For junior Javon Hricenak-James, being a member of the Hobart football team has taught him that success is rarely achieved alone.
 
Riding a three-game winning streak into the final home game of the regular season, the Statesmen are 5-3. The Hobart offense has allowed a Liberty League-low nine sacks this season. Hricenak -James and his fellow linemen haven't allowed a sack in each of the past two games. The Statesmen rank third in the league in total offense (362.8), rushing (154.4) and passing (208.4).
 
The teamwork and sense of community he has developed through football have extended beyond the field and into his academic and professional experiences. This summer, Hricenak-James brought those lessons to Washington, D.C., where he completed an internship with The First Ask.
 
At The First Ask, Hricenak-James worked on strategies to support candidates in state legislative races, with responsibilities including donor research and outreach, social media communications and direct correspondence with candidates.
 
His experience in the Pennsylvania State Legislature helped prepare him for the fast-paced environment of his summer internship. During his previous internship in a representative's office, Hricenak-James gained experience with organizing and planning events for the local community, skills he was able to apply in Washington.
 
"I was able to help plan events for my local community, so I had a rather easy time brainstorming ideas for The First Ask to plan for their events," he says.
 
Hricenak-James' interest in politics began long before his time in Washington. Growing up interested in politics, he continued to explore that interest at Hobart, where his experiences have helped him develop the skills necessary to communicate with people across different areas of the political world.
 
One of the most valuable lessons from his summer was learning how to communicate effectively through social media.
 
"I learned what it meant to be concise but also detailed when posting graphics, newsletters, and other general media to make sure our candidates got the best amount of representation they could," he says.
 
While the internship provided Hricenak-James with new professional skills, he also found that many of the lessons he learned through football translated directly into the workplace.
 
"One of the core things that I have learned during my time as a Hobart football player is the sense of community and teamwork," he says. "The professional world is no different than the football field."
 
Working alongside his fellow interns and supervisors, Hricenak-James learned the importance of creating an environment where everyone could contribute and succeed.
 
Balancing those professional responsibilities with the demands of being a college football player has also taught Hricenak-James the importance of time management.
 
"There is nothing more important than being mindful of the time you have and when things need to be done," he says. "If you are intent on having a consistent schedule, then you will find it easier to balance different daily difficulties."
 
His experiences on the football field and in Washington have helped Hricenak-James begin to shape his goals beyond Hobart. Both have shown him the value of working closely with others and contributing to a larger community.
 
"The great team aspect of both of these experiences have influenced me to work somewhere in politics where I can truly work in a tight-knit community where I can better myself while also bettering others," he says.
 
Hobart will host Hilbert Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff on Boswell Field at Urick Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.