By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Home is where the heart is.

For Sara Giugni, home is 4,291 miles away in Sondrio, a small village in northern Italy close to the border with Switzerland.

Her heart is being filled with a new home right now, though.

Windham, Ohio.

The foreign-exchange student arrived in Windham back in June, and she has spent the last three months with the Sweet family.

The Sweets, Josh and Nikki, have helped her adjust to everything new, but so has the entire district and its students.

“My hometown is a lot like Windham,” Giugni said. “A small community, with a lot of helpful and friendly people.”

Giugni has also found comfort in playing the sport she loves: Volleyball.

She has made an instant impact since joining the Bombers’ team this fall.

The entire state is taking notice, actually.

At 5-foot-11, Giugni is a powerful presence at the net and currently leads Portage County, by a large margin, in kills with 202 this season in only 10 games played.

The total ranks as the 18th-most this season by any player in Ohio.

Giugni also leads Portage County in blocks with 36.

Giugni’s love for volleyball began after she first gave basketball a try.

“My dad is very obsessed with basketball, but I found out that I didn’t like it as much,” Giugni said. “I was the only girl on my team and it just was not as much fun.”

Volleyball proved to be a different story.

Not only did Giugni find early success in the sport, she also found friendships easily, too.

“When I started volleyball, I was just learning how to play, so I had to learn a lot, but I started to improve quickly,” Giugni said. “My first coach was very kind and so amazing, and I made so many friends right away.”

That same scenario has replayed itself now that she is a Bomber.

“Everyone here has been so nice to me and it feels good,” Giugni said.

Giugni has brought a competitive spirit to the volleyball team.

She is an attacking force with a powerful swing, making it difficult for opposing teams to stop.

And while Giugni is settling into her place within the team, she has also inserted herself as a leader, too.

“I hope to be a model for the team to help them learn some things while I am here, too,” Giugni said. “I am a very competitive person, and I want to play well and always give my best to the team.”

As much as Windham has already provided Giugni with a positive experience, the Italian has done the same for the Sweet family and Windham.

“It was on our heart to provide this opportunity for someone and Sara has been a blessing to our family,” Nikki Sweet said. “She is so kind and has just fit right in from the start. We were excited for her to get here, and have loved having her.”