JT Lapham grew up in Glens Falls, NY; a small town focused heavily on the sporting world. Little League was the start of his love for baseball, along with being a die-hard Yankees fan. He quickly developed the dream of playing pro baseball in the MLB with no outside interests. He participated in football and swimming on the side. In high school he continued playing football while also being recruited for Division I baseball. However, during the first football game of his senior season, he injured his knee. JT powered through the rest of the season and later discovered that his knee injury was a torn ACL. He was always known as the “athlete”, but now felt left with nothing. He never considered his future without baseball. He landed himself at RIT, not knowing the area, people, or even himself. He battled his mental health throughout his first year and didn’t look for a way out until connecting with a fraternity the next year. Theta Chi is huge on creating a dominating sports presence on campus, taking part in as many intramural sports as possible, winning multiple championships. He quickly clicked with the group, realizing that he can be around people that share the same competitiveness and love for sports, without playing at a high level. He feels part of a tight family that allows him to grow- as a strong academic, with hopes of becoming a doctor, and still considering himself an athlete.