Meet a Roadrunner: UTSA senior Fabiola Arriaga has a driving will to win
Fabiola Arriaga
Fabiola Arriaga
Share this Story(July 24, 2013) -- Meet Fabiola Arriaga. She has a mean putter, a meaner driver and a driving will to win.
The first player in UTSA golf team history to be named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, the 21-year-old from Mexico is a "diamond in the rough with a lot of natural talent," said head women's golf coach Carrie Parnaby.
Arriaga followed up that freshman campaign by earning the Southland's Player of the Year award as a sophomore in 2012, before picking up a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honor last spring.
A senior communication major on full scholarship, she has played in each of the team's tournaments since joining the team in 2010. The avowed vegan was on the Mexican national team in 2009 and 2010 and competed in the National Athletic Olympics in 2010 after winning the U.S. Girls' Qualifier in 2009.
Despite being just out of her teens, the native of Torreon in 2011 held the UTSA team's second-lowest stroke average, 76.25, on her way to becoming only the second freshman in university history named to the Southland Conference first team. She set the school-record as a sophomore (2012) with a 74.91 average, and then broke that record last year as a junior with a 74.81. Additionally, she enters her senior season with the school's career stroke average record of 75.32.
Arriaga dropped ballet and first picked up golf clubs at age 9, about the time that her twin brother decided he was no longer interested. "I didn't like it very much at first, but for my dad's sake, I kept at it. What I really got to enjoy was the competition, which really motivated me to do my best," she said.
Although she loves to dance, visit friends in Austin and Dallas, and listen to music -- "anything except ranchera" -- she doesn't have much free time.
"The strongest part of my game is the mental side," Arriaga noted. "If I am 'there' mentally, I will do well. So for me, the major part is the preparation, getting into my respiration routine and getting over the jitters -- getting calm and prepared for what I need to do."
Arriaga's goal is simple: "Win all the tournaments that I can. I want our team to get strong and become a Top 25 nationally ranked team, which we are capable of doing."
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Events
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.
