Multi-sport athlete shines at ULV

photo by Sara Kirk

Senior Lisa Mila has lettered in three sports at the University of La Verne: track and field, basketball and volleyball. Mila set a school record for the second longest distance throw for javelin in track, took home a victory with her team in basketball as SCIAC champions last season and shared four titles in SCIAC with the volleyball team.

by Sara Lupu
Staff Writer

Being a three-sport athlete, carrying a full academic college load and trying to have some sort of a social life is not an easy task. But with a smile always on her face and a bubbly personality to draw anyone around her in, 21-year-old Lisa Mila makes it all look simple.

Mila is a standout athlete who has made numerous contributions to the University of La Verne’s athletic program in the four years she has been a Leopard. While being a member of the women’s volleyball, basketball and track and field teams, Mila has racked up six Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, (four in volleyball, one in basketball and one in track); two appearances in the Final Four with one resulting in a national championship for volleyball; a school javelin record; and a trip to the national competition for track.

“The best part of athletics in my four years here at La Verne was being able to be on teams with so many different people,” Mila said.”Each team was unique and had a totally different chemistry, and I got to learn so much about my teammates and myself.”

This type of schedule has not been anything new to Mila. Hailing from Waterford, Calif., a little town outside of Modesto, Mila graduated from Riverbank High School in 2000. She was a three-sport athlete there as well, and earned the honor of being the first person to earn 12 varsity letters.

She was a standout in volleyball, basketball and track and pulled in titles and awards such as captain, scholar athlete and most valuable player. She also set two school records in the pole vault.

Mila was drawn into the athletic realm in junior high and participated in after-school teams, playing softball in addition to the three aforementioned sports.

“Sports are my life because everything I know has come from being involved in sports, including how to socialize, time management and morals,” Mila said.”I’ve grown and matured through sports and the experiences that I have encountered.”

Ending up at La Verne was anything but a planned thing for Mila. She was ready to go to Fresno State when she started receiving pressure from her parents and high school volleyball coach, a ULV alumnus.

“They all kept telling me how much I would miss and regret not playing sports in college,” Mila said.”I planned on only playing volleyball, but then I met Cres (Gonzalez) and he talked me into track, and when Julie (Kline) heard I was interested in basketball, she made me come to try-outs.”

Right now, Mila is focusing on finishing up academic responsibilities in order to graduate in May with her degree in liberal studies (emphasis in movement and sports science). She currently holds a 3.1 grade point average.

Since just finishing the track season, with no off-season practices or work-outs consuming her time, Mila has been able to relax and enjoy time with friends, when she is not working on her senior project.

“It’s a good thing that my mom made me come here, because I don’t know what I would have done with my time without sports, although I probably would have got better grades, and would definitely be over-weight,” Mila said.

By playing three sports and being a well-known figure around campus, Mila has made a difference in and touched many people’s lives. And with an abundance of athleticism and leadership qualities, it is no wonder that she has excelled in everything she has attempted.

“Lisa is one of the most naturally gifted athletes that I have had the opportunity to work with,” Kline said.”She possesses natural qualities that you can’t coach.”

Handling one sport with classes, practices and competitions all conflicting is commendable to all the college athletes that succeed at it, but it definitely takes someone special to do it all year long in three different sports.

“I don’t know if the average athlete would be able to do what Lisa does,” said junior Adele Jones, Mila’s roommate and volleyball teammate.”Lisa is a natural athlete who is motivated and dedicated, and I am impressed everyday by that desire and dedication she has within. I don’t know how she managed to make it through practicing and conditioning with basketball, then coming straight into volleyball practice for another two hours, but she always did.”

With all her success and athletic abilities, one might think it easy to deem Lisa as conceited or cocky, but she is far from it, and that is just something else that makes her different.

“She is a great athlete who anyone should want on their team, and through everything, she is one of the humblest people I know,” said senior Bobby Vail, Mila’s track teammate.

“Lisa is the kind of person that you immediately like and will never fail to put a smile on your face or be there for you anytime,”Jones said.”She is a true leader, is a hard worker and has a positive outlook on life and those are the main reasons she has been so successful.”

On the court and on the field, Mila has the ability to be team clown, motivator and superstar all on the same day. And this multifaceted athlete has received nothing but respect from anyone she competed with, for or against.

“Where do I even start to describe the qualities that Lisa brought to the basketball team?” Kline asked.”She was a role-model and provided leadership through her work-ethic and her desire to excel at everything she does. She is an incredible person and athlete and I have been the lucky one to have coached and known her.”

After graduation, Mila plans to head back to Waterford where she already has a job coaching volleyball at her alma-mater. In the fall, she plans to enroll at Cal State Stanislaus and begin work on her teaching credential. She hopes to teach first grade.

When asked if she had any regrets or was sad that her college years were almost over, Mila said,”No regrets, although I wish I would have played basketball all four years. I would do it all over again and am sad to leave. I love it here, the small town and knowing everyone, but most of all I am going to miss my teammates and everyone that I have met.”