Contact: Ava Yurchison, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Feb. 27, 2017- For most college students the opportunity to go to a new country to continue their studies is one of the most exciting experiences of their lives. Though, for men's volleyball player Mateo Gonzalez, the opportunity brought him much more.  

Gonzalez came to America in the fall of 2014 with little money in his pocket, few clothes, no cell phone and no blood connections. The Colombian native made the choice to come to America to learn English and pursue greater educational opportunities at North Central College. 

He left the airport in Colombia saying goodbye to his family unsure of when he was going to see them again but ready to work hard and get an education. Once he touched down on American soil, Gonzalez spent six hours alone at the airport before a representative from North Central found him and brought him to campus. 

Upon deciding to attend North Central, Gonzalez got into contact with men's volleyball head coach Kyle Exline, who at the time was the club men's volleyball coach, in an effort to continue to develop his passion for volleyball. 

Gonzalez's passion began back in Colombia after he tried just about every other sport with support from his mother. He explains, "I did horse-riding [equestrian], swimming, tennis, soccer, because you have to do soccer. I did basketball. She just made me do everything." 

Though none of those sports ever stuck.   

When Gonzalez was in middle school, he heard there were try-outs for a volleyball team. Being that he had tried other sports Gonzalez went out for the team and ended up making the squad.  

It was then that he found out that his father had represented his state in Colombia as the national libero. "No one told me about it and apparently he was really good," said Gonzalez. "I asked my mom and she was like, 'yeah he was really good! He was a big deal.' No one told me ever. It was just a coincidence of me playing volleyball. When I got more into it, he supported me a lot." 

Support from his family has always been vital in Gonzalez's life as they attended all his matches. Gonzalez recalls his family being the only people in the stands when he had games in the early morning.  He is very in touch with his relationships with each member and has worked hard to make them proud.  

His family's support and the mentality to make them proud has aided Gonzalez to remained disciplined in his studies and athletics.  

"It is really hard to be away from them, especially when they went to all my games and stuff like that," expresses Gonzalez. "At the same time, them telling me, I saw you playing tonight on the computer. All that, I feel like that is support for me; seeing that they are still there even though they're not here. They are here in spirit." 

Moreover, Gonzalez says that his brother Camille is his greatest inspiration. "My brother, my brother is the most important person in my entire life," Gonzalez reflects. "Nobody would go over my brother. My mom, my step-dad and my dad, I love them with my life but my brother is just my everything." 

On a typical day in Colombia, Gonzalez can be seen hanging out with Camille and watching Harry Potter or playing soccer.  

Gonzalez says that his family's support for his volleyball career has pushed him to achieve more than he thought he could. 

In 2016, Gonzalez worked with Exline  and others establish the varsity men's volleyball program at North Central thus making Gonzalez one of the founding fathers of the inaugural team. 

Further, Exline has been an important part of Gonzalez's experience at North Central serving as not only a coach but a mentor.  

Gonzalez smiles and says, "he is just awesome with me. He is a great coach, great mentor; very responsible with me. Every time I am doing something wrong, he guides me." 

Gonzalez is happy to be a Cardinal and to learn from Exline. He is also thankful for the chance to meet new people. 

"I am a people person. I love hanging out and talking to people; listening to them, how is their day, what is going on. I love to make interpersonal relations," says Gonzalez.

This hug loving Colombian welcomes any and all new friends. If you want a chance to hang with Gonzalez, you can check him out this Tuesday as the Cardinals take on Benedictine University at 7:30 p.m. in Gregory Arena.