmer, my boss, Gabe Prestia, taught me so many things," recalled Mazloum. "It was like I was still at school learning so many new things, just preparing me to do that specific job. I would say I was ready, and capable."
While the transition away from a life of sports into a career was tough for Mazloum, he's confident he made the right decision for his future.
"I do miss basketball a lot," Mazloum admitted, noting he stays active in the gym and enjoys keeping tabs on the Saints basketball team, which has started off the 2024-2025 season in near-perfect fashion.
Now 22 years old, Mazloum is adapting to life after competitive sports, with his new team - and new family - at Vollmer.