Oswego State student pursues her passion throughout pandemic
Oswego State Men's Hockey photographer Alexis Fragapane outside of the Marano Campus Center
Oswego, N.Y. — Alexis Fragapane’s ability to follow her passion for photography has been put on hold for now due to COVID-19. Still, she is finding ways to come back stronger than ever.
Fragapane is the graphic designer and photographer for Oswego State’s men’s hockey team — one of several sports put on hold until 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Her biggest withdrawal has been from the Marano Campus Center, the home arena for the team.
“[I] definitely miss the arena more [than players]. Players, I don’t know,” Fragapane said.
She has made a name for herself around the campus community by taking photos of the team during games and posting on social media.
After showing her ability, the team’s assistant coach decided Fragapane should have access to the ice before games to take photos and gave her own row of seats for the entire season. It seemed like she was always in the arena.
“Usually last year, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I was in the arena,” Fragapane said.
Even though the “wheelhouse” will be empty this fall semester, there is still hope and speculation a season will occur in the spring, giving Fragapane hope she can continue pursuing her dream of being an NHL photographer one day. She even upgraded the equipment she owns for this upcoming season.
“I recently bought a new camera, and this one is better for videography and has a motion tracking lense and shoots in 4-k,” Fragapane said.
Until she can take photos again of game action, she will be working on various projects the team has requested for its locker room and social media. A complete change of the graphics in the locker room is in store before the team takes the ice again.
“So, now the assistant coach has been texting me some projects to work on, and one of them is redesigning the graphics in the locker room,” Fragapane said.
Still, there is an empty feeling without her normal routine. The return to hockey games will be a sweet moment for both the community and Fragapane.
“[I am] definitely more excited than my first game freshman year,” Fragapane said.