For many Cathedral Prep students, juggling academics, athletics, and extracurriculars is no easy task, but junior Zachary Cornell makes it look easy. Zach, who hails from tiny Jamestown, N.Y., near Chautauqua Lake, has quickly adjusted to life at Prep, becoming both a writer for The Rambler and a member of the Cathedral Prep baseball team.

For the Cornell family, baseball is a family affair. With two older brothers, one younger brother, and a dad who was always ready for a game of catch or two-hand touch in the yard, sports were a part of growing up. 

“Playing catch with my dad and my brothers — that’s pretty much the foundation,” he said. 

Zach also played basketball, soccer, and even football when he was younger, But baseball was the one that stuck. 

An outfielder by trade (center, left, or right, Zach has played them all), Zach specializes in tracking fly balls. 

“There’s just something perfect about reading it in the air and making the catch,” he explained. 

Some of his favorite baseball memories come from Little League back in New York. His team won the local championship. It’s a moment he looks back on fondly now. 

Coming from Maple Grove, a school so small it had only about 40 kids per grade and had to combine with other districts just to field teams, the jump to Cathedral Prep’s competitive program has been eye-opening. 

“We had maybe 12 guys on the baseball team last year, so basically everyone played,” he said. “At Prep, earning a roster spot, let alone a starting job, is a real challenge.”

His goal this year is to make the varsity team and contribute however he can.  

Off the diamond, Zach is a writer for The Rambler. He originally signed up for journalism to fulfill an English credit and because, “I’ve always thought I was pretty good at writing.” 

When he had to write a discourse-community essay last year, he picked baseball and “breezed right through it.” These days he saves his Rambler articles for home, knocking them out when motivation strikes and he’s in the right headspace.

When asked if his athlete perspective shapes his writing, he’s quick to separate the two worlds. 

“School and sports are just different things for me,” he said. “At school I lock in and get work done; at baseball I go have fun.”

When asked for advice for young student-athletes at Prep he said, “Listen to your coach, stay coachable, and focus on what you can control. It can be frustrating when someone starts over you,” he admits, “but sometimes you just have to accept it and keep working.”