A chance at the WNBA. "She became part of the family." Aquino says she doesn't hold anything against the people in New Jersey and has forgiven them. This article contains a list of Nike, Inc. sponsorships.. Nike pays top athletes in many sports to use their products and promote and advertise their technology and design.. Nike's first professional athlete endorser was Romanian tennis player Ilie Nstase. "America is the land of the dream," Aquino says, "We were three young ladies trying to survive and keep going.". Years later, Aquino says she still occasionally struggles coming to peace with it. Oregon State built a 17-point fourth-quarter lead and then held off a furious Arizona State rally on Wednesday in a first-round game at the Pa, Oregon State dug a hole it could not climb out of Thursday afternoon against top-seeded Stanford in a second-round game at the Pac-12 Conferen. She's written for the Orange County Register, espnW.com, SI.com and Slam. All rights reserved (About Us). Aquino is an important teammate from a support standpoint. Who is Michael Wayne Rogers? At the same time, locals began to speculate: How could one team have so many tall players from different countries? gp 1. pts/g 2.0. fg % 100.0. She's been with the team even when not playing, tasting success as she sat on the bench when the team advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2019 NCAA tournament. Nuwber reports contain information obtained from federal, state, and local government agencies. Aquino tried to keep faith while in Paterson, while competing at the highest level in the state. But health issues have never allowed her to be cleared to play. And they did. Follow her on Twitter: @MirinFader. Every athlete has to realize that basketball, or whatever their sport, is going to come to an end sometime. After that, the state's Division of Child Protection and Permanency came to the home to interview the Dominican woman. View All Details . Because it's hard., Aquino never really considered playing the game of basketball until a chance encounter on the streets of her native Caacupe, Paraguay. Shes gives me so much confidence, Mack said. There wasn't much food. Maybe leftover chicken and rice if Andrea Aquino and the two high school teammates she was living with were lucky. Straw. It seemed like a no brainer, he said. That's why I work so hard. Official Site of the Pac-12 Conference and Pac-12 Network. A native of Paraguay, Aquino moved to the United States as a high school freshman. And even though I'm not playing right now, it has allowed me to focus on school and trying to see who I am outside basketball, she said. Not to give an interview to anyone. For him, it wasa no-brainer to honor the university's commitment to her. She thought about returning home to Paraguay, but one of her new teammates convinced her not to. But as the Oregon State Beavers assembled last month for their first practice, with two transfers and three freshmen forming a new-look roster, there was a soothing and familiar feeling hovering over all the uncertainty amid a year unlike any other. Salinas said to Aquino, who, at 14 years old, was already 6'7". Class. But America didn't glitter the way it had in her head. First, Kampschroeder is tasked with trying to defend Aquino as she attempts 3-pointers. Andrea Aquino Isn't Hiding from Anyone Anymore Lured to the U.S. at 16 to pursue a basketball dream, she instead endured lies, abandonment and hunger. Senior guard Aleah Goodman has been an inspiration to the new-look Beavers. While he certainly was focused on the next days game, it was hard not to think about what the future held. Andrea Aquino #02 F Oregon State. Aquino, known as Dre throughout the program, doesnt miss a practice or a game, fulfilling her role as support. She wasn't treated as a person, but a body. El Camino Real's Montana University-bound Eddie Egan's 20 points for the boy's City Section fueled a startling comeback victory over the Southern Section, and Serra's Cheyenne Givens' 18 points staved off a late rally against the City Section at the 20th annual Collision All Star Game presented by Wooter Apparel on April 14 at Harbor College in Wilmington. Steve Politi and Matthew Stanmyre, reporters with NJ Advance Media, published a series of investigative reports in 2017, in which Aquino was found to be one of at least eight international players at Eastside to fall victim to what a leading immigration attorney at the time called "child smuggling and child trafficking" to create an "international pipeline" to the prep powerhouse, according to the report, while school officials turned a "blind eye." By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. (She was not sexually abused, she says. Without knowing English, Aquino hopped on a plane to New Jersey on April 14, 2015. Aquino chose a gorgeous, gray-blue dress, shorter in the front, longer in the back, with a small slit down the side, allowing a sliver of her leg to peek through. She got caught in the short rope a few times, alternating her feet. She started playing AAU basketball with the New Jersey Sparks, turning heads on the circuit. Were so lucky to have her on this team, said senior forward Ellie Mack. The teammate had tears in her eyes, telling Aquino, "There's a bright future for you." View current address, phone number, social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) + background check report. Its a quick turnaround, especially for a team with so many new faces. Player Profile; Game Log; Career Stats; Split Stats; Recent Games; Mar 2: vs. Arizona State W, 59-54 Mar 3: vs. Stanford L, 57-44 Mar 17: Long Beach St. W, 70-59 She hasn't been cleared to play. Its hard to be more impressed with the way this team handled the offseason, Rueck said. Skinnybrains. You can cancel at any time. DE EST . NJ Advance Media also reported that officials from New Jersey's Immigration and Customs Enforcement office were investigating. No one had noticed. