Chase Dionio: California Living to Virginia Dreaming

Chase Dionio is from Newport Beach, California, and she came all the way to Bluefield University to further her athletic and educational career.

Dionio is a freshman at BU this year and a member of the Lady Rams basketball team. She said she chose to come all the way across the country to Bluefield because she wanted to get out of her busy hometown in California and focus on basketball and her education. 

“Bluefield is different from my hometown because it’s colder here and more of a small-town feel,” Dionio said when asked how different Bluefield, Virginia, is from Newport Beach, California. “In California, there are a lot more things to do. Here in Bluefield, there’s no traffic, but in California there’s traffic everywhere. There are a lot more trees here than there are in Newport Beach. I’d say the people in Bluefield are nicer and friendlier.” 

Moving across the country is a significant change for anyone. Newport Beach and Bluefield are entirely different. Dionio spoke about the differences.

“I think one of the biggest changes was just moving away from home and adjusting to living on my own,” she said. “I think I changed also by managing my time more. I also had to learn to have a schedule and routine, which I never really had before. I learned to be more optimistic and adjust better to changes.” 

Dionio’s teammate, Emily Breeding, had a few things to say about how Dionio has helped the women’s basketball team.

“Chase has helped the team in so many ways I can’t name them all,” Breeding said. “She’s the burst of energy we need sometimes on the court and off. Just having her talents added to our team has made us all better.”

Breeding said off the court Dionio is a great person to get to know.

“Anytime she’s around, Breeding said, “we always get a good laugh.” 

Breeding also said Dionio has helped her as an athlete, even though Dionio is a freshman and Breeding is a junior. She said Dionio pushes her every day to “go a little harder and a little faster.” Breeding said Dionio encourages her on and off the court, and she knows she can confide in her. 

“She has definitely taken my talents to a new level,” Breeding said.