“The U.”s contribution was great,” Tampa Bay Cannons player

By Pablo Arciniegas – Communications Advisory Office

Héctor Ordóñez is 31 years old and a graduate of the University of Cundinamarca, Soacha campus, with a degree in Sports Science and Physical Education. He is also completing a specialization in Pedagogical Processes for Sports Training and has been playing Ultimate Frisbee in the United States since 2019.

That's why the UCundinamarca news agency decided to talk to him and find out how he has managed to bring his name and that of the University to the international arena, through sports competition.

UCundinamarca News: How did you manage to play abroad?

Hector Ordoñez: In 2019, I was finishing my undergraduate degree and playing Ultimate Frisbee for a Colombian club called Euforia. With them, we qualified for the Pan American Games in the United States. While I was there, I researched options for playing professionally; honestly, I just wanted to assess the level of play: how close or far I was from the Americans. Then, the Tampa Bay Cannons gave me the opportunity to try out, and they liked my game, so they offered me a contract.

UCundinamarca News: Did your education at UCundinamarca have anything to do with you getting that opportunity?

Hector Ordoñez: The university's contribution to my life was immense because I applied everything I learned in my undergraduate studies to Ultimate Frisbee. It was like having an extra advantage compared to my classmates, since many of them are administrators, architects, or engineers. I applied what I was learning.

On the other hand, I'm grateful to the University because it's where I discovered Ultimate as a sport. I used to play basketball and even competed in ASCUN until, in my sixth semester, when I chose to specialize in contemporary sports, I asked a friend to teach me more about Ultimate. As soon as he introduced me to the sport, I was captivated: the way it's played, the physical conditioning required, and the mental preparation.

Ucundinamarca News: That's where your passion and your professional journey begin…

Hector Ordoñez: Yes, that semester I started doing my assignments, workshops, and projects, all focused on Ultimate Frisbee. I learned the sport very quickly and was able to represent the University in ASCUN in the Ultimate Frisbee category. That recognition was very rewarding for me, as was knowing that this discipline is still practiced at UCundinamarca today.

Cundinamarca News: What's next for Hector Ordoñez?

Hector Ordoñez: I want to finish my specialization and continue my journey as a professional player. However, another thing I'd like to do is share my knowledge—everything I've learned both in Colombia and abroad—with more people, especially those from my hometown of Soacha. It's a very small town, and having a professional player represent it is very rewarding. In that sense, I'd like to be an Ultimate Frisbee coach at my alma mater because I know there's talent there, and I know there are kids who are really interested in it.

More news from the Soacha Extension at the News Agency