Senior Spotlight: Sam Burnitz

Palmer Trinity Baseball Head Coach Howard Cuervo describes Sam Burnitz as “the embodiment of what it is to be a leader. On the field, he is someone everyone turns to in the crucial moments. Off the field, he is one of the essential pieces in forming a bond within our group.”

Though first being driven to begin playing baseball by his parents at the age of five, Sam Burnitz quickly found out that he loved the sport. After a short stint trying basketball, Burnitz realized it was not for him and baseball was where he was meant to be. Thirteen years later, Burnitz is a senior captain on the Varsity Baseball team helping his teammates adjust to a new coaching staff for the first time.

“My teammates are the best, we have a great group of guys playing for the team this year and I’m really excited to see the results we produce,” Burnitz excitedly mentions about the start to the season. Burnitz is equally excited about the new staff. “They’re the best. They train us to win.” The new coaching staff, led by Cuervo, has already implemented new traditions and bonding exercises for the team that Burnitz has taken notice of. He believes this year’s players vs. parents game to open preseason was not only a great event, but also one of his favorite memories as a Falcon. Destroying his parents at the game they once taught him was icing on the cake.

Burnitz, an Honorable Mention by the Miami Herald in 2022, is also an extremely gifted musician who is in the process of graduating from GUILD, where he has received multiple awards and is listed as within their top 3% of musicians as a pianist. He enjoys performing at various charity events. However, balancing baseball with the rigors of his music classes and performances is not an easy task. It takes a well-planned schedule, time management to finish his academic requirements, compromises on his social life, and a strong commitment to doing what he loves.

Through it all, Burnitz maintained a strong academic record that allowed him to be accepted to school in which he wanted to go to – Purdue University to study finance. It also taught him an important lesson that he wants younger Falcons to realize. “Put school first.” He notes that by sacrificing things you may want to do to simply study or get ahead may sound silly at first, but could have a huge impact on a grade which will ultimately affect the colleges and universities in which students apply to.

Come out and support Sam, who loves Ramen, Chocolate Milk, and Rex Orange Country, and the rest of the Varsity Baseball team as they continue with their strong start on the season!

 

Go Falcons!