Students Share Research at American College of Sports Medicine Conference
Emily Lauretano ’25, Matthew Ruggiero ’25 and Kaylee Estevao ’25 beat 19 colleges in the fall to earn the regional College Bowl title. At the national competition in May, the team placed fourth among 11 colleges.
06/26/2025
By Karen Angelo
After triumphing at the regional level and earning a spot on the national stage, a team of exercise science students competed in the 2025 College Bowl hosted by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
The College Bowl, a Jeopardy-style quiz competition, tests the knowledge of student teams across the nation on topics such as biomechanics, anatomy, nutrition and metabolism, among others.
The UMass Lowell team of Matthew Ruggiero ’25, Emily Lauretano ’25 and Kaylee Estevao ’25 beat 19 colleges in the fall to earn the regional College Bowl title. At the national competition in May, the team placed fourth among 11 colleges.
“While the ultimate outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for, we’re proud of how we performed and represented UMass Lowell on the national stage as a team,” says Ruggiero. “We hope that we’ve inspired exercise science students to participate in future College Bowl competitions.”
Exercise Science Program Director Kyle Coffey praised the students for their outstanding performance.
“It’s a testament to the strength of UML’s exercise science program and to the exceptional academic success of Kaylee, Emily and Matt,” says Coffey.
Four students and four faculty members attended the May ACSM national annual conference, which attracts more than 6,000 members. In addition to the College Bowl, faculty and students participated in workshops, networking events, scientific sessions and poster and clinical case presentations.
“The ACSM national conference is a valuable opportunity for our students and practitioners to enrich their education and develop professionally,” says Coffey. “Students learn about the latest research and innovations in exercise science and sports medicine, which deepens their understanding of key topics.”
Two students shared their research in poster presentations. Exercise science and Master of Public Health alumnus Donald Rogers ’24, ’25 presented research on whether heart rate variability measurements taken from a light-based sensor are accurate when a person is doing slow, controlled breathing. Examples of light-based sensors include smartwatches and finger clips. Rogers worked with his mentor, Associate Professor David Cornell of the Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology, on the project.
“The conference experience was a great opportunity for me to learn and network with experts in my field,” says Rogers, who recently began the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Cincinnati.
Ruggiero presented his undergraduate thesis, which explored whether military personnel who use portable powered ankle exoskeletons can transfer the skills of army-relevant tasks to new, unfamiliar scenarios. Guided by his faculty mentor, Associate Professor Pei-Chun Kao, Ruggiero discovered that personnel who use exoskeletons should train on specific tasks to gain physiological and performance benefits.
“Talking about my research with other researchers who are committed to advancing military and first responder performance made the conference meaningful and valuable for me,” says Ruggiero, who plans on applying to medical school. “I couldn’t have been happier for the opportunity to present my undergraduate research right after graduation, as a means of reflection, and it was an honor to have showcased research from UML’s New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center.”