Athlete of the Week: Marjorie Souza

Halfway through her first season, UTRGV tennis freshman Marjorie Souza told The Rider her first semester was great, from meeting her new teammates and enjoying campus life to even learning a little bit of Spanish. The chemistry major led the Vaqueras last fall season with five victories in singles and five in doubles. A native of Serra Negra, Brazil, she will be looking to build on that this spring season.

Q: When did you start playing tennis and why?

A: “I was 7 years old, mostly because of my brother. He played and then I watched him. And at the beginning, I didn’t like it. My father wanted me to start at 4 [years old], but I didn’t like it at all. So then, when my brother started traveling around to play tournaments, and I started to see girls playing and I started liking it and wanted to play.”

Q: Who is your favorite athlete and why?

A: “My favorite athlete is [Garbiñe] Muguruza, and I really like her because I think she’s really similar to my style, like, aggressive. So, I really like her inside and outside of the court.”

Q: What is your favorite thing to eat and why?

A: “I really like rice and beans, because, in Brazil, you eat this every day. And I’m so glad that here, they have beans, because I missed it so bad. And because of that, my favorite part [of campus] is the cafeteria.”

Q: Have you been trying new foods since you arrived at UTRGV?

A: “Yes, a lot, because we have two teammates that are Mexican. They prepare food for us, so I’m trying a lot of foods with, like, spices. I used to not eat that much spicy food, but now, I’m liking it. … Enchiladas are my favorite.”

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: “I really like listening to music. Music from my country and music from here. And also, I really like to paint.”

Q: Who are some of your favorite artists and why?

A: “I really like Coldplay. I love him. I really want to go to a show because I’ve never been. I like his music because they are really calm. So, I like to listen to this type of music for games to stay calm. … I also really like Harry Styles. His songs are so good.”

Q: What inspires you in life?

A: “My family and, especially, my father. … I’m always calling him when I have a bad day or when I really need motivation. He is always with me.”

Q: Are there any classes that you are taking right now that you really enjoy?

A: “Right now, chemistry and anthropology. I’ve never had anthropology in my life, so I’m really liking it. And chemistry labs.”

Q: What is a random fact about yourself?

A: “I played volleyball [when I was younger]. I was kinda good at volleyball, but tennis was my thing.”

–Compiled by Omar E. Zapata