Soza Remains Grateful for TCU Experience
10/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
By Jay Hinton
TCU Athletics Media Relations
FORT WORTH, Texas -- It's been nearly 20 years since All-American swimmer Walter Soza was a student-athlete at TCU, but when he returned to be inducted into the TCU Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame, it seemed like he'd just left.
"It's unforgettable," Soza said shortly after being introduced to the Amon G. Carter Stadium crowd at halftime of TCU's 30-7 victory over Minnesota. "Seeing so many old friends have brought such a flood of good memories. Not memories of the long hours working out, waking up at 5:30 in the morning, but the just the friendships and the fun time that I had during my five years at TCU and the four years of being a student-athlete."
Soza, along with Nick Browne, R.E. Dodson, Michael Frater, Ellie Gibson and Adam Rubinson were part of the 47th class of the TCU Letterman's Association's Hall of Fame. The group was honored in a formal banquet Sept. 11.
"I have about 10-12 swimmers from my era here and we just picked up right where we left off," Soza said. "We are all amazed that 20 years have gone by. It went in a blink of an eye."
Soza's parents immigrated to San Antonio from Nicaragua when he was in middle school, and from there his passion for swimming continued to grow. At the same time he recognized swimming could be his avenue to getting into college -- or more.
"When I came from Nicaragua my parents weren't financially secure and my goal out of high school was to get a scholarship," he said. "I didn't want to have the burden of putting my parents through something else financially. When I got the scholarship at TCU is was a goal achieved."
He competed at TCU from 1993-97 and he competed in three straight NCAA Championships and became the program's first All-American (200 medley) in 1994. The following year he earned All-Southwest Conference honors.
"I really remember the first time I set foot on campus and thought it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen," he said. "It was my first experience on a college campus but after going to four other ones (on visits) TCU was the right choice and the best choice for me."
In 1996, he competed for Nicaragua at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in the 200 fly, 200 IM and 400 medley.
"Representing Nicaragua during my college career, the end goal became the Olympics and that basically pushed me my four years as a swimmer here at TCU," he said. "It was a dream come true. Every athlete has dreamed of swimming or playing soccer or running in the Olympics representing their country and I am one of the few lucky ones that got to do that."
After more than two decades removed from TCU, Soza remains grateful for his college experience.
"Now, after 20 years, the experience seems a little sweeter. Things seem a little more beautiful," he said. "I had a fantastic time at TCU and the opportunity that was given to me to come here and study and get a degree at this amazing university -- debt-free because of scholarship -- is something that I will never be able to repay. It's always going to be unforgettable for me."
