Gotta catch ’em all: Binghamton student builds community through Pokémon Go club

Whether he’s studying abroad in Argentina, supervising student managers at the Multicultural Resource Center, or scouring every corner of the campus in search of Pokémon, Nicholas Vetrano ’25 has never been afraid of pursuing his passions during his years at Binghamton University as an undergraduate and graduate student.

Although Vetrano plans to return to Long Island after earning his MBA from the School of Management this spring, the community he built around his love for Pokémon Go (a mobile game that uses GPS to locate, capture, train, and battle Pokémon) will remain on campus as a club called POGO.

He first downloaded the mobile app in 2016 and played it intermittently with his friends over the next four years. It wasn’t until the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, however, that he revisited the game more seriously. The app was updated to accommodate the newly imposed social restrictions worldwide, which gave thousands of players like him the ability to socialize and have fun outside in a safe manner.

In 2022, the spring of his first year, restrictions finally began to ease, and Vetrano was eager to meet new people on campus. He decided to reach out through a group chat to ask if anyone wanted to join him and play at an upcoming Pokémon Go event.

“We had four people show up, which at the time was more than anything I had seen around here,” he said. “Now our community has grown to over 600 members.”

The group’s reach has extended beyond the University campus. Vetrano estimates about half the members are from the surrounding communities of Endicott and Johnson City.

When asked about his favorite memories made within the club, Vetrano admits there are too many to choose from.

“I think the first was when we had a real big group show up at an event. We had like 40 or 50 people, and just seeing that big of a group on campus together after the pandemic was crazy to me,” he said. “We’ve gone through so many twists and turns while playing that I think we’ve explored every inch of campus!”

Vetrano served as the club’s president for three years before passing on the leadership role to younger members.

“My favorite aspect is absolutely the community,” he said. “I feel like I’ve met so many people who I never would’ve met otherwise, like my closest friends and even locals who come from over an hour away just to play. It’s such a friendly and welcoming space where people can be themselves. As well as the enjoyment we’ve been able to bring, it’s incredible to see 100 people meet up and just focus on having a good time.”

Vetrano’s passion for bringing people together is reflected in his bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature and language, as well as in his interest in marketing that inspired him to pursue an MBA.

“I think that knowing a second language is an essential skill, especially Spanish, as the number of speakers in our country continues to grow. I think you need to have someone who can bridge that community with the majority of those who speak English,” he said. “I could be someone to fit that role, even in marketing, where ads are targeted to those who only speak Spanish. Having someone who knows the language is useful, but there’s still so much more to it. There’s a religious and familial aspect that is so different from U.S. culture, where people like me who grow up with half of their family speaking Spanish can understand those factors a little better than those who just know the language.”

Vetrano’s dedication to the communities he loves is only half of what he thinks made his academic experience so fulfilling, as he urges everyone in college to embrace any opportunity that arises.

“I hope students get to explore more, join clubs, and meet people. You really only have four years in college,” he said. “I got lucky with getting to have five, so make the most of it. Make the most of the connections you create and keep in touch with them.”