Full Great Women Great Danes Interview Transcript
UAlbany's Great Women Great Danes is a series that will be published during Women's History Month. The series will feature Great Danes, past and present, and celebrate the women of UAlbany.
These interview transcripts are from all of the current female student-athletes who have participated with a national team or competed on the international stage.
Basketball
Gabriela Falcão
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Falcão: I’m from Portugal and I played for the Portugal national team.
Q: In what capacity have you competed/participated with your country?
Falcão: I played the FIBA European Championship under-16, under-18, and under-20.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience of competing in that championship? What did it feel like?
Falcão: It’s just really competitive. I also love the fact that I’ve been playing with these girls since we were like 12 and we’ve grown together and we’ve grown our basketball [play] together and I love it.
Q: How, if at all, is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Falcão: I feel like the only thing new is because all the players are new and are not from the country you’re from. You have to adjust to a whole other language and to play with people you just now know and are getting to know while you’re in college.
Helene Haegerstrand
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Haegerstrand: I am from Sweden and I have played with the Swedish National Team.
Q: In what capacity have you competed and/or participated with your country’s national teams?
Haegerstrand: I competed with the national team from age under-16 until under-20 and then, I participated with the Senior National Team twice.
Q: Was that in a camp or did you actually compete with the Senior National Team?
Haegerstrand: A camp. Camp and training weeks. It was beforehand - they were going to play the next year.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience of competing for your country?
Haegerstrand: Competing with the national team is such a special honor. You stand there, hear the national anthem, and seeing Sweden across your chest is a really special feeling. It takes a lot of hard work and summer months to get there … definitely something special that I’ll never forget.
Q: And last but not least, how, if at all, is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Haegerstrand: I think it’s as anything else. UAlbany is my school, my team, my home, but competing for the country … it’s just different because you’ve all played and practiced on your opposite ends and then you come together, and you’re selected. It’s a very big honor that the coaches see that in you from your home country and they want to have you compete for the country.
Marie Sepp
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Sepp: I am from Estonia and I’ve played for the Estonian national team.
Q: In what capacity have you competed or participated with the Estonian national team?
Sepp: I’ve played since under-14s till under-18s with the youth team and then since 2019, with the senior team.
Q: And when you say you’ve played with them, like have you competed in any competitions or is it just training camp?
Sepp: Yeah, European championships and European qualifiers with the senior team.
Q: Amazing. Can you tell me about the experience of competing for your country?
Sepp: I feel like it’s always a great opportunity to represent your country. We play against some of the best teams, countries in the world in basketball, so it’s definitely helped me evolve as a person and as a player on and off the court.
Q: If, how if at all is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Sepp: I feel like there isn’t a big difference besides the fact that playing with my country we communicate with each other in one language and we kind of have a different style of play. It’s really just different in the way we communicate with each other.
Field Hockey
Delphine Le Jeune
Q: Can you tell me what country you’re from and what country you’ve represented?
Le Jeune: I’m from Belgium and I played for the Belgium under 14, 15, and 18 national teams.
Q: How many years did you represent your country for?
Le Jeune: I think three, maybe four years. Under 14, I think I was 13 years-old, I played one year under 15s … yeah, three years.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you had competing for your country? What did it feel like?
Le Jeune: Playing for a country, it’s a commitment. I love to do it, but you have those Monday evenings where you go to practice or during the week, you need to be flexible with your time. But, I love to do it. I think it was a really nice experience. I got lucky in the under 14. There were only 11 players from Belgium that got selected for that age. So, I was lucky to be in that position and to get chosen. But yeah, it’s time consuming, but it was so nice, you play with the best players of your age. There was great coaching and I think I learned a lot through those years. There were a lot of extra practices to help me become the player I am right now.
Q: Last question, how, if at all, was it different competing for your country to here at UAlbany?
Le Jeune: I don’t feel like it’s a big difference. Obviously, you’re competing for your country, but in the end, it’s just a team as another. Like, you have a team from all over Belgium, but here, I feel like you have a team from all over the world a little bit and the end goal is the same - you want to win, you want to celebrate together, you lose some, you win some. It’s a really nice experience and I love that I was a part of it. In the end, it’s the same is maybe not the right word, but the end goal is you always want to win, and you want to become better as a player. You want to do better.
Blanca Orsola
Q: What country are you from?
Orsola: From Spain.
Q: And what country do you play for?
