By Nick Phillips
Asst.Sports Editor
April 29, 2010
Tennis players Maricel Quintero Prieto, Madeline DiNunzio and Mia Winterbottom (left to right) all came to UNCP as international students, and are three players of the seven total players on UNCP’s roster.
When students look at colleges and universities to attend, many look at schools within their state. When students also have athletic potential and are looking at the possibility of an athletic scholarship, the distance and location of the colleges and universities tends to play a less significant role. But coming to an entirely different country?
Madeline DiNunzio, Maricel Quintero- Prieto and Mia Winterbottom are three members of the seven-member UNCP tennis team, and each took an extraordinary approach to arrive in Pembroke.
All three are international students, coming to campus from three different parts of the globe. For one, their first time in America was coupled with stepping on UNCP’s campus, while another frequented Florida several times a year and the third came to Pembroke by way of community college.
Helpful advice
Quintero-Prieto has two years of experience with the Braves under her belt, coming to UNCP from Bogota, Colombia. The junior attended Cowley County Community College in Kansas before moving on to Pembroke.
In two seasons, Quintero-Prieto has compiled a 22-24 record in singles play, while her doubles record stands at 10-34.
This season, Quintero-Prieto also played the role of big sister to DiNunzio and Winterbottom. Having been through the same trials as the two freshmen were experiencing, both freshmen agreed that Quintero-Prieto was a huge help as they transitioned to college and America.
From Down Under
When Winterbottom came to UNCP last fall, it was not only her first time on campus, but her first trip to the United States. The Sydney, Australia, native said she was both nervous and excited in anticipation of coming to school.
“I was nervous and sad to leave my family and friends, but the excitement took away those feelings because I’ve always wanted to study in America,” Winterbottom said.
To be able to do something I love, tennis, at the same time, is icing on the cake,” she added.
While in college, all students have certain moments and experiences that stand above the rest. For Winterbottom, she recalls her first collegiate tennis match as a favorite, yet laughable moment.
“I was so nervous, as a freshman and an international student, with my outfit that was twice the size of me. I was running around everywhere and jumping up in excitement the whole entire match,” Winterbottom said.
Winterbottom won that first singles match, 6-2, 6-0, before her doubles team lost 8-3. She finished with a 10-15 record in singles competition, and a 7-17 overall doubles record in her freshman campaign.
Winterbottom also listed Relay for Life as one of her favorite memories in her short time here, as well as going to Wal-Mart for the first time.
“I took a video camera and plenty of pictures. I’d never seen pizzas so big, or that many flavors of Oreos,” she added about her Wal-Mart trip.
Winterbottom was quick to say that DiNunzio and Quintero Prieto are her “two closest friends here” and that they all “get along really well, it’s the three foreigners that do things a bit different.”
Northern neighbor
DiNunzio hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but is a frequent visitor of Florida and has also been to Georgia, New York, South Carolina and Virgina.
DiNunzio said that it was an honor to be recruited by UNCP, knowing that she was “about to start my new future studying at a great school, but also thrilled knowing how privileged I was to have this opportunity.”
The Taddlecreek Academy graduate was redshirted this year but gained valuable practice time while adjusting to college.
She was nervous about being away from home, family and friends, but also was excited to be on her own and having to take responsibilities on that she never thought about before.
DiNunzio echoed Winterbottom’s opinion of the trio’s friendship.
“We all get along great. It’s hard to find a relationship with someone that you spend from morning to night with and not get sick of them, but with these girls it’s very unique. We are all very close,” she said.
DiNunzio added that “although we were all raised in different environments, with different cultures and morals, we are very similar. We all share similar personalities with a great sense of humor,” she said.
The town of Pembroke and the local community was different for DiNunzio, calling it a ‘culture shock.’
“I never really pictured myself living outside of the city but I needed a change. When I came here as a recruit I knew Pembroke was the right choice for me.”
Another agreement was that a major difference in America is that there are tons of fried food options.
“I’ve never seen so many things fried, and the size of everything. Back home, you could only get fried chicken at KFC. Here, they fry everything from pickles to mushrooms,” Winterbottom said.
DiNunzio added that “Canadian and American culture is quite similar,” but that she had to get used to all the fried food. While their accents remain intact, the three are becoming ‘Americanized’ every day they are on campus.
Winterbottom’s Australian lingo peeks through when she said that she’s “gained heaps of friends,” adding that “everyone is really nice and welcoming here.”
Tennis teammates and other students are all friends that DiNunzio has gained, saying that her “teammates are like sisters” and that she has also “made friendships with many people outside the tennis team” who she is close with.
If you are walking around campus one day, chances are you will run into DiNunzio, Quintero Prieto and Winterbottom somewhere.
Take time to talk and get to know them. You will gain new friends while learning about their culture. More importantly, they will be exposed to another aspect of American culture in their journey as international students here at UNCP.
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