COOLIDGE – In a small city located between Phoenix and Tucson lies Central Arizona College, a rural community college surrounded by desert and sky. It’s not the kind of place most people would expect to find an international sports hub. But look through any of the Vaqueros’ rosters, and you’ll find names representing more than half a dozen countries.
For student-athletes such as Maria Luisa Montes and Irene Maroto, two Spanish basketball players, this tiny campus in Coolidge, with a population fewer than 20,000, has become an opportunity for athletic and personal growth.
“Obviously, you have hard moments being away from friends and family,” Maroto said. “But I am really grateful I went through all of this. Because if not, I wouldn’t be the person I am right now.”
Maroto and Muñoz are just two examples of the many international athletes who’ve found their way to Central Arizona College. For decades, international athletes from Australia to Kenya have found a home there.
“Cross country was one of the first programs that started bringing international athletes into Central Arizona College,” coach Jonathan Harmon said. “It started in the ‘80s when the program was first founded because of our ability to house students.”
Unlike many community colleges across the country, Central Arizona College has dorms located on campus. The school’s teams compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division I level, which allows it to offer full-ride scholarships to international athletes, which other community colleges struggle to do.
These two factors combined to make Central Arizona College a top choice for international athletes who may not be ready or able to compete in the NCAA. International athletes seeking somewhere to grow in their sport can look to the stories of previous athletes who may have taken a similar path and excelled.
“I came across Central Arizona College and saw what the program did for the athletes attending here before me, both local and international,” said Sandile Pule, a cross country runner from South Africa. “I saw how it fit my life goals and gives me the opportunity to take a step in my career.”
Central Arizona College athletes who went on to high-level success include former MLB players Ian Kinsler, Tony Barnette and Rich Harden, and Olympic sprinter Donald Sanford.
A large part of moving to the United States for these international athletes involves adapting to a new way of playing their sport.
“In Spain, you are not that physical when you play basketball,” Montes said. “Here, it is much more physical. You have to go hard, go for every 50-50 ball and basically use your body more.”
The differences don’t end with on-the-court play, but they also appear in available equipment and support.
“Back home, my training was more generalized,” Pule said. “In the U.S., training is more structured and specialized. The resources here, like specialized facilities and equipment, are available for the students and athletes, unlike at home.”
Beyond the training technology available, international athletes benefit from community support that they may not experience at home. At Central Arizona College, friends and the local community regularly attend games to show their support for the teams, creating a home away from home for many of the international athletes who are separated from their families.
Because there are so many international athletes, they have another built-in community with those who may be experiencing the same struggles and hardships.
“There are people here from everywhere, like Australia, France and Mexico,” Montes said. “We all share something. Even if we don’t speak the same language, we get each other.”
Despite the support from the community, international athletes still face hurdles when it comes to academics, language, food and culture. Many of these athletes already have a basic understanding of English, but being surrounded by it every day can be a hard transition.
For most of the international athletes, Central Arizona College is just the beginning of their time in the United States. Many plan to transfer to four-year schools, while others dream of playing professionally or coaching the next generation.
“I want to keep playing,” Montes said. “Whether that’s here or back in Europe, I’ll take what I learned here with me.”
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