I’ve played sports my entire life. The D10 gives me the opportunity to compete again and this time for a great cause. The D10 events and training season hold me accountable and give me the structure I need to keep in shape.

Because my performance is directly tied to the amount of funds I raise for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I make training a priority. There are days where I don’t feel like preparing for The D10 competition, but I immediately remember MSKCC’s goal to treat children that don’t respond to traditional cancer therapies -- that gets you off your seat. A great cause is a great motivator.

John Runk and Will McHale, both former Yale football players, reached out to me when I graduated. I was a freshman on the football team when they were seniors. They talked to me about the event and its charitable mission for MSKCC. John and Will thought I’d be a good fit for the organization. I did some research and signed up the next week.


Often lost in the hard work of The D10 athletes is the fun and camaraderie experienced by all.

The D10 is a natural progression from collegiate sports. Part of the reason I joined The D10 was that I missed the game day experience, as well as the training process it takes to be ready. When I played football, I practiced so that the team could consistently improve and win on game day. Personally, I always wanted to improve my craft, but, at the end of the day, you win and lose as a team. The individual D10 is a bit different because I’m competing against individual goals I've set for myself. I’ve made a commitment to a greater cause, but also to myself. The internal pressure come game day makes the experience even more exciting. 

A perfect balance between work and training is always difficult to find. I’ve focused on managing my time as efficiently as possible, but I also understand that it’s nearly impossible to find time every day of the week to train. Missing scheduled training days can sometimes throw me off, but I’ve been able to adapt my schedule day by day to make sure I train for every event. That rigor keeps me focused on both work and training.

Definitely. I’ve kept in contact with many people that I’ve trained and competed with. I look forward to making even more connections!

Support Tony in his efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer research with a performance based donation. Let him put his training to the test on game day.