Latinas Making a Mark in Sports
By Gloria Romano-Barrera
Over the last century, Latinas in sports have emerged more than ever. They are athletes, and leaders working hard to shed light to the importance of belonging to every single aspect of sport. Here we celebrate the success of two Latinas who have worked through different struggles and made history in so many ways.
Currently training for the 7 Mile Bridge in Key Largo, Fl., while fundraising for the non-profit organization, Heal the Planet Together, and preparing for the local throws competitions of Broward Elite and USATF and on long-term the World Masters Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Fl., 2025, she is amazed by the things she has accomplished by doing sports.
Matthews journey to becoming an athlete was not an easy feat. Growing up she was banned by doctors from playing any sports or participating in physical education classes due to her leg length discrepancy that caused her to constantly fall. In addition to this challenge, she had scoliosis and at age of 15 was placed for three years on the Corset of Milwaukee. A few years ago, she had two procedures done in her spine due to tear in a disc and was informed that her days as a runner were numbered.
“Hearing this, I said “Really? Now, I am going to run all the races I want until I can no longer run,” she shares. “I even created my own personal challenges. To run three marathons all in the same week running in three countries, two continents, as these were the marathons of India, Dubai, and Marrakesh. I decided to climb mountains, so took up the Challenge of Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro - Tanzania & Volcan Baru in Panama.”
For Matthews, running has a special way to make her feel as a super héroe (hero), not only in sports but in her day-to-day activities.
“It helps me remain focused, if I have a major decision to make, I go for a run to clear the mind,” she shares. “It helps me with my sleep and most important it reduces the day-to-day stress, and I can see things from a different positive perspective. It helps me with my physical pains, not to leave out that running is a great medicine for sentimental broken heart.”
Matthews believes sports has the power to boost self-esteem and, confidence, a positive body image, lower levels of depression, creating an opportunity for women to develop new skills and enjoy freedom of expression, but at the same time needs to be in a way where there is no gender inequality.
“We are going to get results from whatever we put our efforts into it,” she states.
“We may not see results immediately, just keep pushing. Someone will appreciate what you do and there is always someone watching. Serve as a model to others, teach what you know, invite others to walk with you in your journey, but make sure they walk next to you, not behind you, and give them the extra push for them to walk ahead you. Remember that we don’t achieve things alone, so don’t be shy to ask for help and give credit and appreciation to those that have been there for you.”
Mónica Negrón, Senior Women's National Team Head Coach, U20 Women's National Team Assistant Coach, Island Development Team
Ayenza Matthews
“I started running in 2012 and in 2019 decided to run competitive and joined the Association Masters of Athletes of Panama,” shares athlete Ayenza Matthews. “I had my first track competition in 2019 at the Central American Masters Championships in Guatemala. In 2022 I changed my athlete’s affiliation, and I became a USA athlete that represents USATF Florida.”
Matthews’ journey as a runner started when she supported the American Cancer Society by raising funds while running for the research to find the cure against cancer. In 2020, during the pandemic, she decided she wanted to become a hammer thrower. From there, she learned the discus, shot put, javelin, weight throw and super weight throw.
“I am a huge proponent for girls trying sports,” shares athlete, coach, role model, DEI champion and proud Boricua Mónica Negrón. “Without sports I wouldn’t be the leader or the worker that I am today. Through sports you learn how to overcome hardships, you learn how to fight for a goal and to continue to look to achieve something.
Sports teach you to work together towards a common goal and help you learn how you can bounce back from setbacks and find ways to learn from your losses. From my first coach to my last, I have learned how to win with grace while also staying hungry in defeat to continue getting better and fighting for the next win.”
Negrón started her professional career working in college athletics working in Student-Athlete Development working to engage Louisville student-athletes and prepare them for their life after sport through professional, leadership & career development, and community engagement programming, Negrón is a University of Louisville Lacrosse Alumna and finished her playing career having been a four-year starter, three-time captain, four-time All-Region selection, and 2014 All-American, 2014 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, 2014 Big East Champion and making the 2014 NCAA Sweet 16.
“My family has always been a huge sports family,” shares Negrón. “My dad played four sports when he was in High School and then passed on his love for sports to my brothers and I. As the youngest of three and the only girl, I was always trying to do what my older brothers were doing and remember growing up in the gym or on the field just waiting for when it was my time to finally get to wear a uniform too.”
Negrón shares the time she turned five and was finally able to play organized sports. She integrated into soccer, basketball, and softball. When she was in second grade, someone had approached her father and told them that she should try Lacrosse as her spring sport instead of softball and that they thought she would be good at it since she played basketball and soccer already. Her family, being from Puerto Rico and never having heard of lacrosse, she was a bit nervous to start but she can still remember her first practice like it was yesterday.”
“As I got older and heading into High School, I stopped playing soccer and moved to volleyball as my fall sport and did volleyball, basketball and lacrosse all through High School,” she shares. “From a young age I knew I wanted to play a sport in college, and it was around my sophomore year that I knew lacrosse was the sport that I had the potential to go Division I. I ended up committing to the University of Louisville and ended up having a pretty great career finishing as a 4-time all-region defender, Big East Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American. I was a three-time captain and helped lead my team to our first ever Big East Championship and first ever NCAA tournament berth.”
For Negron, having come out of retirement in 2019 to compete for Puerto Rico from 2019 to 2022, the ability to play her sport and get to be her true authentic self is something that made coming out of retirement and get back to elite level shape after having had five knee surgeries made all that hard work worth it. Her favorite part of her role is to be able to continue to build the culture of the program and get to showcase the Boricua brilliance that plays lacrosse while also giving back and bringing lacrosse to the island.
“The hope to be able to lead a group of women in the 2028 Olympics in LA would truly be a dream come true,” she shares. “I wholeheartedly believe that we have some of the best lacrosse athletes in the world and I can’t wait for them to be showcased on the world stage during upcoming world championships.”
The U20 Puerto Rican National Team will be competing in the U20 World Championships in Hong Kong from August 15th to August 24th.
LATINAStyle Vol. 30, No. 2, 2024