Where did you go to college and what sport did you play? I played four years of college golf at Abilene Christian University in Texas followed by a couple of years as a college golf coach.
What made you come to the college in the US? To be honest, it was a difficult decision. And I feel like most young athletes struggle with the decision and almost everyone is going to have some doubts and concerns. But in the end, after doing one year of university over in Europe, I knew I needed to come to college in the US, as it was impossible to combine university studies and golf in Europe. And when I say impossible, I really mean it. And let’s face it, who is good enough and ready to turn pro at age 18? It definitely was the best decision I could have made and I will forever be thankful for what college golf gave me.
What do you enjoy the most about helping young athletes with the transition of coming to college? There are many things I enjoy about this profession. But if I had to give you just two, I would say helping young athletes avoid making certain mistakes that will impact the rest of their lives and seeing them succeed once they get to the US. To me, it is essential that we not just find any option for an athlete, but to find the perfect fit. It has to be a situation where the athlete can flourish, so that to me is very important.
What is your favorite memory from your time in college? There are so many, but probably my favorite memory would be qualifying for the national championship with my team. We were one of the top NCAA Division 2 teams, so that was our goal all season long and we worked very hard to accomplish it. So once we qualified, it was extremely gratifying and such a great experience.
What is the best advice you can give to a young athlete? I have been doing this for a long time, so I could probably write a book about this. But, in all seriousness I think that the most important thing is that athletes always need to put in the effort to stand out in front of these coaches. The competition for those scholarship spots is getting tougher and tougher, so you cannot just take any opportunity for granted. Don’t act arrogant in front of coaches and always be polite, respectful and show how much you want to be part of their team. That will not only go a long way, it is the only way in order to get quality scholarship offers from coaches.
Is there something you did not like about your time in college? That is a tough one as there really were not many things I did not enjoy. If I had to pick one, I would probably say morning workouts. I am not much of a gym person, so getting up at 5 or 6am to do something you don’t enjoy was not always my favorite.
What are some of the most common mistakes you see athletes make when they get to the US?In my opinion, there are three things that can lead to issues when you come to the US for college. The first one is, not really being honest to yourself about your athletic level. I think being realistic and trying to find a team where you will make an impact is key. If you are not helping the team, you won’t get better as an athlete and the situation most likely won’t be beneficial for you, the coach or the team. Secondly, you need to be disciplined and cannot be lazy. Showing up to practice on time, taking care of your academics, and putting in some extra work on the side, are essential to being a successful student-athlete. And lastly, don’t be shy and try to make friends right from the start! Even if English is not your first language, don’t worry about making mistakes. Just talk to everyone and try to learn every single day. If you do that, your English will improve in a matter of days and you will learn so many other things along the way.
Who is your favorite sports team? The Boston Red Sox!
Who is your favorite athlete of all time? I could probably give you a different name here depending on what sport I am watching at the moment. But if I had to pick one I would probably say Lionel Messi.
What is your favorite city or state in the United States? That one is easy, New York City!
