2 More Volleyball Players Get Athletic Scholarships to U.S. College
Two Belizean volleyball athletes were scouted back in 2019 when they competed in a regional match in Mexico. Fast track to 2021, they are both now preparing to relocate to a college in the U.S. where they will not only be pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Graphic Design, but also playing their favourite sport. Francis Hauze and Edgar Martinez have both been playing from high school and now they join a select few who have also been given athletic scholarships overseas. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Francis Hauze and Edgar Martinez have been recruited by Calumet College of Saint Joseph in Whiting, Indiana in the United States and have been awarded full-time athletic scholarships for volleyball. The private catholic institution today held a virtual signing with the Belizean athletes today as a first step to Hauze and Martinez’s new journey as a result of their mastery of the sport.
Sean McMorrow, Volleyball Coach, Calumet College of St. Joseph
“These two athletes in particular exemplify the ethical code that our school lives by. As a small Catholic based school, we are looking for good kids who make the right decisions and Edgar and Francis have both demonstrated that; the ability to decipher right and wrong. So we are very excited about the young men who are joining our programme. As this is a new men’s team that is the core of what we are trying to develop; we are bringing in a number of young men who come from great backgrounds and are going to make the right decisions when asked to and we hope some of that will translate over to the court. Obviously these two young men are great athletes and that was never a question, we just needed to make sure that they believe the way we did. And that they are going to make good decisions starting here in college, but also as they take the education back home to Belize.”
Described as the “King of the Beach” for his technique and mastery of volleyball two years ago, Hauze was also one of the youngest to play on Belize’s National Men’s Team at age sixteen. Today, he is excited that the hard work and dedication has paid off.
Francis Hauze
Francis Hauze, Awardee, Athletic Scholarship
“It helps me to get an education while playing the sport I love, volleyball. I started when I was fifteen and then after that my coaches saw my athletic ability and told me to come train with the senior team and then I got a chance on the senior team and then it just continue after that. I am very excited for this; this is my second signing. First I got a full scholarship to Canada, but the visa didn’t come so I’m really excited and pushing for this one.”
Edgar Martinez
Edgar Martinez, Awardee, Athletic Scholarship
“It’s great to receive this scholarship today because of the hard work that both of us put in towards this. So it is great.”
Duane Moody
“Did you ever think that playing the sport that you love would give you an opportunity like this – not only to continue in this field, but also to get your education?”
Edgar Martinez
“Well from since I was fourteen, I just got a ball, started to play and then Coach Leon Leslie brought me into the sport and from there I began to love the sport and I wasn’t expecting to receive a scholarship. But when Jess reached out to me, we worked on it and that’s how we end up at this point.”
Martinez and Hauze join some three other Belizean volleyball athletes, who have acquired athletic scholarships recently. For President Allan Sharp of the Belize Volleyball Association, it speaks volumes to where the sport has reached in Belize and signals that others can be afforded similar opportunities.
Allan Sharp
Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association
“This is gonna be now five men and there is one young lady out there; she did it all on her own. And right now there is a lot of interest. One young lady in Belize has something like more than five schools interested in her so there are a lot of interests coming to Belize now for our national athletes. And again, it is because the culture of work in volleyball has changed and they can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I think hard work pays off.”
Back from his athletic scholarship in Canada, Bryton Codd had some advice for his former teammates.
Bryton Codd
Bryton Codd, Executive, Volleyball Athletes Commission
“My advice would be to remain true to who you are as an athlete; don’t be afraid to adjust to the environment. The faster you adjust to the environment, the better it is for you. And to make friends; get acquainted with your teammates, build a relationship and rapport with your coach and also other people you’re your university and college. And since both of them are going to the same college, support each other because it is going to be necessary being away from home, especially in an environment that is cold.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
