Representation of Latinx athletes in professional sports is astonishingly low, often as little as one to four percent of professional athletes identifying as Latinx; the same can be said for high school sports. According to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), only about six percent of all student athletes and two percent of coaches in the U.S. identify as Hispanic, despite making up for nineteen percent of the American population. This disparity can cause many young people to feel underrepresented in their sport.
Senior Estevan Tirado-Rodriguez plays water polo at Berkeley High School. While Tirado-Rodriguez feels welcomed in the water polo community, he said that it can be difficult to find Latinx athletes represented in professional sports. “They’re not shown in the media as much, but they’re still out there,” Tirado-Rodriguez said.
Senior Oona Capristo is a Latina athlete who plays softball at BHS. Capristo shared similar sentiments, saying, “I just feel like there’s not enough said about what (Latino athletes) have done compared to other groups.”
Both Tirado-Rodriguez and Capristo agree that celebrating Hispanic Heritage month is important for representing Latinx athletes and Hispanic culture as a whole. Capristo said, “I feel like it’s a big community at Berkeley High, (and) I feel represented amongst the little groups. Highlighting people in history, (Latinx) or in general, it makes me feel included, it’s nice.”
Pablo Sweet Fuentes is a BHS senior on the boys varsity soccer team. He looks up to the Mexican national soccer team players, however, he has noticed that they are not often shown in popular media. “Even if Latino athletes are really good in their sport, they don’t get as much coverage as they would as a white guy or a European guy,” Sweet Fuentes said.
Sweet Fuentes believes there’s a lot BHS could do to improve representation, but that celebrating Latinx Heritage month is a great start.
It is crucial that rising athletes have professionals to look up to, as this helps BHS students to gain a sense of confidence and community when playing.