By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Golf has been Fahtima Avila’s game since age 4, and it will continue to be in college.
The Brownsville Veterans Memorial senior signed a scholarship Wednesday at the school library to play golf next fall at Texas A&M-Kingsville University. The Javelinas compete in NCAA Division II.
“Honestly, it’s a true blessing to sign an athletic scholarship like this,” said Avila, a member of the Brownsville Veterans girls golf teams that have advanced to Class 5A state tournaments during each of the past two school years. “Who knew that a sport that you have fun doing every day in good or bad weather could help you out in a big way getting you to college? I’m so honored. It’s just truly a blessing.”
Going into 2019’s second half of school year competition, Avila ranks second in the Rio Grande Valley among female high school golfers with a 76.11 stroke average for 18 holes. In five tournaments so far this season, she’s finished either first or second.
“Fahtima is just an amazing young lady on and off the course, and she’s an all-around type of captain for our team,” said Thomas Abete, the Lady Chargers’ golf coach. “She’s the type of player you want and the type of athlete you want on your team. To be able to coach her is truly an honor.
“She’s fearless out there (on the golf course),” Abete added. “When she goes out and puts her mind to doing something, she does it, and she does it without looking back. That’s something that is going to take her far, not only in golf, but also in life.
“We’re happy for her, we’re excited for her, and we wish her the best of luck on behalf of Charger golf and Brownsville ISD.”
Avila said she won’t soon forget her time playing sports at Brownsville Veterans. Early in high school, she also played goalkeeper on the Lady Chargers soccer team. But she soon decided golf would be her sport and opted to concentrate on it.
“It’s an awesome experience,” she said of her time playing for the Lady Chargers. “You start off as a freshman, you’re a little scared and you have a lot of emotions. The coaches and your teammates take you in and they treat you as their own, and four years later, you’re here (signing an athletic scholarship). It’s amazing.
“It’s a great feeling,” she added. “I love my Charger family and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
Avila plans to major in political science at TAMUK with a minor in communications.
“During my first year there as a freshman, I just want to get used to the school and my teammates on the golf team,” she said. “Of course, I want to continue getting better playing golf, too. I love Kingsville because it’s still close to home. It’s also still far enough away, too.”
During a somber moment at Wednesday’s signing ceremony, with many close family members present, the senior golf standout couldn’t help but remember her late uncle, Rolando Avila, who introduced her to playing golf when she was a young girl and became one of her biggest supporters. He was her mother Yessenia Avila’s brother.
“My uncle passed away before my junior year of high school, and I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to continue (with golf),” she said. “With the help of some friends and my family, I decided to keep on going. Now here we are celebrating this amazing (signing) day, and I’m just so blessed (for my late uncle’s influence). I’ll always be thankful to him.”