The University Star
SPORTS
Tuesday, April 18 , 2017 | 7 Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
FROM FRONT TRACK AND FIELD
Chelsie Decoud: High jumping and high learning Although Chelsie Decoud, junior high jumper, dedicates a lot of time to practicing and training on the track, off of the field is where she enjoys learning skills and furthering her talents. Decoud began her track and field career in seventh grade, but began high jump in eighth grade. Decoud first started running hurdles, but with her height and ability to jump, she decided the high jump suited her best. Although Decoud chose to high jump in college, she said volleyball has always been her favorite sport to play. As a middle jumper, Decoud always had the ability to jump high. Playing other sports like volleyball and basketball made her realize track and field was what she was best at. Decoud attended South Houston High School, but she is not originally from Texas. Decoud began calling Texas home after moving from New Orleans, Louisiana, when she was in the fifth grade. It was fitting for Decoud to attend Texas State so she could be closer to her family. Since becoming a Bobcat during her freshman year of college, Decoud has learned how to balance being a student and an athlete at the same time. Being a part of the track and field team has meant a lot to Decoud, and she enjoys the perks that come along with it. “My favorite part is traveling,” Decoud said. “Most times, the only places I’ve been to is because of track. I get to see more things and see the world. One of my favorite places I’ve been to is Oregon.” Being a college athlete has also al-
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lowed Decoud to push herself into becoming the high jumper she desires to be. “My greatest achievement in track is recently hitting my all time personal record,” Decoud said. Decoud hit the 6 ft. and 1/4-inch mark, which broke the university’s record and became her personal best. “It meant a lot to me to break that record because my mom doesn’t get to travel often,” Decoud said. “I’m always calling her after meets to tell her how I did, and that’s my favorite part. I sent her a video and said ‘this is the highest I’ve ever jumped’ and my parents are so proud of it.” Decoud is majoring in psychology and minoring in public relations. She originally became interested in her major because one of her cousins finished graduate school in the psychology pro-
gram. “She has a lot of books in her room from school and stuff,” Decoud said. “I like to read a lot and found some really interesting things and thought ‘I think I could do this. This is fascinating.’” With a psychology degree, Decoud hopes to find a job to reward herself and others. “I know people who are recovering after injuries and need people, because they get down or depressed,” Decoud said. “I want to be able to help people get through it. I’ve had a couple of injuries, and it throws you off mentally.” Along with reading and studying, Decoud continues to work on her artwork. Decoud has been drawing and painting in her free time since the sixth grade. What started off as making doodles in binders and notebooks turned into one of her favorite hobbies.
One piece of artwork she is especially proud of was unplanned. “If I see a lot of artistic stuff or if I see stuff that gives me ideas, I like to try it,” Decoud said. “I blow-dried some crayons and melted them, and then I turned it and it kind of looked like hair blowing in the wind. I ended up drawing a face and I wasn’t even doing anything on purpose, but it looked like my mom.” Although Decoud has the skills and ability to be an artist, she does not want to make a career out of it. While Decoud has big plans for the future and life after college, nothing is certain and she wants to keep all of her options open. “If professional track is a path that I can take, then I would do it,” Decoud said. “If that doesn’t turn out, then I still want to have a backup plan and still be a part of the athletic field. It’ll be weird for me to be away from it since I did it for so long, so I’ll try to stay in that area.” Although enduring the stress of school, being an athlete and keeping up with art can sometimes be overwhelming, Decoud does not let her positivity fall short. She always remembers one piece of advice from her mother. “If I call my mom and I’m frustrated over something, she asks how I let them make me mad,” Decoud said. “She pretty much tells me don’t stress out about things that aren’t in your control. You can’t have anyone make you do anything, because you’re in control.” Decoud plans to take control of her athletic skills, knowledge and artistic gifts to create a path that leads to her future.
GOLF
Sasikarn Somboonsup: From one world to another By Anthony Flores Sports Reporter @BornToRun19 The pursuit of a good life often requires sacrifice. It requires leaving comfort and familiarity and jumping into a whole new culture. For 18-year-old Sasikarn Somboonsup, freshman golfer, the pursuit meant traveling over 9,000 miles from Si Racha, Chonburi, Thailand to San Marcos and leaving behind her family and home. Somboonsup comes from a family of golfers. Her retired father, mother and older sister all golf. Her family’s interest in golf helped encourage the athlete to take to the green herself. “I started when I was eight years old,” Somboonsup said. “My father and my mother played golf. My sister started first and then I got interested.” For her parents, the education of their three children took priority. Somboonsup’s older sister and brother attend schools in various locations far from home as well. “I have one older sister. She studies in Minnesota,” Somboonsup said. “My brother is studying in Singapore.” Finding the right school was a process for Somboonsup, who wanted the best environment as a collegiate athlete. “We had someone look around the United States for good universities for athletes,” Somboonsup said. “I was accepted into three schools.” Texas weather and a simple, but appreciated gesture from the Texas State coaching staff played important roles in Somboonsup choosing to join the Bobcat family. “I received a nice post card from the coach,” Somboonsup said. “The weather here is perfect for golf. It’s always so warm and not cold.” Before arriving to Texas State, Somboonsup was busy nurturing and improving her skills. She competed in the international scene as well as in her native land of Thailand, stacking up more than 30 top five finishes. With this being the athlete’s first year
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in the U.S., Somboonsup said it was difficult to make the adjustment to American life. The language barrier proved to be the first major obstacle to overcome. “The first thing is the language because I didn’t speak English in Thailand, so I needed to adjust a lot,” Somboonsup said. “That’s why at first I was real quiet; I didn’t talk at all.” Beyond the language barrier, Somboonsup couldn’t help but be intimidated by the sheer size of the U.S. The athlete said it was bigger than she expected. Although psychology is her concentration, Somboonsup does not intend to work in the field. With the full support of her family, she has every intention of trying to go pro in golf. Should that not work out, she would like to be her own boss. “I want to try to go pro, I don’t really want to do something in psychology,” Somboonsup said. “If not, I want to maybe open my own business.” Every athlete gets something different out of the game. Aside from the love of competition, the thrill of defeating opponents and the actual play, Somboonsup loves the sport in general. “I love the mental and physical challenges of practicing, preparing and then actually playing,” Somboonsup said. “I enjoy the detailed challenges of preparation and practice before going out and competing.” When she needs to get in the zone before competition, Somboonsup likes to keep it simple and calming. “I always like to meditate before I compete,” Somboonsup said. “It helps put me in the right state of mind to go out and compete.” When she isn’t on the green or in the golfer’s state of mind, she prefers a very simple but fulfilling way to relax. “I just like to hang out with my friends at home,” Somboonsup said. “We’ll watch some movies or TV and maybe cook some food.” At the end of the day, the 18-year-old is just another college student wading her way through life. However, despite the young age, she has something to prove. “I want people to know how far I’ve come and what I’ve left behind to get here,” Somboonsup said.
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