STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Augie Contressa  knew he would have to sit behind older, experienced players upon arriving in the fall of 2016 from Commack High School.

Now entering his senior year, the redshirt senior has emerged as the role model for the younger players.

"Freshman year I redshirted, but I traveled with the team and I took so much in from those older guys," Contressa said. "The speed of the game, the physicality was much different than it was in high school. The mindset remained the same, though. That was to play harder than everyone and never be satisfied."
 
Contressa has done just that. Since his redshirt year, he has never missed a game. Contressa enters the 2020 season having started 24 consecutive games. He has recorded 189 total tackles and 22.0 tackles-for-loss.

In 2019, Contressa earned second-team All-CAA Football honors after he collected a career-best 88 tackles.
 
"I used to look up to players like Shayne Lawless," Contressa said. "He paved the path for me. I need to be that guy for the younger guys now. We need players who are willing to leave it all on the field and play with an absolutely unselfish style."
 
When it comes to leaving it all out on the field, Contressa knows that if he lets up for one play, it could be his last.
 
"What motivates me to be the best is the fear of the unknown," Contressa said. "I work so hard because I'm scared of the possibility of someone being better. Someone taking my spot. I hold myself to a very high standard. I still think I can push myself harder."
 
Contressa's high standard is what has made him the starting rover, a hybrid position between a defensive back and a linebacker, since the beginning of the 2018 season.
 
As for what Contressa expects for the Seawolves in 2020?
 
"My goal for the 2020 season is that this defense takes everything personally," he said. "I want to make it to the playoffs because anything can happen once we make it there."