Initially attracted to North Central College by the close-knit atmosphere of the football program and the opportunities it presented for life after graduation, Dominic Sulo ’10 soon thrived on the gridiron and in the classroom, becoming one of the Cardinals’ all-time leaders in rushing and scoring.
During his recruitment, Sulo discovered a dynamic on the North Central campus that was unique among the institutions he considered. It enabled him to contribute quickly to the Cardinals’ efforts in his first year, as he rushed for 1,065 yards (the second-highest total in the program’s history) and nine touchdowns as the Cardinals won their first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) title in nearly 60 years.
“We were looking for a school where, when we walked in the door, it felt like family,” Sulo said. “It was very different from what we felt visiting other schools. It was really important, because getting acclimated into a new system with new people and living on your own for the first time, it can be easy to get distracted from performing at a high level. I was able to put those distractions aside and focus on being the best player and teammate I could be.”
The 2006 conference championship was clinched with a five-game winning streak to close out the regular season and came after Sulo stepped forward in a team meeting following a loss to talk about what the Cardinals needed to do to move forward.
“We were in an offensive meeting and I just felt confidence in my teammates to be able to speak up and say, ‘Here’s what we need to do to take the next step.’ In a family, you’re not afraid to speak up. I saw where I could be more of a leader, vocally or by example, and make sure we were doing the right things behind the scenes to make each other better.”
As a sophomore, Sulo became the first Cardinal to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, running for 1,055 yards and 14 touchdowns as North Central won a second straight conference crown. In 2008, his junior season resulted in the program’s first 10-0 regular season, accumulating 1,070 yards and 11 scores to lead the CCIW in rushing for the third straight year.
Sulo finished his career as the Cardinals’ all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (46), total touchdowns (47) and points scored (206) He also ranked second in rushing yards (3,697) while helping lead the Cardinals to four straight CCIW titles. More important than his on-field accomplishments were the educational opportunities and networking connections that came from taking full advantage of the North Central campus experience.
“We are here to be students first,” he stated. “To learn, become better people, and figure out the path forward after sports. I made sure to set myself up for success by taking the opportunity to do internships every year. I learned a lot about speaking up when opportunities present themselves and taking a chance on yourself. That was a huge turning point for me in opening my eyes to what was possible in the real estate industry, and it set me up to do what I’m doing now.”