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. She is one of the most positive people Ive ever met. Aquino drew the eye of Oregon State coach Scott Rueck, who was immediately enamored with what he saw on the court. Pivec recalled the time at the team retreat when Aquino shared that she wasnt cleared that first year. #GoBeavs #TheBennys #IFYKYK https://t.co/J1AJwS2eBV. Chris Hansen. Associated with Perfecto B Aquino (2016, 2020-2021), Perfecto B Aquino Jr. (2006, 2016, 2018 . Space was limited. You stay with the person and you support them through hardship, and that's what we've done. About three years earlier, Aquino was walking down the street a couple blocks from the home she shared with her mother, sister and two brothers in Caacupe when a man on a motorcycle, named Alfredo Salinas, stopped her. Something that could make her famous. Among others. Back to being called Avatar. ", He would've understood and even supported her had Aquino considered transferring. Everything looked beautiful to Aquino when she first landed in Paterson. Looking for Andrea Aquino online? Go. She felt unsettled, unsure of what was happening. Aquinos willingness to find the positive in a very negative situation, and to put others before herself, is not lost on those who have been able to call her a teammate. Aquino slept on a pullout couch, though it was not long enough. Emily called. Nilda, who had trusted the Paraguayan American man and her coaches, felt frustrated, betrayed. I mean, the material thing is the least part, but the more important thing was they give me their support. Her life was coming together, but her mom's was spiraling. Andrea Aquino, a 6-foot-9 center, originally from Paraguay has committed to Oregon State to play for Scott Rueck and the rest of the Beavs. Freak. FILTER BY TEAM (S) Select Team (s) FILTER BY ATHLETE (S) Select Athlete (s) There is the possibility of a Sunday surprise, though Rueck is being coy. Andrea Aquino - Women's Basketball - Oregon State University Athletics 2 Andrea Aquino Position: Forward Height: 6-9 Class: Redshirt Sophomore Hometown: Caacupe, Paraguay REDSHIRT-SOPHOMORE (2021-22): Scored the first two points of her only collegiate appearance on Senior Day vs. California (2/20). Weve progressed really nicely in a short amount of time. But sometimes she hesitated offensively. Ellie Mack, a 6-foot-3 senior guard from Bucknell, was the Patriot League Player of the Year last season and brings shooting and versatility to Corvallis. Go with the flow, she told herself. OSUs program didnt turn its back on Aquino, and shes been on scholarship for four years. It was hard to hear, but it made sense, Rueck said. She felt deceived. Another option for Aquino was transferring to another school and see if she could get cleared to play. There's so many things that sometimes I try to forget, you know, because I don't want to keep rewinding over and over again. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The man told them she'd be attending Princeton Day Academy in Bowie, Maryland. She realized that this was the body God gave her. Cal managed to keep things tight, and went on a four point run as the half closed out to take a two point, 35-33 lead into the locker room. Stairs. It wasnt much of an option to Aquino because she had become attracted to Oregon State. Log In. She was taller than anyone, towering over classmates since second grade when she sprouted to 5'10". Her addition made a Final Four run a distinct possibility, Rueck believed. It could be her final appearance in Gill as a member of the program, or she could return again next season. Marc A Christman's social profiles . She was afraid to say anything on social media; one tweet could alter her life. Aquino threw herself into school and the Beavers. I cant even imagine how hard it must be for her. She started hiding. He promised Nilda he'd help her financially, toothat he'd bring her clothes so she could resell them. -- Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel. She had hoped if she kept pretending, the positive messages she'd say to herself would become true. She stayed with the man for a bit, but then he told her, casually, that he'd be working a lot and since there wouldn't be anyone to help her with her homework, he would find her a teacher who would help her with her English. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Until this day she just works so hard to have a better life," Aquino says, starting to cry. She cried herself to sleep some nights, whispering to God in between sobs: She believed in God. I like the challenge. Check other contact information for Andre M Adams. But thats their makeup they love basketball and competing every day.. "You know you can be a superstar in basketball?" Scored the first two points of her only collegiate appearance on Senior Day vs. California (2/20). Andrea Aquino did a little research when Oregon State became interested in recruiting her. To this day, Aquino and the team have not offered any details. Support OregonLive. When the man spoke to Aquino, it was the first time someone viewed her body not as an aberration but as a gift. But health issues have never allowed her to be cleared to play. The teammate, who had come from Nigeria, was living at the home of Eastside's track and field coach. She was grateful, but it wasn't enough. Nilda called the Paraguayan consul in New York. View Record . 