Accent On Excellence

Canizares named ESPN Academic All-American
By Bill Konigsberg

What do you do when you’re a Spanish golf recruit for a major American university and you’re afraid your English isn’t up to par?

The answer is: A lot of e-mailing your soon-to-be coach.

That’s what Alejandro Canizares did prior to enrolling at ASU in 2002, said head golf coach Randy Lein.

"All our communication before he arrived at school was via e-mail. He was never home when I called. I learned later that he was home, but afraid that I would not understand him due to his accent and decide not to have him as a member of the team,” Lein said. “His English is perfect, but he does have a very heavy accent.”

Three years later, Canizares has accomplished an incredible amount. He has won three titles, including the 2003 NCAA Championship; he has earned All-America honors twice, including first team in 2003; and now the boy who was once too shy to speak English to his coach has been named a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic At-Large All-American.

The 14-person squad was selected by sports information directors across the nation and includes athletes from gymnastics, golf, rifle, tennis, ice hockey, swimming and diving, fencing, wrestling, lacrosse and skiing.

Through the spring semester of 2005, Canizares has a 3.91 grade point average.

His coach thinks this is all just the tip of the iceberg.

"Alejandro is a special person. It has been a lot of fun coaching him and this year, his senior year, will be really special. His game has gotten better each year and I think he could win another NCAA title next May.”

Looking ahead to the season, Lein said that he also has especially high hopes for Benjamin Alvarado.

"He could be National Freshman Player of the year,” he said of the freshman from Santiago, Chile. “He has a chance to be very good. We’ve had some freshman do some very special things, like Canizares and Paul Casey.”


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Photo: Courtesy of ASU Media Relations

Alejandro Canizares was recently named an ESPN Academic At-Large All-American.

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