Service Credit Union Student-Athlete Spotlight: Sarah Williams & Alejandro Robles

By David Macca
Special to UNHWildcats.com

Sarah Williams and Alejandro Robles are highlighted in this week's Service Credit Union Student-Athlete Spotlight.

Sarah is a junior thrower on the women's track and field team from Dover, N.H. and Dover High School. Being from Dover, Sarah went to UNH athletic events as a kid and is very proud to be representing her state school. Sarah is an outstanding student-athlete as she has made the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll in both 2019 as well as 2020. At the 2020 America East Indoor Championships she placed fifth in weight throw and eighth in shot put. She also knows the importance of community service as she won the most impressive lift competition at the 2019 Bench out the Stigma held by the UNH Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to raise awareness for mental health.

Alejandro, a goalkeeper from Monterey, Mexico, is a graduate student on the men's soccer team. In 2019, Alejandro had an amazing season taking home many achievements which included being named the America East Goalkeeper of the Year, and earning selections to the All-Northeast First Team, All-America East First Team and the All-ECAC Team. Alejandro earned national recognition as he was second in the nation in goals against average and 11th in the country in save percentage. Not only is he outstanding on the field he also excels academically as he made the America East Academic Honor Roll.

Now let's get to know more about Sarah and Alejandro.

Q&A WITH SARAH:

When did you start your throwing career? What made you want to begin?

I started throwing when I was in the sixth grade after some of my friends convinced me to join the team. I was still playing softball at the same time, so my efforts were divided between two sports. In seventh grade fate stepped in and I got mono. The doctors did not allow me to play any contact sport for the season, but he said I was still cleared to throw. I was able to focus all of my energy into shot put and in learning how to throw discus which I had not done the previous year. From then on, I was in love with the sport and that it was something that I wanted to do and be involved in for the rest of my life.

How does it feel to represent your home state of New Hampshire?

It is so amazing that I get to represent my home state of New Hampshire. I grew up in Dover so UNH was always a major part of my life. I remember watching different UNH sports teams play and I thought how amazing it must be to be a college athlete. I am so honored, and it is a dream come true that I get to be part of the UNH athletic family.

What motivates you to be your best?

I am motivated by my teammates who over the past two-and-a-half years have become my family. I want to do my best because they are so supportive of me and they work so hard every day to be the best they can be, and I want to do the same for them.

Do you have any goals you have been working toward since you started your career?

My goal since I started throwing is to improve each throw every year. I want to keep working and pushing myself so every year I can get a few inches or even feet further than I did the year before. I always want to feel like I am throwing the farthest I can that year and then keep reaching for the next distance right up ahead. When I'm done competing, I want to know that I did my absolute best.

What is your most memorable moment since you joined UNH Athletics?
My most memorable moment since joining UNH Athletics was my freshman year indoor conference meet during the weight throw. This was a brand-new event for me that year and I remember going into the meet with the goal of getting a new personal best and I was not expecting to make finals seeing that I was seeded towards the middle of the rankings overall. I felt so relaxed and it was one of those moments where everything seemed to just click. The weight flew out of my hand and I not only achieved my goal of a major PR but I also went to finals and placed. I remember after I had finished, I celebrated with my friends and teammates who had come over to watch and it was one of the best moments of my life.

OFF THE FIELD WITH SARAH:

Favorite Color: Aqua
Favorite TV show: The Vampire Diaries
Favorite Movie: Mama Mia 1 & 2
Favorite Food: Shrimp scampi
Favorite Snack: Movie popcorn
Favorite Musical artist: Elton John
Favorite Pump-up song: All I Want for Christmas is You
Favorite Phone app: TikTok
Favorite Pro sports team: Patriots
Favorite Pro sports athlete: Serena Williams
Favorite Place on campus: Hoco where I ate dinner with my teammates every night
What is your dream job: School Psychologist

Q&A WITH ALEJANDRO:

When did you start your soccer career?

When I was six years old, I started playing as a striker, one day when I was eight years old our goalie didn't attend, I filled the position and realized that it was my best position.

How does it feel to be on a nationally ranked team?

It's an amazing feeling to see how the team is growing in all athletic aspects. It is good to be ranked, but right now it is not enough, we have the talent and a great team to be one of the top teams in the nation.

How does it feel to be ranked second in the nation for goals-against average?

I know my name is the one that is listed, but the effort is the whole team. The whole team has helped me accomplish this goal from the defenders assisting in the protection of the goal and the strikers giving us a lead. At the same time I am excited for us to work hard to be even better than last season.

What is your proudest moment since joining the UNH Men's Soccer team?

When we played against Syracuse, I didn't have the best game in the first half, but the support of the coaches and teammates was unbelievable that I could start the second half with a better mindset.

Do you want to go pro?

Yes, is my dream and I think I can become a pro goalie.

OFF THE FIELD WITH ALEJANDRO:

Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite TV show: Peaky Blinders
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Favorite Food: Tacos
Favorite Snack: apple with peanut butter
Favorite Musical artist: Drake
Favorite Pump-up song: God's Plan
Favorite Phone app: Instagram
Favorite Pro sports team: Barcelona
Favorite Pro sports athlete: Marc Ter Stegen
Favorite Place on campus: Library
What is your dream job: Become a data analyst

Check back every Tuesday to get to know two more Wildcats as part of the Service Credit Union Student-Athlete Spotlight. Thank you to Service Credit Union for sponsoring the Student-Athlete Spotlight.

Previous 2020-21 Student-Athlete Spotlights

Casey Peterson (Women's Soccer) & Jordan Buckmire (Men's Track and Field)
Haley Lui (Gymnastics) & Linus Fallberg (Men's Soccer)
Julia Neyland (Women's Lacrosse) & Brian Carter (Football)
Grace Middleton (Women's Hockey) & Charlie Kelleher (Men's Hockey)
Lisa Olsson (Women's Ski) & Nick Guadarrama (Men's Basketball)
Kate Bilyeu (Women's Volleyball) & Patrick Kenney (Men's Skiing)
Faith Bonett (Women's Basketball) & Angus Crookshank (Men's Ice Hockey)
Ava Boutilier (Women's Hockey) & Aidan Sullivan (XC/Track & Field)
Bloem van den Brekel (Field Hockey) & Jacob Gould (Men's Soccer)

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