Orsola: I play from Catalonia. That is one of the regions of Spain and I practiced with the Spanish team.
Q: In what capacity have you competed with the Spain national tea?
Orsola: With the Spain national team, I practiced in under-14 to under-18. But never ended up playing a tournament or in the games.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience for competing for Spain? What did it feel like?
Orsola: For me, it was an experience to meet different people around Spain. Also, the level - it was harder than my club level and I think I learned a lot, including different skills. I did enjoy it a lot.
Q: Is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Orsola: Yes, it is very different. In UAlbany, in America the teams are more strong and faster and back home they are more technical and concentrated on tactic … yeah, a little different.
Alison Smisdom
Q: Can you tell what country you are from and what country you have played for?
Smisdom: I am from Belgium, and I played for Belgium.
Q: In what capacity did you compete with Belgium?
Smisdom: I played in a Six Nations tournament in the Netherlands and another different tournament in the Netherlands.
Q: In what year(s)?
Smisdom: I played in under-14, under-15, and under-16.
Q: Cool! Can you tell me about the experience of competing for your country?
Smisdom: At first, I was in under-14. You get selected after a big tournament competing with all the girls your age. It was like so cool and I was really honored to be selected out of like three or four hundred girls to be on a team of 50 people. So, definitely a great experience. I made it to the Under-16 Six Nations Tournament - which is like the biggest tournament when you play for the youth national team. I was just really honored to be selected and to get to play with girls my age from throughout the whole country.
Q: What did it feel like when you were like playing for them? Does it feel different then playing for UAlbany?
Smisdom: I think it definitely feels different but you do have the same goals. You want to win - you want to win games; you want to win tournaments; you want to grow as a team; you want to grow as an individual player. I think [playing] for your country … it’s just a way bigger image than for a university, I think. But, at the end, you still want to achieve the same goals.
Q: Is field hockey different here then is Belgium?
Smisdom: Yes, I think it’s very different, just because here field hockey is not as big of a sport as in Belgium. I think in Belgium, you either play soccer or field hockey, mostly. I think it’s definitely different because the history around field hockey’s way bigger back home than
Axelle Werbrouck
Q: What country are you from and what country have you represented?
Werbrouck: I’m from Belgium, so I represented Belgium.
Q: In what capacity have you competed or participated with your countries national team?
Werbrouck: [I played] in tournaments against other countries or just a single game against another country. It was mostly [against] the Netherlands or Germany. I guess, maybe, because they are our neighbors.
Q: Was that the senior team or the junior team?
Werbrouck: I played when I was 15, 16, 17, and 18, so it was the junior team.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you had while competing for your country? How did it make you feel?
Werbrouck: It’s a really weird feeling because you’re grouped with a few people that represent your country for your age group. You know you’re doing something good, so I felt proud of it. Doing it for my country - it’s a weird, but proud feeling.
Q: How if at all is that different from competing here at UAlbany?
Werbrouck: It’s just like your country; I can’t describe it. It’s just so different and you really want to make like your … I would say country proud. Here, you want to make UAlbany proud and the community of UAlbany … so it’s just two different communities.
Lacrosse
Paisley Cook
Q: Can you tell me what nation you are from and what nation you have represented?
Cook: I am from the Mohawk nation, and I have also represented the Haudenosaunee.
Q: In what capacity have you competed slash participated with your nation’s team?
Cook: We’ve competed in many different tournaments and different formats. We’ve did the full field in Maryland and that was the women’s lacrosse championship and then we did sixes as well, in Alabama, and more.
Q: How long have you’ve been representing your nation for?
Cook: I want to say three years. I was 15 years old when I first made the Haudenosaunee team and I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I have gotten since then.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you’ve had competing for your nation and how it makes you feel?
Cook: It was honestly a surreal feeling. Getting to go out there, playing against the best in the world and competing with girls from other nations, representing our people … it means so much to us. Getting to play our game and just going out there just to have fun is … it is so awesome.
Q: How, if at all, is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Cook: I wouldn’t say it’s much different. I’m playing, me personally, I’m playing with the same goals. I’m playing for something bigger than myself - trying to have fun, and trying to prove a point … it’s still the same here as well.
Bryar Hogg
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have represented?
Hogg: I’m from Canada and I represented the women’s lacrosse team from there.
Q: In what capacity have you competed or participated for your country?
Hogg: I’ve been on the Senior Women’s National Team as well as the Senior Sixes Team.