9 Oregon State take on No. Andrea Aquino could easily have been the next great center for the Oregon State women's basketball program. It's going to get better. What made the situation bearable was that Aquino felt accepted on the court. Aquino said, "You don't ever stop!". She didn't speak publicly about Eastside or the investigation as it played outand as her profile grew, rising up the recruiting rankings to No. Thank you for being you #GoBeavs x #WeAreFamily pic.twitter.com/NXXa0V3QR4. Im so thankful that our administration has supported that decision to keep her from day one.. It's still awkward when people stare. Arkansas remains the nation's number one team ahead of the Huskies, with Florida, Texas Tech and Alabama rounding out the top five. ", Taylor Jones, far right, says that Andrea Aquino, far left, has had a major impact on the program. Please subscribe to keep reading. Aquino's coaches kept telling her they'd help her find a lawyer, but they didn't. They did a great job of conditioning, found ways to keep their skills up and found ways to continue to develop. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The 2022-23 Oregon State Beavers women's basketball team represented Oregon State University during the 2022-23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. Aquino shook her head. Nilda, who was still living in Caacupe, would panic if she found out her daughter wasn't eating regularly. Kevin and Emily agreed to become Aquino's legal guardians, and Aquino moved in with them and attended Ribet Academy, a small private school near Los Angeles, for her final prep season. Her work done, Aquino moves on as the Beavers continue to warm up. I am a basketball player. Aquino could find herself in Sundays box score, perhaps as the center on the opening tipoff, or an inbound pass. It was Aquino's . Aquino, technically a redshirt sophomore but academically a senior, stands at 6-foot-9, so its a daunting task to say the least for the 6-foot guard. Yeah, I didnt believe him, Aquino shared a few weeks back. The 6-foot-9 Aquino is a fan favorite, for what she might have become, and what she does. She didn't have any skills but was athletic, leading her middle-school handball team to three championships. That's when Aquino realized the man and her new coaches didn't have a plan. The scandal, which also involved Eastside's boys program, led to sanctions against both teams, including a two-year state tournament ban, $1,500 in fines and a two-year probationary period for the athletic department. Aquino learned to drive the motorcycle at age 13, her lanky body barely staying on. 2023 Oregon State Athletics. Im grateful for that. Her friend tried to make her giggle, fist-bumping her shoulder. Early on, there was some hope her status might change, but it became apparent by Aquinos sophomore year that she wasnt going to play basketball. 2023-01-03 07:30. They all became closer. I thought that was just the process.". The first time she dribbled? But she hadn't. Date. Andrea Aquino Student-Athlete at Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon, United States 50 followers 49 connections Join to view profile Oregon State Athletics Oregon State. Watch as Oregon State freshman forward Andrea Aquino dunks during a shootaround ahead of the Beavers' matchup against Washington on Jan. 25. Her first Christmas with them, the whole house seemed to glow with lights. She also saw a new way of living, as Emily, 6'3", and Patricia, 6'7", didn't slouch. But she looked around, and no one else was laughing. What if they take me back home? Somehow, someway, Aquino not only embraced an unimaginable situation, she has endured and overcome it in a way that most cant fathom. The first time she shot? Check out Andrea Aquino's high school sports stats, including game updates while playing basketball at Ribet Academy High School. If she found out her daughter, then a 6'7" sophomore basketball star at Eastside High School in Paterson, was being shuttled from home to home, with little understanding or control of her situation. She shook her head, slumped her shoulders. Two players who wont make an impact, however, are sophomores Kennedy Brown and Andrea Aquino. Latest on Oregon State Beavers forward Andrea Aquino including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN . It hits you in the face like you're complaining about I got like a C on a test. Rueck also cant help but gush about his incoming freshman class, which features three very skilled guards who he says will have an opportunity to contribute: Sasha Goforth, Savannah Samuel and Teresa Faustino. "I was so innocent. Everyone called her "Dre.". This is who I am, she said to herself in front of the mirror. in: Lucie Dolezalova - Tams Visy, Retelling the Bible: Literary, Historical, and Social Contexts, Bern: Peter Lang, 2011, 85-115. She's a leader. This was a body that could survive. It was not to be: Just after arriving on campus in the summer of 2018 for her freshman year, all those thoughts were erased in an instant. She has displayed as much or more strength and courage than anyone else to wear