Diversity is a growing asset in the repertoire at the University of Southern Indiana’s athletic program. USI features athletes from a plethora of countries, including but not limited to Australia, Brazil, France, Israel, Costa Rica, Japan, Canada and all across the United States, which is a melting pot in its own right.
The Shield shines a spotlight on an extraordinary individual and athlete with a unique background: Antonia Ferrarini, sophomore marketing major, of the women’s tennis team.
Ferrarini is from Caxias do Sul, Brazil. She said her family, a continent away, is a constant reminder of her purpose, driving her to excel on and off the court. Her commitment to her sport and family is exemplary, as her parents, Alexandre and Silvana Ferrarini, and her sister are heroes to her. She said she “wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”
Her mother, Silvana, significantly helped her discover her love for marketing as a major because she knew her daughter was creative and an excellent communicator — a near-perfect match for that field.
Ferrarini also expressed her love for her home country of Brazil, which she described as a completely different place than the United States.
Ferrarini said Brazil is a “lovely country.”
“People are really passionate,” she said. “They are really sweet with you. So if you ever go to Brazil today, you’re not gonna have a bad time.”
Growing up, Ferrarini didn’t initially play tennis. However, she felt the urge to compete at some point in her life. That particular day, she started watching her uncle, who was playing in a series of tennis matches.
From there, she was hooked.
For the past 11 years, she has grown as a student and a skilled tennis player, as many athletes do. She eventually graduated from Colegio Sao Jose with academic honors and earned the opportunity to compete on a Division I stage at the University of Southern Indiana.
Last season, she hit the ground running with a solid record of 11-8 in singles and a white-hot record of 6-1 in doubles alongside her partner, Madison Windham, a senior food and nutrition major.
Ferrarini hopes to build on her successful freshman season and take it to another level. She describes herself as a “competitor” who loves to play here and continues to improve every day to be better than the competition.