Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout your life?
Noelle Roldan: I am an extremely competitive person. So the competitive nature of organized sports is what I loved the most. That and the camaraderie. There is nothing like being a part of a cohesive unit and being able to come together and successfully accomplish a common goal of winning.
D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?
Roldan: I played four years for an NCAA D-II program at Dominican University. I travelled all over the place; playing in Hawaii and even Alaska. Academically, I received my degree in Communications and Media Studies with a concentration in sports broadcasting. And although broadcasting was a major passion of mine I found my way back into the hospitality industry. Which, naturally, being from Napa and being bred into that industry has been a fun environment for me that I definitely thrive in. I run the taproom at Napa Smith Brewery. The only production brewery in Napa.
D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Napa High?
Roldan: I can't really say what class was my favorite at Napa High, but I definitely had a favorite teacher and that was my honors english teacher Katy Howard. She was extremely influential in my personal growth as an individual and I don't know what I would have done without her.
D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Napa High?
Roldan: There was a tournament we went too my junior year and we were in the semi-final round playing Sheldon. The game was tied and Coach (Darci) Lewis drew up a play that ended with a three point shot from me. It could not have been ran any better than how we did it. Literally textbook. The game was tied and I remember shooting the three from the left baseline corner and it flowed from my hands perfecting. Sunk straight through the bucket, nothing but net. It was the most clutch I think I had ever been in my entire career and to this day was one of my favorite moments.
D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?
Roldan: I have grown so much personally since graduating high school. I think college is where I really found myself and could decide the type of person I wanted to be. Throughout all those years I was still playing basketball which shaped me into the person I am today. I credit my time as an athlete for my work ethic, determination, and ability to work with others and as you can imagine these are all things that I need on a daily basis to be successful in anything I do. Often times my co-workers laugh at me for always making correlations between life in the hospitality industry to life on the court. I always say, "We're a team. Everyone has their specific role and if one person is not doing their part the whole team fails. Whether you're the six man off the bench or the starting point guard. every role matters." I often times laugh at myself when I say that and think I sound just like the Lewis sisters. Which is not a bad thing, they were and are amazing role models for the young women athletes in this city.
D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?
Roldan: Both my parents are very strong individuals and I like to say I embody the best parts of both of them. They both are extremely independent, hard-working, and passionate individuals. and of course my Nonna, who I think everyone in the family could agree that she is the definition of positive role model.
D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet.
Roldan: I can't say there is anyone specific. I would like to meet a women's basketball player from way back so we could talk about the strides the sport has made. I mean women back in the day had to play in dresses and couldn’t even play long enough to get sweaty because it wasn’t lady like. I think it would be incredible to hear first hand from a women that had to deal with that sort of discrimination and to see their reaction to women who can dunk. I enjoy learning about my sports history and knowing that I was a small part in a huge change. I have even heard from alumni players from the 80s that the game has evolved so much and how incredible it has been to watch so I'm sure a woman from the 1900s could shed some light on how fortunate the younger generations are.
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