University of Nebraska seniors Nicola Hawk and Martina Kamin are two very different people. Kamin spends his days in the gym as an all-rounder, while Hauck can be seen playing soccer on the pitch.
Although they compete in two very different sports, the student-athletes have one thing in common: they play two very different sports. That is, both are from Europe, Germany and Italy respectively.
Hauck, a native of Heidelberg, Germany, always wanted the opportunity to play soccer in college in the United States. When she was part of the German all-star team, her dream became a reality when her agent talked to her team about a scholarship for it. Hawk's mother, Monica, said playing in the U.S. has been a challenge for Hawk, who cannot compete in college in Europe and has to find other times in his day to practice and compete with his team. It is said to be more attractive.
When Hawk received a college football offer, it was at Delta State University in Mississippi. She played her first two years there, after which she decided to transfer to a Division I school. Having already completed her application process, Hauck decided to submit a video to the show herself. That's where head coach John Walker first heard about the 5-foot-7 defender.
“After watching (her) video and talking with her and her previous school coaches, we decided to move on,” Walker said.
Hoke started his first game for Nebraska just a few games into the regular season. Hawk's mother said she was and remains very supportive of her family's decision to come to UNL. Monica also commented on how professional Nebraska athletics is and that Hoke's decision to come here was partially based on that.
Hoke loves the competitive nature of the team and the opportunity to grow as a player at Nebraska. When she first visited and watched practice, she was excited by the skill level of the players. After talking with her coaches and team, it became clear to her that Nebraska was the best place for her.
Hawke's family from her hometown supported her through college. It's not an easy trip, but I'm trying really hard to come see her play. Monica Hauck said that in Germany, her family would wake up at any time to watch Hauck play, and she would talk on the phone after the game. The same goes for Hawke's friendship in her hometown, and they remain supportive while in the United States.
“It's great to be able to build friendships that allow you to pick up where you last started,” Hawk said.
FaceTime and WhatsApp are helping the Hawke family stay in touch with each other while Nicola is here in the US and unable to fly home. For Hawk, that happens about once a month.
Hawk's plan after graduating this May is to play professionally. Given the level of play that teams here can offer, she would like to remain in the U.S., but if she receives an offer from a European team, she will think a lot to make that decision. It's going to happen.
Meanwhile, Kamin's trip to Nebraska was even more difficult. Kamin, a native of Vicenza, Italy, had worked for agencies like Hauck, but did not receive an immediate offer and did not hear back from head coach Heather Brink until May. While waiting to hear back from his coach, Kamin applied to an Italian university, secured a spot, and began preparing for his end-of-year exams.
While speaking with Brink, Kamin also had the opportunity to meet Clara Colombo, the first Italian to perform in NCAA competition. During this meeting, Mr. Kamin was offered a full ride.
“It was literally one day to the next day and an hour to the next day,” Kamin said.
Two months after Brink's phone call with Columbo, Kamin came to Nebraska.
“It's great to have another Italian in the team. It's great to have someone with the same culture and language as me,” Kamin said of Colombo.
Kamin explained that for those who don't speak English as their native language, having a tutor made the whole experience easier and more enjoyable.
Kamin decided to attend school in the United States for the same reasons as Hauk. This is so that I can continue to compete in my sport. It was her mother, Elisabetta Tescali, who came up with the idea. Kamin said she kept the whole process a secret from her school, gym and coach friends because she wanted to avoid the awkwardness of saying she was going to America but then never going.
“You could see how much this opportunity meant to her. Continuing with gymnastics, and her education, was very important,” Brink said of Kamin. “She has a great personality and she felt she would be a great fit for our team.”
Mr. Brink also commented on the relationship between Columbo and Kamin. Columbo was ready to accept Kamin and soon the duo became attached to each other and would do anything for each other.
“Seeing her attitude and dedication reassured me that finding a college team and moving to the United States was the right choice for her,” Tescali said, adding that Comyn is making her dreams come true. He talked about how much effort he put into it. Tescali echoed Monica's sentiments, saying she uses FaceTime a lot, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike Hauck, Kamin did not continue competitive gymnastics after graduation. Instead, she plans to go to the Austrian University of Business and Economics to get her master's degree to continue her studies in supply chain management.
When talking about his experience at Nebraska, Kamin talked about the community for international students and athletes that meet once a month.
“We created this community to help people feel less alone when they don't share common values and traditions with their teammates,” Kamin said. “It’s kind of hard to want to hang out and find the energy to be different in a group in your free time.”
Through this community, they seek to create a safe and welcoming environment for international students and athletes who come to Nebraska.
During the meeting, they spend an hour discussing their experiences in a no-judgment zone where they can help each other. Kamin emphasized the importance of a community for freshman athletes that helps them find resources that the university provides not only for athletes but also for students.
Brink said teams and universities don't do anything special when it comes to recruiting international athletes, but only learn about Nebraska athletics through outside sources.
“The connections between each athlete brought even more connections to the conversation,” Brink said.
Mr. Walker shares his thoughts on social media and “placeA Huskers.com article about international student athletes who came to Nebraska also helped with the recruiting process. This video allows international recruits to learn how Nebraska welcomes international athletes.
In addition to being competitive and continuing their education, both women talked about how much being a student-athlete means to them.
“While it's cool to be a student-athlete, it's only in the United States that you have that privilege,” Kamin said.
sports@dailynebraskan.com
