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Many Interests Help Oyarbide-Sanchez Succeed at UWRF
By Jenna J. Campbell
UW-River Falls Sports Information
Maite Oyarbide-Sanchez is a woman with many interests. A few of her interests
include music, art, and tennis. Oyarbide-Sanchez is involved in many different
activities. She has been or is currently involved in: UWRF tennis, UWRF
Symphonic Wind Ensemble (for her fourth year), UWRF summer registration,
church, Relay for Life, state music conventions and the UWRF Jury show.
With being involved in so many activities it is amazing that Oyarbide-Sanchez
has time for them all. However, she makes time for other things in her
life that she enjoys, such as: traveling, running, bike riding, swimming,
reading, journaling, and hanging out with her friends and family.
"I feel that my family and I have grown very close through obstacles
that we have faced as a family," Oyarbide-Sanchez says. Her family
includes her father, Prudencio who is a psychologist and her mother, Maria-Anita,
who is a fourth grade teacher. Oyarbide-Sanchez also has one sister Maya,
who is 17, and attends Madison James Memorial High School.
Oyarbide-Sanchez states that both of her parents are people she truly
admires. "My parents fought their way to get a higher education so
they could live up to their full potential."
Oyarbide-Sanchez grew up in Madison, Wis., and attended James Memorial
High School. She played tennis for four years at JMHS and was named Most
Valuable Player. "In a tournament my doubles partner and I took first
place, and it was the determining factor in a first place finish for the
team," she said about her most memorable high school tennis moment.
Oyarbide-Sanchez states that her greatest accomplishment was reached during
high school. "My senior year I auditioned for the National Wind Ensemble;
I worked really hard and was chosen. Students were chosen from all over
the world, and we got to play in Carnegie Hall."
Oyarbide-Sanchez is currently in her fourth year at UWRF. She is double
majoring in art education and music, with a minor in French. She hopes
to someday teach elementary education or high school education. She also
wants to continue teaching flute lessons and would love to keep playing
in an ensemble. When looking back on her four years at UWRF, Oyarbide-Sanchez
says that her best overall memory would be touring Iceland and France
with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble where, "I got to know my peers a
lot better, and was able to speak the language in France." Oyarbide-Sanchez
is multi-lingual speaking Spanish, French and English.
Oyarbide-Sanchez began playing tennis in a small alley by her house when
she was 12. She began playing with an old wooden racquet. She began playing
competitively in high school, and continued into college. She has been
participating with the UWRF program for the last four years.
Oyarbide-Sanchez is currently at the No. 7 singles position for the Falcons.
"This season is going really well; we have a strong team. We don't
give up and we support one another. We work well together and have a good
time."
A couple of her personal goals for this season are to be more confident
and aggressive. She would also like to take more chances and to have fun.
Oyarbide-Sanchez's best memory of this year would be the match against
Oshkosh. It was very close and the Falcons won 5-4. "I also would
say that one of my best memories was when (assistant coach) Dr. Don (Leake)
sang "Sugar, Sugar" in the van on the ride home."
Looking back on her past seasons, Oyarbide-Sanchez has many fond memories.
"I love going to matches; it's a great time and a time for the team
to bond." Oyarbide-Sanchez also speaks on why she loves playing tennis
so much at UWRF. "My teammates and the coaches make it such a fun
environment. I feel as though the coaches really care about me as a person;
they all support me on and off the court."
"Being in the No. 7 spot, most people would have dropped out of the
program, but Maite didn't and she stuck with it because she loves to compete
and play tennis," said Falcon Coach Lee Lueck. "When there are
injuries in the line-up Maite has been able to fill in very strong and
be a very valuable component of the team."
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Maite
Oyarbide-Sanchez
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