Q: How many years have you been representing Canada for?
Hogg: I believe for the past three years now.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you’ve had competing for your country and how it made you feel?
Hogg: It’s definitely been an honor. I’m extremely grateful for everything I’ve been a part of. It’s definitely … I give a lot of credit to my teammates and my family, and it’s just been … all my hard work is for them and making them proud. Definitely grateful for that.
Q: How, if at all, is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Hogg: In ways it is different, but there’s a lot more similarities. The competitiveness is still there. Everything - the culture is always the same … it’s just a game. It’s a fun game to play and it’s awesome to play with both people from Canada as well as UAlbany.
Emma Torkoff
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have represented?
Torkoff: Canada.
Q: In what capacity have you competed/participated with your country’s national team?
Torkoff: I competed with the U20 national team at the Fall Classic this past fall.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the experience you had while competing for your country? How did it make you feel?
Torkoff: It’s a really good opportunity to represent my country, wear my country’s colors. I’m trying out for the U20 team right now so it’s a good experience to have while representing Canada. I’m working my hardest and trying to make this team to compete in Hong Kong next summer.
Q: How, if at all, is it different from competing at UAlbany?
Torkoff: I think it’s … that a good question. *pause* It’s different because it’s where I’m from. I’ve grown up watching all of these older girls play for Canada and then some of these older girls are coaching me, which is really cool to see. It’s just gives a little bit of a sense of home. I think at UAlbany, we want to represent us as Great Danes. It’s cool when it hits close to home when I’m representing Canada.
Soccer
Flo Bartholomai
Q: Can you tell me you are from and what country you have played with?
Bartholomai: I was born in the U.S., but my dad is from Argentina and my mom is from Uruguay. I play for the Uruguay U20 national team.
Q: In what capacity have you competed with the Uruguay teams?
Bartholomai: I started in the U17s two years ago. I played the U17 world cup qualifier. From there, because I was 17, then that same year, that fall … The World Cup qualifier, the U17 World Cup qualifiers were in March 2022 here in Uruguay, in the capital, Montevideo and then in the fall – September or October - that same year, I was with the U20s for a tournament which is like a South American Olympics and we won silver there. Then with the U20s, I continued and last year, we went to Mexico for some friendlies. Now, in September of 2023, we had a tournament in Colonia, in Uruguay, and we ended fifth. Now, I’m here [in Uruguay] prepping for the U20 World Cup qualifiers for the World Cup in Columbia.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience of competing for your country?
Bartholomai: It’s so cool because I always grew up knowing where my family came from because my parents speak to me in Spanish and I respond in English … my whole family - everything is Argentinian and Uruguayan at my house. It’s so cool being in here with my parents’ roots, basically. It’s just a really big honor … it’s just so cool. I love the culture, too, and I love the people. It’s a lot of how my family is and it’s just amazing. It’s really exciting.
Q: Okay, last question. How, if at all, is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Bartholomai: The people, I would say, are very different. I would say everything here is a lot different that the U.S. in general. From UAlbany, it’s a lot different because *pause* there’s no school to think about. I mean, a lot of the girls do school, but we’re not there to do school. Also, we play a little different, especially in South America, like it’s so known for playing with heart. In the U.S., it’s more of a matter of being like technical and … I don’t know how to say it. I don’t know how to explain it … but, it’s a lot of heart and passion and just like a lot of love for the game. Especially all the girls, they have their teams here that they play on like or a good amount of them play here and some play in other countries, but they’re so passionate about their team. I feel bad because I’m not saying that they’re not [passionate] at UAlbany a big thing is the passion here.
Track and Field
Rebeca Valerie Barrientos Alpha
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Barrientos Alpha: I am from El Salvador, and I have represented El Salvador in track and field.
Q: In what capacity did you competed um and participated with El Salvador?
Barrientos Alpha: I have been representing El Salvador since 2014 when I was 13 years old. I have competed with El Salvador in the Central American Championships, Scholars Central American Championships, Pan-American Games, Junior Pan-American Games, and just international competitions in general.
Q: You’re still actively competing for them?
Barrientos Alpha: Yes, I am.
Q: Since 2014?
Barrientos Alpha: Yes.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience of competing for El Salvador?
Barrientos Alpha: It’s always a great experience. The first time I remember I competed, it felt … I’m representing myself, but I’m also representing a country so that first time I represented my country … when you get to win first place, you’re on the podium and they play the national anthem for you. That was a great feeling to experience - just to pause for a minute and get to sing the national anthem. I do feel proud about it … for all the work you’re doing and just to put your country’s name up top.
