Tempe, Ariz.- Hispanic Heritage Month is a time where Hispanic student-athletes are able to celebrate their families and honor the family members that came before them. The families who've helped them along their journey to ASU and support them no matter what. For each person, the definition of family can mean something different. For example, if you grew up in a Hispanic family, there was always a family friend referred to as tío and tía, who had no relation to the family. As we celebrate Hispanic student-athletes this month, we asked them what family meant to them.
Thank you @EdExcelencia for this recertification as a Seal of Excelencia school!
— Arizona State University (@ASU) October 3, 2022
We are honored to be recognized for our institution’s high level of commitment and effort to serve Latino students, aligning with our charter. 💛#ExcelenciaSeal https://t.co/zf8UlP07WO
Feliz Día de Independencia 🇲🇽
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) September 16, 2022
Hoy, @AlexiaDelgado99 celebra su familia y cultura.#ForksUp /// #O2V /// #VivaMexico pic.twitter.com/5QKiBOKtkj
Ralph Frias
Ralph Frias has been a constant fixture in the offensive line room for the past five years, filling in and being a go-to player at the position. Hispanic Heritage month means that he can celebrate his mom's side of the family for the endless love and support they've given him, especially last year as he battled a health scare.
Frias missed the entire 2021 season due to the discovery of a benign tumor. It was a hard time for Frias, who relied heavily on his family as he battled through this difficult time.
"I had some medical issues come up, and had to have surgery. I had a tumor that was benign and it was difficult to handle. Post-op it was a struggle for me to walk within the first week and get through the motions without feeling dizzy," Frias said. "I had to lean back on my family because I knew they were going to be there for me during this tough time."
His mother, Melody Abalos-Ruiz, stuck by his side and helped her son throughout the recovery process. According to Frias, his mother's generosity comes from her mother, who did everything for her family.
"My grandma was a selfless person and was always there for us whenever we needed her. She always showed up to games, she made sure everybody needed to be where they needed to be and she did all of that while going through chemotherapy. She didn't let the cancer stop her. That selfless passion my grandma had, I see that same fire in my mom, and it's helped me be a better person… I wouldn't be in the position I am today, if it weren't for my mom and her selflessness."
Yanni and Yannixa Acuña, and Jackie Vasquez-Lapa
Yannira Acuña's family is roaming the outfield with her at Farrington Stadium. Her sister, Yannixa, is a freshman in softball and the two will get to play one year together as Yanni enters her last season as a Sun Devil.
"I'm excited. We've always talked about playing with each other. We're both very competitive, and we both are lefty and play in the outfield," Yanni said.
On the other side out of the outfield, Yannixa is excited to get the chance to play with her rolemodel.
"My sister has always set such a high standard and she is truly my role model. She has carved the path for my younger sister and me to follow. I am excited to learn more about how she does things on the field. She is a big inspiration to not only myself but as well to everyone else and the younger generation."
Jackie Vasquez-Lapan has become another influence in Acuña's life, who has helped her and Yannixa throughout their journey.
"When the coach introduced me to Yanni, it was like, it couldn't have been a better match. We're literally family to her and her two sisters. It was special seeing her and hearing her story and how similar it was to mine. She's a first generation [to go to college], from South Tucson, and her parents are mostly Spanish speaking, it was just such a natural fit."
Vasquez-Lapan, a former softball player for ASU, holds family close to her heart. Her favorite memory as a player was always hearing her family, especially her dad, cheering for her wherever she played.
Diego Chavez
Freshman wrestler Diego Chavez sees Hispanic Heritage Month as a way to celebrate his grandparents and family. Chavez is from Eloy, Arizona, a small town south of Phoenix. Chavez grew up surrounded by his family and his parents taught him that family was everything.
"I've been raised my whole life that family is everything. My dad always tells us that no matter what, no matter if he or my mom got sick, he wanted my two brothers and me to always stay close, and know that he had peace and that we were always going to have each other as family no matter what."
Along with being a wrestler, Chavez won a Flinn Scholarship award, a prestigious award given to the top students in Arizona that pays for their entire undergraduate degree. With friends on the wrestling team and through his scholarship, he's creating a new family in Tempe.
"I have my wrestling friends who like to do fun stuff and have a good time- and then I have my Flinn group. They're always texting in a group chat motivating each other and praising each other. Like when I got the newspaper article done on me a couple of weeks ago, they were all spamming in the group chat congratulating me. Just being able to have so much of a diverse choice has been my favorite part of college so far with hanging and being around my different set of groups."
MJ Lopez-Aguirre
According to triathlon's MJ Lopez-Aguirre, home is where her family is. Growing up, Lopez- Aguirre moved around a lot. She was born in Mexico, but moved to Texas and then back to Mexico. She doesn't have a home that she has core memories of, but instead she has memories of her family.
"When I go home, I go home to my family because my home is my family. My home is where I can go and rest and be with them. My home is where I have that unconditional love and care. And I don't have to be physically at home to experience it."
On her team, Lopez-Aguirre has built a home with her teammates and the coaching staff. "I have friends and teammates to go to whenever I show up to practice. I don't have to be anyone or do anything. I can be myself with my team and my friends. So kind of like being able to see that ASU is becoming a home for me."