your recsports story

from Inside RecSports | Fall 2020

by The University of Texas at Austin - Recreational Sports

alumni spotlight

let us tell your recsports story!

WHAT’S YOUR CONNECTION TO RECSPORTS? WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THESE DAYS?

Let us know so we can share your story with other RecSports alumni. Contact us online by visiting utrecsports.org/mystory or by email to friends@utrecsports.org.

Marisa Cantu, B. S. Nursing ‘11

While Marisa was working toward her nursing degree at UT she held two jobs at RecSports. She says leading group fitness classes and working in the Programs office in Gregory Gym were “the ‘funnest jobs’ I ever had. I really enjoyed getting to know the fellow instructors and trainers and interacting with class participants.” After graduating Marisa worked in women’s health in Dallas before heading west to California where she now makes her home. She works as a clinical consultant for Becton, Dickinson and Company, a medical device company where she uses the “presenting” skills she acquired from teaching fitness classes for RecSports. Marisa looks forward to resuming her wedding plans next year, having had to postpone them due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking even further ahead, she plans on having a child whom she can eventually send to the Forty Acres!

Scott Hill, BBA Finance ‘90

Scott dreamed of playing major league baseball but settled for intramural softball with fellow residents of Goodall Wooten dorm. “Ironically called Gus’ Rejects,” he says. The teammates became great friends, spending far too much time after games at a bar named Nasty’s. Soon Scott signed on as an intramural official and went on to form some of his best memories and friendships on the outdoor fields. Scott married his high school sweetheart, Hilary, and followed her to and have raised two children–Jacob and Sophie. Jacob is pursuing a master’s degree at Oxford and Sophie is a rising high school

UT. They’ve celebrated 30 years of marriage senior and four-year starter on the varsity basketball team. Scott and Hilary, who have lived in Georgia, North Carolina, Connecticut, New York, Paris and Tokyo, are making plans to make Austin home again and continue their involvement in campus activities and with the McCombs School of Business where Scott earned his degree. In 2008 the couple established a foundation at the McCombs business school and Scott is currently serving on the McCombs Advisory Council.

Rudy Metayer, B.A. Government & Philosophy ‘03, JD ‘06, MPAff ‘16

When asked about his involvement with RecSports, Rudy, a School of Law alumnus, was unambiguous, befitting his profession as an attorney. His reply: “Loved officiating. Loved playing the variety of sports and winning championships…. Loved the Legal Eagles.” (The law school’s intramural flag football team in which he played.) Rudy also loved learning about leadership and setting an example for others, which he

Chris Ricks, B.A. History ‘13

Chris, a former Sport Clubs participant, is a lawyer and co-owner of Traeger & Ricks, PLLC, a law firm specializing in real estate, oil & gas, and estates. While at UT, Chris enjoyed competing and visiting with friends in the Texas Trap & Skeet student organization. The organization later gained recreational club status thanks to the efforts he and other students put forth. “It made a huge impact on my life,” he said, citing as his favorite

Roz Jones, M. Ed. Exercise Physiology ‘09

Roz, a master instructor with the workout franchise SPENGA under her own personal brand (ROZ Fit. Life. Style), served as a graduate assistant for the Fitness & Wellness program while working toward her degree. Former Assistant Director Sarah Jordan became a life-changing mentor that helped her succeed professionally. Roz realized she was meant to be at RecSports during her first Fitness & Wellness team meeting credits learning from Associate Director for Intramural Sports Darci Doll. Darci’s mentorship must have made a lasting impression given Rudy’s luminary standing in the community. He’s an accomplished litigator, noted advocate for at-risk children and veterans, City of Pflugerville council member, board member of The University of Texas School of Law and Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, recent appointee to the Supreme Court of Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals and much more. He and his wife, Letisha, live in

Pflugerville and have three daughters. memory a championship win by the club at an ACUI individual national championship in 2013. “That same year our team won the ACUI Division II National Championship,” he recalls, adding that those two wins were possibly the first national championships won by Texas in clay events. He still shoots for sport and serves as director of the newly-founded Texas Trap & Skeet Alumni Foundation. Chris and his wife, a Texas State Bobcat alumnus whom he met prior to his Longhorn days, live in New Braunfels, Texas,

and are raising two daughters. where she was welcomed with hugs, hi-fives and a fine-tuned organizational process. Her last week at RecSports was equally memorable. She recalls that the RecSports staff marched into her final class dressed in their finest 80s attire. “Honestly, I still cry and cherish that moment today,” she said, adding, “I have come full circle with coming back to developing instructors and couldn’t be happier.” Roz lives in Houston, Texas, with a family that includes “the best dog” Jack Damon, and a supportive and loving boyfriend who shares her feelings about OU! #HookEm

Development Corner

Take a look at the projects your development team worked on during the spring and summer months, and what we were able to accomplish with your support!

Raised over $7,000 for the Excellence Fund from over 300 student donations. As a thank you, we sent each student an unawarded 2019-2020 Intramural Champion T-shirt.

Awarded over $35,000 in scholarships to 17 deserving student employees. Donors received personalized thank you videos from recipients in lieu of the traditional in-person recognition event. Check out these and more stories at utrecsports.org/blog.

Congratulated over 100 graduating seniors by sending them celebratory RecSports gift packages. Included was the first-ever RecSports graduation stole.

Started our Wall of Fame facelift! To continue protecting and preserving these legacies, we have sent the boards for the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s to be reimaged and reinstalled. Check out the progress on your next visit to Gregory Gym!