Fab Five: Sergi Mata

Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings, and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos throughout their career to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com.

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Today, Sergi Mata, a junior on the golf team, let's us in on his favorite five frames.

This past season, Sergi played in five of the team's six tournaments, compiling a 75.5 stroke average. The Tritons' top placer (16th of 101) at the Western Washington Invitational, he fired a career best 71 (-1) in the opening round.

The Spainard and Triton Athletes' Council (TAC) team representative is majoring in international economics and real estate development in UC San Diego's Muir College.

1. Always Learning

Working with someone as supportive as coach Hanover has given me the ability to approach my game with new levels of confidence, drive, and dedication. His extensive knowledge of the sport, and as a mentor, has allowed me to grow as a person both on and off the course.

2. Old Friends, New Friends

Golf has given me much more than simply a competitive drive and an athletic outlet. It has also helped me form meaningful and long lasting relationships. My team has been like a second family to me through which I've been able to form new friendships and foster old ones. San Diego is far from my home in Barcelona, Spain, but I have never felt out of place and have built such a strong sense of comradery.

3. Goals

In order to get to the top and achieve one's desired goals, a person often has to take the path less traveled. I have found it to be incredibly important to set both large goals for myself in addition to smaller milestones. This photo demonstrates this idea as the hotels in the back seem large and out of sight, but by taking small strides to reach them, I am able to accomplish what may at first seem unachievable. Each small step taken along my journey has taught me many valuable lessons and has allowed me to improve as a person along the way.

4. Focus

During the past year, I have learned that focus is a key component in achieving my goals. Even if I find myself in an undesirable circumstance, with focus I am able to keep my goals in sight and learn to overcome obstacles as they present themselves. Focusing on each step towards my success allows me to feel satisfaction in my small achievements, as well as the progress I have made towards my larger goals.

5. Triton Family Proud

A Triton represents excellence in athleticism and scholarship. These are pillars of not only UC San Diego’s values, but also of my own personal value system. I am proud to be a member of the Triton family that has provided me with such amazing resources and community. Without this support system, I would not be where I am today, and I am forever grateful for the dedication and passion they have inspired for me.

Stay tuned for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Below are previous “Fab Five” collections: 

• Zeinab Torabi (women's track and field)
• Isabel Lavrov (softball)
• Cameron Leonard (baseball)
• Neil Tengbumroong (men's tennis)
• Sarah Proctor (women's rowing)
• Konami Masui (women's fencing)
• Natalie Widmer (women's soccer)
• Anu Bhadada (women's tennis)
• Calder Hilde-Jones (men's water polo)
• Jake Selstad (men's cross country/track and field)
• Cindy Tran (women's volleyball)
• Collin Shannon (men's volleyball)
• Grace Murphy (women's swimming and diving)
• Jonathan Sabouri (men's soccer)
• Gabe Hadley (men's basketball)
   

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide more than 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. In addition, 83 Tritons have been named Academic All-Americans, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.