Eye on Athletics

With so much sports pedigree in her family, it’s little wonder that new ’Canes golf coach Janice Olivencia became a top-notch athlete in her own right .

Her mother is a former professional volleyball player in the family’s native Puerto Rico . Her father, a former professional basketball player on the island, is enshrined in their hometown of Caguas’ Hall of Fame . Her grandfather played professional softball, and her aunt excelled at volleyball and also received local acclaim .

The surprise is that golf ended up being Olivencia’s sport of choice .

“Growing up, golf was not in the picture . I played tennis, volleyball, basketball, softball—a lot of sports,” she recalls .

Her mom took up the sport of golf first . What began as a hobby for her mother, became a passion for Olivencia . And it was one that opened the doors for her to compete internationally, earn a scholarship at the University of Texas, represent her country on the global stage, and this season brought her to Miami to mentor a new generation of golfers as the new head coach .

Olivencia describes the opportunity as both “an honor” and a “privilege,” especially given the program’s rich history .

In 1970, the Hurricanes’ golf team won its first national championship . And three years later, in 1973, it was the Hurricanes’ golf program that became the first in the nation to award an athletic scholarship to a woman, Terry Williams Munz .

In all, the Hurricanes have won five national titles and produced seven individual national champions .

Charged with helping grow those numbers, Olivencia asserts she’s ready .

“I’m a competitor, so my objectives are high . I want to contend for championships, to win a conference championship, and to put my team in the best place to succeed—as individuals and as a team,” Olivencia says . “My vision is to get Miami to the top . ”

Janice Olivencia Mia Vallée

Mia Vallée knew she faced an uphill climb on the scoreboard during the preliminaries of the 1-meter springboard at the most recent NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships .

Yet the third-year diver has grown to believe in her skills, both on the springboard and in the classroom, and felt ready for the challenge .

She wasn’t wrong .

Not only did Vallée fight her way into a finals field that featured eight of the nation’s top divers, but she went on to win the national championship—in record-breaking style . The Canadian-born diver’s total score of 365 .756 was the highest ever .

“It’s crazy to think about it because I have been able to step it up in finals recently a lot better than I used to,” says Vallée . “Once I made finals, I knew I was going to be able to

dive my best . I wasn’t going to hold anything back .”

Vallée, who also went on to earn ACC Women’s Diver of the Year after her memorable season, brings that same championship attitude and dedication to her marine science studies . Last spring, she was among 11 studentathletes honored for their work in the classroom, in the community, and in competition during Miami’s eighth annual Celebration of Women’s Athletics .

It’s an honor that diving head coach Randy Ableman says Vallée more than deserves, given her achievements on the boards and in the classroom .

“Mia’s in the same category as all the great divers we’ve had,” says Ableman . “She never misses a practice . She’s really into her sport, and she’s a great student and super, super busy—yet she excels in more than one thing at a time . Plus, she’s a very fun and funny person and a great teammate . She uplifts other people as well as herself . ”

Vallée concedes that it hasn’t always been easy to stay on top of all her responsibilities . Yet, she has improved her time management and organizational skills, and she has found her voice and a comfort level she didn’t quite have as a first-year student .

That maturity has translated into a series of honors and awards: Provost’s List, Dean’s List, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, and All-ACC Academic Team . And now, Vallée has an NCAA Championship on her resume and is well on her way to earning a degree she says she could never have imagined attaining during her childhood in her native Canada .

“I’m in an amazing position . I don’t think I would have gotten the same marine bio education up in Montreal . I don’t even know that I would’ve even chosen that major had I done my degree up there,” she admits .

“And in terms of diving, Miami has allowed me to work with coaches that understand me, and I’m part of a team that is always supportive and uplifting . That makes a huge difference . ”

Vallée is already thinking about defending her title next year . Beyond that, she has her sights on the 2024 Olympics in Paris and knows a strong finish to her Miami career will only help on that front .

As Priscilla Walker took in the scene around her, she fought back tears .

Her children were tossing around a ball with members of the Hurricanes football team . Others learned routines from Miami’s cheerleaders or colored gratitude rocks with Hurricanes swimmers and divers .

And she knew that when the night was over, they would be taking home a Thanksgiving meal put together earlier by members of the football team, some of whom had picked out pies at a grocery store while others packed hams, turkeys, and sides in boxes put together specifically for each family .

It was all overwhelming in so many ways . “Having special needs children, children that will never be able to play a contact sport, having the opportunity to run around and interact with the football players, it meant so much to them,” says Walker .

For the second straight year, the Hurricanes football team welcomed families from the Miami-Dade County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association to the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility to not only provide a holiday meal, but share a few smiles, too .

The opportunity to give back to the community— especially at this special time of year—wasn’t something they took for granted .

“I know people that have gone through similar experiences as some of these kids and you know, it’s important to give back when you’re able,” offensive lineman Jalen Rivers says .

Terrell Walden II, TreVonté Citizen, and Jalen Rivers, left to right, are among the ’Canes football players who welcomed foster and adoption families for a day of fun.