As a young adult, Samuel Delgado stepped out of his comfort zone and moved to Canada from his home country, Venezuela. This bold move allowed him to find his way to George Brown College and gave him a chance to play for the men’s volleyball team.
Delgado’s love for the sport of volleyball started as a child thanks to his father.
“I’ve always loved volleyball and competing. My Dad played volleyball for his state’s team in Venezuela. He was the one who got me into it from a very young age. However, I never had the chance to get properly trained until now,” he said.
When it was time to continue his education, Delgado chose George Brown College because of its diversity and culture, as well as his interest in the Business Administration program. Although he never thought of playing for the Huskies’ volleyball team, it quickly changed because of the opinion of a close friend.
“I was playing volleyball at a recreational LGBTQ+ league at the time, then a friend of mine encouraged me to try out for the team. I never thought I was going to make the team to be honest, but still gave it a shot, and I ended up making it,” he explained.
From day one of joining the team, the welcoming and hard-working culture made the transition from student to student-athlete an easy one for Delgado.
“Diversity, respect and trust are the foundation of the Huskies’ culture. We all value each other’s unique skills and talents,” he said. “Furthermore, we respect and accept everyone for who they are, and take advantage of our diverse backgrounds and experience, which is reflected on the court when we travel to other schools.”
Delgado played in 17 games this past season for the Huskies and was a swiss army knife for the squad. He was solid in every facet of the game and offered a boost when needed. He averaged 1.7 kills and 1.16 digs per set during the season. Despite only being a Husky for one season, the left side hitter learned a ton in that short time.
“It’s been a crazy experience, in a good way. I have learned so much from each and every person that’s a part of this program. From my teammates and coaches to the athletic staff, I’ve learned to push and change my boundaries, to keep going through tough times and to embrace every challenge as it comes with a positive attitude.”
Delgado juggled being a varsity athlete, a student, and a full-time employee last season. This did offer an incredible amount of stress, but thanks to the support of others, he was able to find success in all three areas. The hard work paid off, as Delgado earned the Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons Athletics & Recreation Award, which goes to the student-athlete that demonstrates excellent team play, selflessness, good sportsmanship all while consistently displaying respect to officials, teammates, staff and opponents. In addition, Delgado earned a scholarship from George Brown College, as he enters his second year.
“It meant a lot to me. I was not expecting it at all. I work hard in every aspect of my life. It’s just who I am. I try to give 110% all the time without having any expectations,” he stated. “I am very grateful for this opportunity, and to all the people that have supported and helped shape me into who I am today.”
The volleyball player remains focused on his future in the classroom. After he graduates from the Business Administration program, he plans to transfer down the street, to Ryerson University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate Management. Delgado hopes this education will help him achieve his ultimate goal of starting his own business in Real Estate Investment.
Check out all of Delgado's and the Men's Volleyball team's matches from the 2019-2020 season by visiting the Schedule & Results page.
