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. It could only have happened at the University of Mobile. “During my time at the University of Mobile, I met outstanding athletes and coaches that have pushed me forward to become the athlete I want to be. I believe this past season as a soccer player was the best year of my life achieving individual and team awards, none of which would be possible without the help of this university," says the senior majoring in business management in the Grace Pilot School of Business. The men’s soccer program is a great example of the impact UM’s athletic program can have. Five of seven continents are represented on a roster that consists of student-athletes from 19 nations. These student-athletes from different cultures come together and unite for the opportunity to play the sport they love while earning a degree to better their future. In the process of competing

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 21 COMPETITIVE SPORTS cases the good news of Jesus Christ might be heard for the first

Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Indoor Volleyball, Beach time because of the opportunity Volleyball, Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, collegiate athletics creates for

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 Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field, Women’s world,” says Sansom.

Outdoor Track & Field, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis,

Baseball, Softball, Competitive Cheer, Men's Bowling, Women's Bowling . University of Mobile intercollegiate athletics started in 1985 with 14

Member of the National Association of Intercollegiate student-athletes competing in two Athletics (NAIA) and Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). sports. Today, UM sponsors 21 competitive sports. The university 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 (1997), Women's Golf (1998), Men's Soccer (2002), Softball Association of Intercollegiate (2006) 15 NAIA Runner-Up Finishes 405 NAIA Athletics (NAIA) with 250 member

All-Americans 226 Conference/District Championships institutions and 77,000 student- athletes. Throughout the program’s existence, student-athletes from across the world have been impacted by UM’s Christ-centered athletic program. Many former Rams have gone on to excel in a variety of fields, including former UM baseball players Joe Espada and J.C. Romero who have found success in Major League Baseball. Romero pitched 14 seasons in MLB, winning the 2008 World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies. Espada currently serves as the bench coach for the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball, his third MLB team.

Alejo Binaghi | Photo by Rovy Lopez

Former UM baseball player Jared Baria ’09 now serves as UM’s campus pastor. Seven former UM men’s soccer players played professionally in Major League Soccer and four former UM softball student-athletes played for team Venezuela in the 2008 Olympics. Former UM men’s basketball standout Tramaine Perry ’05 is vice president at Hancock Whitney Corp. and recently was named to Mobile Bay Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of outstanding professionals. Former UM women’s basketball player Sarah Thomas ’95 became the first full-time female official in the National Football League and the first woman to officiate the NFL’s Super Bowl. Binaghi said the university’s impact on his life is “huge.” “Since I arrived in 2018, the university and everyone that has been a part of my journey has helped me grow as a person and as a professional. The university gave me the opportunity to receive my degree, improve my second language, and meet real friends that I will keep for the rest of my life,” Binaghi says.

“I feel proud of being a part of this family. The University of Mobile has become my second home. I have learned values, traits and behaviors that define me as the person I am."