Q: So cool! Do you feel it’s different from competing at UAlbany at all?
Barrientos Alpha: For both teams, I do have a lot of sense of responsibility to put the name UAlbany and El Salvador up top but I wouldn’t say it’s too different. I take both very seriously but when it comes to representing your country … I don’t know there’s something about it that … you want to hear your anthem and just be the best in the region and as I said, putting your country on top, not only yourself. I would say that’s probably the only difference. But I still have a lot of responsibility and determination, so not much of a difference.
Ludith Campos
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Campos: I’m from the Dominican Republic and I’m also representing the Dominican Republic track and field team.
Q: In what capacity have you competed/participated in with your country’s national team?
Campos: I’ve competed for my national team for I believe a total of three or four times now. I think the first two times that I competed, I went to Columbia. The first meet I competed was at the Junior Pan-American Games and my last time was last April for the Dominican Republic National Games. So, I think three times.
Q: How many years has that been that you’ve been representing?
Campos: I would say three years now.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you’ve had competing for your country and how it made you feel?
Campos: I think it’s definitely kind of … you get a sense of pride knowing that your country kind of chose you to represent them even if it is in only one event. It makes you feel thankful the first time you compete for them because it’s such a unreal experience. Even just meeting the other athletes … I think it’s just surreal.
Q: In what event did you, uh represent your country in?
Campos: The hammer throw
Q: How, if at all, is it different competing for your country versus competing for UAlbany?
Campos: I think the biggest difference is the travel and stuff like that. You travel as a team and with collegiate sports, you usually stick with one team, but with the national team, there’s usually so many athletes that every time that you travel, you’re with a new team. You are kind of always meeting new athletes and making new connections. I know that with the track team here at UAlbany, it’s the same but make connections with each other and we get to branch out even further and also connect with other countries. We go to track meets and we exchange shirts with like Brazil so that we have shirts from different countries to collect and stuff like that. I think that’s how it’s a little different.
Leann Nicholas
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Nicholas: My dad is from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and through him I have my citizenship and I compete for his country with pride.
Q: In what capacity have you competed and/or participated with Saint Vincent?
Nicholas: I’ve competed on the international level with Saint Vincent at the world under-20 track and field championships. I hope to do many more competitions with them.
Q: When did you compete in the under-20 championships?
Nicholas: In August of 2022.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience of competing for Saint Vincent and what did it feel like? How did it feel to be on the international stage?
Nicholas: The international stage is so different than the national stage for the NCAA. There are so many different talents, so many different types of talents, so many different strategies, techniques, specifically in the triple jump. It was a surreal experience. I loved traveling and being able to do it in that capacity and spend so much time working on something I love. It was very special, and I liked to wear the colors; I was on TV … it was a special moment for me and my family. Having them there to support me was an amazing experience as well. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Q: How if at all is it different from competing with UAlbany?
Nicholas: For UAlbany, I think there is a little bit more of a team aspect because I’m not the only competitor in a sense. I feel like UAlbany is a more cohesive community, whereas my Vincent community is more widespread. I feel like it’s still a very small island, so word travels around fast and I feel like I do have the support of so many people on the island who are there, in the States, or anywhere in the world - like my aunt and uncle live in England. It’s a different scale, but the love is still there for both at UAlbany or with Saint Vincent.
Kiki Nosile
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you played with?
Nosile: I’m from Haiti … well, I’m a Haitian American
. So my parents are from Haiti but I was born here.
Q: And you played for Haiti?
Nosile: Yes, I competed for Haiti last year around April.
Q: In what capacity did you compete for them?
Nosile: It was at the CARIFTA Games … the 50
th CARIFTA Games and I went there for under-20 because I was 18.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience of competing for Haiti? What did it feel like?
Nosile: It felt good. I felt accomplished, I would say. I felt like I was making my mom proud because she was very happy.
Q: How, if at all, is it different from competing for UAlbany or competing in the United States?
Nosile: Yes, it’s very different because the competition there it’s like more … I feel like in the Caribbean countries, they take track a little bit more serious. The competition is high, but it was a good experience because it opened up my eyes to like a whole new world of competition.
Volleyball
Brooke Malek
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have competed with?
Malek: I’m from Canada and I played for Team Canada.
