Devynn Alston, Staff Writer
Before becoming Rams, three VCU athletes built their sports careers far from Virginia. From Argentina to Costa Rica to Spain, these athletes’ experiences have followed them to Richmond.
As Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15, Andrey Salmerón, Lucía Sotelo, and Josefina Ventimiglia represent the international backgrounds that have become a part of the VCU athletic landscape.
Their journeys to VCU were shaped through different sports and different countries, but each arrived with years of experience competing outside of the United States.
Andrey Salmerón, a fourth-year midfielder from Costa Rica, brought high-level experience to VCU soccer. Before joining the Rams, he represented Costa Rica on the U15, U17 and U20 national teams while also helping Fútbol Consultants Edson Soto win a national championship. His success continued at VCU, being named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, the first Ram’s soccer player to win that honor since 1997, according to VCU Athletics. He also helped the Rams win the Atlantic 10 regular season.
Lucía Sotelo is a fourth-year forward on the women’s basketball team. Coming from Spain, Sotelo entered VCU as a winner. She debuted with Ensino Lugo in Spain’s top division, Liga Endesa, and competed at the U17 and U18 levels, helping her team win league championships. She also won a league championship at the U16 level with Bosco Salesianos Ourense. At VCU, she made an immediate impact. She was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team and started 27 of 32 during her first season, according to VCU Athletics.
Josefina Ventimiglia’s path shows that international experiences extend into many different sports. The fourth-year player from Argentina played and won for Club Regatas San Nicolas. Ventimiglia was also selected to play for an Argentine regional team. Throughout her time at VCU, she has climbed the ranks, moving from little playing time in her first year to making the Atlantic 10 Second Team All-Conference last year, according to VCU Athletics.
These athletes’ paths to being Rams all looked different, each bringing athletic experience from outside of the United States to VCU. Their backgrounds span Costa Rica, Spain, and Argentina, adding to the international presence within VCU athletics. Hispanic Heritage Month provides a reason to recognize those of different backgrounds.