After a successful season that saw Nova Southeastern University’s women’s swimming team secure a national championship in multiple events, redshirt junior back and fly Celina Marquez was recognized by the Sunshine State Conference with an individual award. In the last 12 months, Marquez has achieved a lot more than most can say they ever did. Who is Marquez and what did her season consist of?
Marquez came to Davie from Santa Tecla, El Salvador, but she made a stop in Oklahoma before she found home as a Shark. Marquez transferred in from Oklahoma Baptist University, a fellow competitor in Division-II. According to Marquez, NSU was love at first sight.
“It felt like home,” said Marquez. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”
The highly talented Marquez found herself competing for national championships long before her time as a Shark. When she was at OBU in 2019, she finished second in the 100-yard backstroke, losing by just 0.003 seconds. After the loss, she decided to take a gap year and focus fully on swimming. The loss weighed on her during her time off, but it also pushed her.
“It hurt,” said Marquez. “I was very determined to go back [after my gap year] and win a National Championship. I was hungry for more.”
In the same exact pool just two years later, she was crowned as a champion. Marquez won the National Championship in the women’s 200-yard backstroke. It was a story of redemption for Marquez.
“I looked up and saw my name with first place,” said Marquez. “I was like, wow okay, we made it.”
In addition, she was also a member of the 200 and 400-yard medley relay teams that won national championships along with fellow Sharks Sasha Maslova, Cassie Wright and Savanna Best. Marquez also finished second in two other events at the national championships. Marquez received several pieces of hardware in Greensboro.
After a tremendous end to her season, the SSC named Marquez the conference Swimmer of the Year. The redshirt junior was a bit surprised that she won the award, citing others, including her teammates, as being just as deserving. She also mentioned how she felt the award was more for the school than herself.
“Honestly, it’s an honor [to be recognized],” said Marquez. “Every single team at the school has been doing amazing, and I just feel like I’m contributing to that.”
Marquez has been representing El Salvador in international competitions since she was 11 years old but watching an event on television would change her life forever. While at her home, she watched the 2012 London Olympics, and knew that it was her dream to compete in them.
“I saw the Olympics while sitting on my living room floor and I was like, I want to be there someday,” said Marquez. “I put my mind, soul and heart into it, and it happened.”
In a dream come true, in 2021, Marquez took a trip to Beijing to compete in the Olympics, representing her native country of El Salvador. She competed in the 100 meter and 200 meter women’s backstroke events. Despite competing, she says her biggest takeaway was out of the pool.
“I think it gave me a little perspective,” said Marquez. “It humbled me. It made me think that a lot of girls back home look up to me and that I have to be a good example for them.”
Marquez looks forward to returning to NSU next season and defending her national title.
“I never stop,” said Marquez. “I’m going to keep training in the summer.”