the uniform, Rueck said. as if the two somehow are mutually exclusive. This team really competes. But the school valued her as a person and what she can bring to the team by wholeheartedly supporting her and including her versus trying to push her out," Pivic said. Expand . And basketball was a challenge. That day comes Sunday for Oregon State womens basketball, as theyll honor six seniors before tipoff against California. All rights reserved (About Us). "She doesn't necessarily have a position; that's the amazing part of her game," Rueck says. "I couldn't ask questions because I didn't really know the language," she says. But its what she has learned to accept after life delivered a nasty curveball derailing her college career before it even began. Those two have filled in perfectly, Rueck said. she thought. It was the family atmosphere at Oregon State that attracted her in the first place, and it was the family atmosphere that convinced her to stay, Aquino said, even more so as she dealt with the heartache of not being able to play. Said OSU coach Scott Rueck of Andrea Aquino: When something in your life gets taken away thats so important to you, it would be really easy to quit and go negative and get bitter and angry. The Beavers opened practice on Oct. 14 and Rueck, who was unable to hold summer scrimmages and a normal array of live workouts because of the coronavirus crisis, said he and his staff are still evaluating the makeup of his team and juggling lineup combinations. She has this way of understanding you.. We talk about family and shes the definition of it for us, sticking with somebody through hard times.. Of course, its about the only normal aspect of the season so far. Andrea Aquino. Oregon State wrapped up its regular season with a 60-45 loss at Colorado on Saturday. "It was that great a fit.. Colorado Feature Players. Or you sprained your ankle, something trivial. The Beavers were led by thirteenth-year head coach Scott Rueck, and they played their games at Gill Coliseum as members of the Pac-12 Conference . This was a body that could overpower triple-teams. Andrea Kennedy-Smith is a paralegal in the state's Child Welfare Division and president of the SEIU Local 503 arm that represents Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority employees. All Rights Reserved. Aquino felt the woman had good intentions. "Shes just an amazing person and so sincere and genuine, and I love our relationship.. I feel like she believes in me. If anyone asked, Aquino would refer to the man as her "cousin." Its not lost on Aquino that Oregon State kept her on scholarship even though she cant play. I am more than a basketball player. I am tall. Shes getting a degree this spring, and hopes to continue in basketball by landing a graduate assistant coaching position at a school. Once, as a nine-year-old and already 6'0", she couldn't attend a wedding because she couldn't find an outfit that would fit her. Michael has 16 different addresses, the . How do I help someone through that? She played with an urgency, laboring through two workouts every Sunday, the first beginning at 6:30 a.m. One workout, she was wheezing after every jump shot. Aquino's father wasn't in the picture, having left when she was a baby, and money was scarce. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. It all confused Aquino, but she didn't know how the U.S. school systems worked, despite all of the research she and Nilda did beforehand. The neighborhood she was staying in seemed really nice. They're my family here.. Basketball? Mentally she is here, there, here, there. That finally changed Sunday afternoon, as Oregon State brought her out for the tip off, and Cal allowed her to score the first basket of the night. She blushed, looked surprised. Oregon States road woes continued on Thursday with a 70-58 loss at Utah in a Pac-12 Conference womens basketball game. But she worked at her skills and developed a silky form and the ability to run the floor like a guard. After she started playing for Eastside, her new coaches there were supposedly looking for another home for her. Mirin Fader is a staff writer for B/R Mag. Aquino came to Oregon State with as much basketball promise as she is tall, only to have it quickly shut down because of a medical condition. But in a 2020 Bleacher Report article, she described being passed from house-to-house, with no health insurance, sometimes not having enough food to eat and even a surprise visit from a social worker with children protection services. A few free throws later and Oregon State carried a five point lead in to the fourth. I get very excited when its game day because whenever we need them, theyre so loud.. She will be an impactful player.. Chris Hansen & Brandon Clay. She didn't know what kind of medical care she could get for it without insurance. "And even though I dont step on the court, I've never felt left out.. Mack led Oregon State in scoring, with 14 points and six rebounds. She rushed to the bathroom to calm down. She also worked in a government office that was part of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare. Or the times she couldn't, when she'd see tears streaming down her face. "We built a really close relationship and bond," Kevin says. Before each practice, Beavers players have to pass a rapid coronavirus test to prove they are free of COVID-19 and gain clearance to play. And now Ellie gives the Beavers the lead!Oregon State has scored 10 unanswered and Cal calls