Q: And in what capacity have you competed and or participated with your country’s national team?
Malek: I’ve done two seasons of the national excel program and then one competition within the Team Canada program.
Q: What was that competition?
Malek: I competed at the World Championships in Durango, Mexico in 2021.
Q: Which world championships was this?
Malek: This was junior nationals - U19.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you had competing for your country?
Malek: Competing for my country has been a huge opportunity. I remember the first time I got to put on the Team Canada jersey and saw my last name on it. I was in shock. My seven-year-old self was crying. It was an awesome experience to get to do the national excel program and meet people from all over Canada. Doing the international tournament was an excellent opportunity for me to see my skill level. I feel like I got to participate in a higher skill level, and it really improved my ability to play volleyball. It was something I hadn’t experienced before. Wearing the Team Canada jersey and the maple leaf on my shoulder is something I take pride in. I’m very happy and proud to represent my country. It really feels like an honor, and I’ve had a lot of great opportunities come from this experience.
Q: And finally, how, if at all, is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Malek: Competing in the states, and UAlbany, is very different from Canada, just because there’s a lot of different terminology, different rules and different expectations, for sure. Different plays and every coach is different with their coaching style so it’s a little different with how coaches will train you, how they will teach you, how they will get you to perform certain activities. It’s definitely been a little bit challenging trying to get used to a new ball and new rules, especially the group one, that makes no sense to me. Very different for me.
Anna Myhal
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Myhal: I’m from Ukraine. Until about 15 years old, I played in Ukraine and then I moved to Poland.
Q: What did you do with Ukraine?
Myhal: I went to … I was practicing with national team of Ukraine but I didn’t go to any championships.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience of practicing with the Ukrainian National Team?
Myhal: It was really hard. Sometimes it felt like we couldn’t take any advantages away from the practice because it just felt like you were so tired.
Q: Interesting – they really wanted to get you all ready for competition. How did it feel practicing with your national team?
Myhal: I was excited in the beginning. I thought, that’s great! The coach - she was a good coach. So, I was so excited in the beginning.
Q: How is it different competing for Ukraine versus here?
Myhal: American volleyball so much different. The college rules are so much different. Here, the ball can touch the ceiling, which is weird [to me]. You can have a lot of substitutions here, which you cannot have in Europe. And, I think American volleyball is so fast. Everything is so fast … we cannot talk to each other when we are not doing well - in Europe that’s fine if we come together and talk. We are like ‘let’s go guys’ and we talk on the court. Here if we talk, the referees are going to [tell you to get back into position for the next serve].
Zosia Szczotkiewicz
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have represented?
Szczotkiewicz: I’m from Poland and I represent the Polish.
Q: In what capacity have you competed/participated with your country’s national team?
Szczotkiewicz: I participated in the Junior National Championships in Mexico in 2019.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you’ve had competing for your country and how it made you feel?
Szczotkiewicz: It was amazing, especially singing the national anthem before every game. That was something special that I’ve never experienced with any other club that I was playing for because in Poland, we only sing the national anthem before games for your national team only, not like here.
Q: How if at all is it different from competing for UAlbany?
Szczotkiewicz: To be honest, the level is higher. Also, for the national team because you play against other countries, you also experience different cultures and you can find have different and new connections with people from other countries. But [you can also do that] here, which is kind of similar. I don’t know … you feel special because you represent your country. It’s just a different experience. You feel it’s more important because you represent the whole country.
Shynelle Woroniuk
Q: Can you tell me what country you are from and what country you have played with?
Woroniuk: I’m from Canada and I played in Canada.
Q: In what capacity have you competed for, uh with your country’s national team?
Woroniuk: I was a part of my provincial team as well as the youth national program.
Q: Can you tell me about the experience you had competing for your country?
Woroniuk: I was injured when I was competing. I’ve been injured with a torn ACL so I didn’t get the chance to participate in the [competitions], but like I had been there [practicing] for about a month.
Q: What was that experience like for the month of play being a part of Canada?
Woroniuk: It was really intense experience. It was a lot of fun and I would love to have another opportunity like that again.
Q: How is it different from UAlbany and your experience here?
Woroniuk: It was different in Canada because I was staying with a home-stay family versus here I’m living by myself and with teammates. It’s a pretty fun experience. Also, it’s a bit of a change because in Canada, there aren’t as many teams to compete against versus in Division I, there are so many teams and the range is incredible in skill level.
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