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Ram Vol. 86 Issue 14
ASURamPage.com
Score of a lifetime for collegiate athlete Belles student-athlete sets out on the road to 2020 Olympics in Tokyo
Mbulelo Maqungo, staff writer
ASU soccer’s Gabby Villagrand was invited to play for Panama’s national team in an Olympic qualifying tournament on Jan. 28. For Villagrand, soccer has been a cornerstone in her life for as long as she could remember, but she never imagined that her favorite sport would lead to competing on the biggest stage in the world. Villagrand, a sophomore kinesiology major, will leave San Angelo Jan. 24 for her hometown of Houston, Texas, to start preparations for Panama’s first game against Costa Rica. “I had met some of the national team’s coaches through my uncle.” Villagrand said. “Afterwards, right around the time I completed my application for dual citizenship, they reached out to my family and asked how I
would feel about playing and I said ‘sure.’” Villagrand often travels with her parents and younger siblings to Panama City, Panama and credits this opportunity to her experiences there. Panama’s women’s soccer is a relatively new team compared to other national teams, competing in their first Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football Women’s Cup in 2002. CONCACAF is one FIFA’s six continental governing bodies that’s main function is to organize competitions and qualifying tournaments for the World Cup and women’s World Cup. Besides the World Cup tournaments, all these governing bodies hold competitions to select who qualifies for the Olympic Games. With 40 other nations to contend with, the Pan-
Jan. 31, 2020
What’s in store! Financial Aid Pg. 2
SGA Pg. 2
Cancel Culture Pg. 3
Sidewalk Survey Pg. 3
Oasis Magazine Pg. 4 amanian national team has made tremendous leaps and bounds to get to this tournament. As excited as Villagrand was for the invitation, the process also required change and adaptability in other aspects of the young student-athlete’s life. “I definitely didn’t want to pass this chance, but it would mean I have to miss two weeks of training, lectures and exams here,” she said. “It feels like a lot, but when I expressed all of this to my mom and dad, we all agreed that this is an opportunity that may never present itself, so I shouldn’t waste it.” Villigrand will even have the opportunity to play against the U.S. women’s soccer team, the reigning World Cup champions. When Villagrand isn’t dominating on the soccer field, she can usually be found studying, watching “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Friends” or hanging out with her fellow Belles. “We’re all super close,” she said. “The girls are basically family to me here.” Photo courtesy of Athletic Communications Department: Gabby Villagrand, sophomore, runs the ball past a Lubbock Christian University defender.
A battle of blue and gold
Rams and Belles take on Hilltoppers at Welcome Back Bash Jeremiah Devereaux, staff writer
UCPC on Jan. 23 held the annual Welcome Back Bash featuring two basketball games in the Junell Center. The Belles and Rams faced off against the St. Edward’s University Hilltoppers in back-to-back action. In the first game, the Belles came out victorious with a score of 85-72. Senior Catara Samuel, junior Angel Hayden and freshman Sawyer Lloyd led the team with each player scoring in the double digits. The Rams then suffered a close loss against SEU, with the game ending 77-78. The top scorers for ASU were seniors Ronald Bell, Collin Turner and Andres Ibarguen. “We knew we had a tough opponent,” Turner said. “They are No. 6 in the country. I just had to play as hard, be the best team player as I could and benefit the team as most I can. I knew I had to be a well-rounded player whether that was scoring, rebounding or assisting.”
Sophia Gravatt, copy editor
Travis Hunter, consultant
Cora Bishoppetty, photographer
Aside from the games, the event offered a variety of activities and giveaways. Those in attendance could win prizes, free T-shirts and enjoy free food. During halftime, a raffle took place where three contestants had a chance to win $10,000. In addition, there was a contest for the most spirited fraternity. Alpha Sigma Pi came in first place, winning $500. AMAS came in second, and Kappa Delta Rho came in third place. Photo by Cora Bishoppetty: Collin Turner, senior, soars towards the goal after ASU stole the ball from St. Edward’s University. Turner scored a total of 13 points in the game against SEU.
Correction: In the Jan. 24, 2020 issue of the Ram Page, Ulises Frausto was incorrectly identified as a management and marketing major in the story “University Center hosts memorial display.” Frausto was a computer science major.