timeout!Watch: https://t.co/ETvZtn7Dkz#GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/C5nJK9342m. Someone was filming the play, and Aquino put it on her Facebook page. Rueck summed up Aquinos impact on his team in one word: inspiration. Neither do we. And while Rueck lost two transfers junior forward Patricia Morris (TCU) also left the program he plugged the holes with two transfers of his own. Slowly learning English. She researched Oregon State and loved it right away. I couldnt leave this place because I came here for a reason., Said Rueck: From the (recruiting) visit on, its been a great fit. Is there really someone out there guarding me? But once we progressed through that, it was like riding a bike. And let that be who you are. She wasn't hiding. People knew her for her sweet, funny, vibrant personality. Amanda F Martin. I can't even imagine this team without her.. All that fans know is that, One question Rueck did not ask was whether to keep Aquino on scholarship or let her go, clearing up a spot for someone else. Chose Oregon State because the coaching style fits her game well, and because she liked the social environment. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users . And let that be who you are. Once, during summer AAU basketball, she twisted her ankle so badly she couldn't walk. Former Beavers standout Mikayla Pivic,who spent two seasons as Aquinos teammate, said it was nice to see the university take that approach. With the guards that we had and her ability (at post), I felt like we were going to be unbeatable, Rueck said. She announced her decision via Twitter. There was this feeling, like, Are we actually playing basketball again? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Now a redshirt sophomore at Oregon. She didn't have to steel herself for comments in the supermarket. Marta L Aquino, Age 57 Lives at: 435 N Euclid Ave, APT 2; Pasadena, CA 91101-1346 Pasadena CA 91101 435 N Euclid Ave, APT 2 Prior addresses: 435 N Euclid Ave, APT 24; Pasadena, CA 91101-1347 Pasadena CA 91101 435 N Euclid Ave, APT 24 416 N Marengo Ave, APT 1; Pasadena, CA 91101-7300 Pasadena CA 91101 416 N Marengo Ave, APT 1 While that could have been a breaking point, it was anything but, Pivec said. [citation needed] The first track endorser was distance runner Steve Prefontaine.Prefontaine was the prized pupil of the company's co . The Beavers on Monday earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Baseball Tournament, receiving a No. It would later be revealed that a teacher at Eastside had done so, unbeknownst to Aquino, who was shocked, confused and didn't understand what was happening. Andrea Aquino joined the Beavers as a highly rated recruit in 2018, but due to undisclosed health issues, she has never been able to take the court. And on top of it all, the Beavers are integrating five new players and three new starters to an overhauled lineup. "I came to a point where I just decided, I'm not going to live a life just hiding from everybody just because I'm tall," Aquino says. While she doesnt know what the future holds, Aquino will be honored along with the other seniors on the team on Sunday in the home finale against Cal. "Just having that peace that I have a scholarship, and Scott Rueck and my teammates made me feel part of the team," she said. Fortunately, the OSU administration agreed, and Aquino has been able to develop off the court and as a teammate. Instead, Aquino found a way to contribute day in and day out to the success of the team, even if it has been at times painful. Wisconsin, West Virginia, Rutgers, North Carolina, Indiana, Oregon State, Dayton and Eastern . She'd think of her baking breadthe way she'd knead the dough, rolling it onto her table, then folding it into figure-eight twists to bake. She hugged them, smiled with them. (Politi and Stanmyre's reporting led to sanctions against the school, firings and statewide and federal legal investigations but no charges.). Its been great to be back in the gym with something that resembles normal. That would be a little nervous for me, but it would be nice, Aquino said. The Dominican woman's daughter told her she was ungrateful, believing she was the one who called the agency. 15 in an ESPN preseason poll and have added talent and depth to a roster that brings back plenty. When something in your life gets taken away thats so important to you, it would be really easy to quit and go negative and get bitter and angry. She was reminded of what Salinas told her, and it now seemed real. I Indoor Qualifying (FINAL) 2022-2023 NCAA Div. "She had been used so much," Emily says, "and I think she was afraid when my husband started helping her at first. He was a friend of Aquino's mother, but Aquino didn't know him. She was like, 'What are you getting out of it?'". Kevin D Frazier, 58 years old, currently living in York, PA. Kevin D Frazier's phone number is (443) 388 - 9688. So itll take more than a global pandemic and a little roster turnover to deter his optimism. "She doesn't even know how dominant she can be," says Darryl Gowens, then Ribet's assistant coach. 58 year old . Through that devastation, Aquino has persevered, growing in many ways and has overcome more adversity than anyone at her age should, all while carving out a legacy within the OSU womens basketball program than wont soon be forgotten. Aquino sensed that the woman didn't want to get involved with something she didn't know much about, something that could possibly be illegal.