Athletics Makes Huge Impact By David Haney
Alejo Binaghi played soccer and dreamed of being a professional player since he was three years old. Today, because of the University of Mobile intercollegiate athletic program, that dream is within his grasp. After an outstanding year that brought the Rams to a second-place finish in the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship finals in December 2021, UM student athletes and Coach Daniel Whelan earned multiple honors. Binaghi, the soccer program’s first student-athlete from Argentina, was named NAIA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year for 2021 – the second Ram in the program’s history to earn the title, after Stephen Okai in 2012.
at the highest level, these teammates have grown a bond and become a family. Collegiate athletics has an impact that goes beyond the playing field, especially at the University of Mobile, says Dr. Mel Sansom, athletic director and vice president for business services.
“Athletic skills improve, multiple cultures are brought together, life-long friendships are formed and athletes grow closer to Jesus. In many cases the good news of Jesus Christ might be heard for the first time because of the opportunity Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Indoor Volleyball, Beach collegiate athletics creates for Volleyball, Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Golf, Women’s Golf, Men’s Basketball, Women’s different cultures from across the Basketball, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Indoor world,” says Sansom. Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field, Women’s
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It could only have happened at the University of Mobile.
Outdoor Track & Field, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis, “During my time at the Baseball, Softball, Competitive Cheer, Men's Bowling, University of Mobile intercollegiate University of Mobile, I met Women's Bowling athletics started in 1985 with 14 outstanding athletes and . Member of the National Association of Intercollegiate student-athletes competing in two coaches that have pushed me Athletics (NAIA) and Southern States Athletic sports. Today, UM sponsors 21 forward to become the athlete Conference (SSAC). competitive sports. The university I want to be. I believe this past season as a soccer player 8 NAIA National Championships: Men's Tennis (1993, 1997), is a member of the National Women's Tennis (1994), Men's Golf (1997), Women's Soccer Intercollegiate was the best year of my life (1997), Women's Golf (1998), Men's Soccer (2002), Softball Association of (2006) 15 NAIA Runner-Up Finishes 405 NAIA Athletics (NAIA) with 250 member achieving individual and team All-Americans 226 Conference/District Championships institutions and 77,000 studentawards, none of which would athletes. Throughout the program’s be possible without the help of this university," says the senior majoring in business existence, student-athletes from across the world have been management in the Grace Pilot School of Business. impacted by UM’s Christ-centered athletic program. Many former Rams have gone on to excel in a variety of The men’s soccer program is a great example of the fields, including former UM baseball players Joe Espada impact UM’s athletic program can have. Five of seven and J.C. Romero who have found success in Major continents are represented on a roster that consists of League Baseball. Romero pitched 14 seasons in MLB, student-athletes from 19 nations. These student-athletes winning the 2008 World Series with the Philadelphia from different cultures come together and unite for the Phillies. Espada currently serves as the bench coach for opportunity to play the sport they love while earning a the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball, his third degree to better their future. In the process of competing MLB team.
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TORCHLIGHT | Spring 2022
