MAY 26, 2023 — Meet Joaquin Guzman ’23. In addition to graduating this month with his B.A. in Music, the UTSA Campus Recreation official was recently awarded All-American Honors from the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). It is the highest award a student official can receive from NIRSA.
Originally from San Antonio, Guzman started his officiating career at UTSA. “Since my first semester, I have been working for sport programs,” Guzman said.
Guzman worked at Campus Recreation for five years. For two of those years, he served as a student coordinator, supervising other student officials.
To be selected to officiate at the NIRSA National Basketball Championships, officials must receive a bid based on their performance at one of the NIRSA Regional Basketball Championships occurring throughout the nation. Whether regional or national, each tournament has an officials committee comprised of professionals in the field from various universities. Every student official is evaluated at each game, and the committee provides feedback to help students improve their future performance.
Guzman received a bid at the NIRSA Regional Basketball Championships held at the University of Missouri in February 2023. He finished as the top official in the tournament and was selected for nationals from around the United States along with two other UTSA student officials, Jared “E” Morris and Matthew Baham.
In April, at the NIRSA National Basketball Championships at the University of Maryland, Guzman officiated eight games in three days. Due to his excellent performance, the NIRSA officials committee selected him to officiate for the Men’s Intramural National Championship game.
Following the game, NIRSA recognized Guzman as one of nine All-American Officials, from a total of 51 student officials that officiated at the National Basketball Championships.
“I am honored to receive this award but most importantly to represent UTSA,” Guzman said.
Guzman is the third student from UTSA to receive NIRSA’s All-American Honors following Adreanna Broussard in 2015 and Fernando Perez in 2022. He credits Michael Castaneda, assistant director of sport programs, and Cy Fondal, former sport program coordinator, for helping him achieve this honor.
“These two individuals have shaped me to be the best official and professional in and out of sport programs,” Guzman said.
Guzman has been an indispensable part of Campus Recreation and the sport programs team in his many years of service. “Campus Recreation has provided me with a valuable experience that I will never forget,” he said.
The UTSA graduate is passionate about continuing his career in the field of recreation. He is currently officiating in the San Antonio chapter of the Texas High School Basketball Officials Association.
Next, he plans to serve as a graduate assistant for intramural sports at the University of Kentucky.
“Helping and developing student staff in their personal and professional lives has been a true honor,” Guzman said.
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