AQ in Florida alumni news spotlights In March, Ed Fiorentino ’76 hosted an alumni golf and social event at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, FL. We had over 30 alumni golfers and over 40 total people come to the social event a erward. e comradery and bond of Aquinas were evident throughout the day, even if we were almost 1,500 miles away from 1127 Dewey Avenue! e following day, a small group of alumni took in a Boston Red Sox Spring Training Game in Ft. Myers, FL. Compass Cycle: Spinning Bonds Beyond Biking 15 Nicole Borelli ’00 and Ashley Biryla ’02 provide more than cycling classes, they provide a supportive community. I began my day with a 45-minute yoga ow at the Compass Cycle Rochester location. Ashley Biryla, co-owner of Compass Cycle, led a beautiful 7 a.m. class that was not only a great physical workout but, more importantly, a mental refresh. Lights are o , candles frame the room, and upbeat music lls the air. I listened to Ashley as she instructed. But she did more than instruct poses, she spoke of releasing tension and letting go of the worries of today, tomorrow, and the future. As Rochester’s rst tness studio dedicated to rhythm riding cycling and power vinyasa ow yoga, Compass Cycle is a place to unplug from the outside world as you ride, ow, and sweat together in a dark room with an upbeat playlist. e supportive community at Compass embraces every tness level and every person’s journey. Instructors foster a warm and inviting environment so that you not only enjoy your time within the space, you leave as the best version of yourself, prepared to take on the day – prepared to take on life. “A powerful sense of community is everything to us at Compass… and I guess you could say, we rst experienced the profound impact of community during our time at Aquinas,” Nicole Borelli, co-owner, explained to me over co ee. She spoke e ortlessly as she described AQ’s impact on her journey through life. While she might not recall every detail inside the classroom, what she vividly recalls and cherishes are: the values, the morals, the discipline, the faith, and the spirit of community building and giving back. ese are the things she continues to carry with her, instills in her business, and passes on to her two daughters. “I was de nitely academically prepared, and college came quite easy to me. I think the discipline piece was huge, and that started at Aquinas. We were taught accountability – understanding that our actions and choices have consequences,” Nicole re ects. “My favorite teacher was Mrs. Knapp, who taught math. Math was never my strongest subject, but her support and teaching style made me enthusiastic to learn and willing to take on challenges.” Community is at the very core of Compass Cycle. Nicole describes it as the heart and foundation of their company. “People need and want to feel seen; they want to be part of something bigger than themselves,” she emphasizes. At Compass, we support each other’s tness goals, cheering each other on both in and out of the studio. is spirit of support mirrors our time at Aquinas. As Aquinas cheerleaders, we cheered for each other on and o the football elds and basketball courts.” It became clear pretty early in our conversation that the sisters made the most of their time at Aquinas, using their athletic and community service experiences as the foundation for their lives. In fact, Compass is a strong advocate for community involvement, as they provide many fundraising events for the Center for Youth and other Rochester organizations. Nicole credits their giving-back mentality to their faith-based education at Aquinas, describing it as, “our rst taste of community service and its importance.” “Your life is going to change all the time,” Nicole exclaims when asked what she would want to tell her high school self. “As long as you keep the foundations and morals you’ve learned, while maintaining your values, you can do anything you set your mind to.” I le our co ee date feeling inspired and grateful for the opportunity to meet with them and experience rsthand the power of family and community. e sisters haven’t slowed down their momentum either; in March 2024, they celebrated the opening of their second location in Greece, not far from Aquinas. Compass Cycle o ers an unlimited monthly membership as well as drop-in classes. For more information on Compass Cycle, please visit their website: www.compasscyclestudio.com. Downtown Rochester Location: 543 Atlantic Ave., Rochester, NY 14609 Greece Location: 2542 Ridgeway Ave., Rochester, NY 14626 FOLLOW THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA: @compasscyclerochester @compasscyclewest www.facebook.com/compasscyclestudio
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