The former soccer and basketball player, and current president of FC Desamparados, Mónica Malavassi, was included in University of West Florida’s Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame is intended to honor individuals who have made valuable contributions in the sport of athletics both internationally and in their home countries that match certain criteria. Mónica Malavassi received this honor on the past Saturday, October 1st, due to her remarkable track through college soccer.
With a notorious joy for the news, Malavassi says that being induced to become part of the University’s Hall of Fame is a great honor because that was one of her goals when she took the decision to go to the US.
“For me, I undertook that new road and that new challenge to leave a mark in my college, in the people I met and my team. Some people say that whenever you arrive to a place, you need to leave things better that from how you found them. And I believe that we achieved that as a team,” says Malavassi.
Mónica Malavassi playing for UWF.
In 2012, Malavassi was NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer National Champion, one of the most important athletic achievements in the history of UWF. The University website says:
“In 2008 and 2009, the women’s soccer program advanced to the national semifinals and the championship games, however, they couldn’t win the championship. The team captains of 2012, Tori Fish and Mónica Malavassi, would not allow UWF to suffer that pain once again. They both helped molding an exceptional talented group of individuals with a team mindset.”
Malavassi expressed that one of her biggest dreams was to become NCAA Champion. “When I arrived as a freshmen we made it to the final 4, but we lost in penalties. After that, it almost became an obsession to win everything,” Malavassi said.
She continued, “Thank God, before I graduated I made it, and made history. Therefore, I believe that my objective of leaving a mark was more than accomplished.”
UWF Women’s Soccer celebrating NCAA DII Championship
In the 2012 season, UWF obtained an impressive record with 24 victories and only 1 loss. Five players from that team were included in the US College ideal team.
In addition, coach Joe Bartlinski was named “National Coach of the Year,” for the second time in five seasons.
UWF holding the trophy for NCAA DII National Championship.
After living this experience, Malavassi urges all student-athletes that are either already in the US or are trying to get there as their goal, to take advantage of it, to enjoy it, to work hard, because it is completely worth it.
“It goes by really fast. And for me it’s unbelievable that it’s already been 10 years since I graduated. Without question, you learn academically, personally and athletically, but the one thing that lasts forever is the friendships that you build. It becomes a sisterhood; the team becomes your family,” Malavassi says.
Malavassi described that past weekend as amazing, as she got the chance to go with her husband and son, and met with her old friends with their very own families. “I believe that’s the biggest gift; God, soccer and life,” Malavassi says.
In addition to her successful time in college soccer, Monica was also part of the Costa Rican Women’s National Team for both soccer and basketball. In both sports she stood out for her leadership and dedication in each game.
Mónica Malavassi playing for the Costa Rican Women’s Soccer National Team.
