United Through Sport: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Maryland’s athletic teams are full of varying cultures and backgrounds, creating international bonds and relationships through the realm of sports.

As Hispanic Heritage month wraps up, several Maryland players and coaches reflect on what their hispanic heritage and upbringings mean to them. 

Matias De Jesus is having a brilliant season for Maryland’s men’s soccer team. He’s logged a goal and three assists during the Terps’ unbeaten start to the season. De Jesus has strong Argentine roots and it’s something he loves to talk about. 

“It means a lot. I’m a very proud Argentine,” De Jesus said. “I really value having that perspective growing up in Argentina. Different country. Different culture. It means a lot to me.”

His teammate, Mateo Caride, is playing in his freshman season over 5,000 miles from his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He knows he brings unique heritage and life experiences to his new team.

“It means everything to me,” Caride said. “It’s just so important to me. It’s shaped who I am and how I live. My culture, I’m so proud of it.”

Sofia Herrera, a freshman on the women’s lacrosse team, has competed internationally for Team Puerto Rico, an experience that’s opened her eyes to the power of sports.

“Sports have the unique ability to bring together heritage, culture, and community,” she said. “Having had the opportunity to play for Team Puerto Rico, I’ve seen firsthand how sports unite people from all over the world. At World Champions, I have seen that even when we don’t share the same language or background, we share a love for the game that connects us. Playing for Puerto Rico has also given me a new community of teammates who share both my culture and passion for lacrosse, making every moment on the field even more meaningful.”

Her Puerto Rican heritage drives her to make her name and culture proud in everything she does. 

“My heritage is a core part of my identity,” Herrera said. “It’s something I carry with pride and love sharing with others. It connects me deeply to my family, friends, and culture. Whenever I hear Hispanic music it always makes me smile and dance because growing up my childhood was filled with family gatherings of dancing and music and good food. My heritage has become the lens through which I see the world and it’s taught me to lead with gratitude, uplift others, and stay grounded in where I come from.”

Becca Acevedo has been with Maryland’s volleyball team for five seasons and currently serves as the Terps’ Associate Head Coach. Acevedo has a deep Hispanic background and grew up in Miami, Florida, a city bursting with Hispanic culture. 

“My background and heritage has shaped me as a coach in many ways,” she said. “My mom came to America hardly speaking any English and worked hard to provide endless opportunities for my brother and I. I’ll never take for granted the work ethic she instilled in us and the opportunity to represent our culture.”

Each Terp with a proud Hispanic heritage adds to the blend of cultures that Maryland Athletics is proud to boast. Athletes come to College Park from all over the world to compete for the Terps, bonding over a shared love for a sport.  

“I have seen firsthand how sports can unite people and break down barriers,” Acevedo said. “Among my favorite memories are mission trips to Costa Rica, where I shared my faith through volleyball. I also had the chance to share my culture with Kyle Thompson in Honduras—my family's home country—where we taught volleyball at local schools and built relationships with the coaches and athletes.”

Of course, the most global sport being soccer, the importance of the international bonds isn’t lost on Maryland’s soccer programs. Women’s head coach Michael Marchiano spoke after the Terps’ match against Illinois on what it means to recognize the international impact the sport has. 

“A lot of us are accustomed to soccer being such a global sport from the time we start playing it as kids,” Marchiano said. “As a coach, there’s this organic environment that the sport creates. We appreciate different people playing the same game. We certainly have that within our program. We have beliefs in different things. We come from different areas and I think that’s something this sport teaches us.”

Both De Jesus and Caride mention the bonds that countries can find internally when rooting for the same teams. With the World Cup coming to North America in 2026, the two know it’s an event of joy and camaraderie. 

“You see it all over,” De Jesus said of the bonds soccer creates. “Obviously, in the World Cup, people from all around the world get together to celebrate the greatest sporting event in the world. When fans are rooting for the same team, they put their differences aside and just come together to celebrate a team. When everyone comes together to root for one nation, it’s beautiful.”

“Here it’s different because soccer is not the main sport, but even in other countries, it brings people together,” Caride said. “You can see, with the World Cup, it’s the most-watched event ever. It’s amazing to see people coming together.”

Each member of Maryland Athletics has a story to tell. Every Terrapin team is a beautiful blend of backgrounds and cultures. As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, the bonds that sports continue to create only grow stronger.