The University of Akron Athletics
In Their Own Words - Niko De Vera Alumni Postcard
Akron Athletics wants to hear from YOU!
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Niko De Vera (2014-17, men's soccer)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
To have been part of such a great program and follow many former zips into the professional league. Hopefully my legacy I left behind there can inspire others to accomplish their dreams.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
We’re doing good, just trying to stay busy while staying safe. Definitely different than our normal busy days, but it gives us more time to do other things we don’t get the chance to do.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there?
Use this time to take a break, reflect on any parts of your study, sport, or anything you feel like you need to work out so that when everything gets back to normal, you are even better than where you left off.
What is your current job, title, ect. that are keeping you busy these days?
Professional soccer player. Although we are unable to train and play games, our team is very active with Zoom calls together and live workouts to stay connected and fit.
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
Akron is known for being one of the best soccer schools in the country and has produced numerous pros each year.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
Cold! My first year there I experienced the coldest winter I’ve ever had.
What makes being a student-athlete at Akron unique?
Being able to balance studies and also train the Akron way every day while holding up the standards of an Akron soccer player. Wherever you went, over in the counties around Akron, lots of kids and people knew who you were.
What are your favorite memories on court, field, etc.?
Being able to play next to and share the locker room with so many great people, scoring the game-winning PK and sending Akron to the College Cup in 2017 and meeting my fiancée.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
Each spring and preseason is a time where our limits are pushed and we grow as a team together. We would wake up and be ready to do fitness before 6am and then have a short break before have another hard training that same day. This would really help us to bond and learn to work for each other.Â
What is your personal success story?
Coming in as a freshman looking to compete with two other left backs, then working hard to earn my starting spot over the years and being able to wear the captains band during my senior year and helping Akron to a college cup. Then being drafted in the MLS SuperDraft.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
How to balance things and get work done even when your body is tired and doesn’t want to. I’ve learned that everything can be accomplished if you have the right mentality.
How has being a student-athlete at Akron aided in your personal development?
Patience and positive mentality throughout everything.Â
Being a student-athlete requires a lot of time management. How have you learned to do so?
Learned to get work done and study in uncomfortable places, (airports, bus, 3 a.m.). Also learned it’s easier to get the work done right when it’s assigned instead of waiting for the weekend.
What is your view on the difference between playing and competing?
I’m a competitive person. So competing is fun for me. Whether it’s playing a game for fun or a competition for the national title, I’m competing to win.
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
Learned to stay patient and push through pain. When my body wanted to give up I just had to remind myself why I was at Akron.
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Niko De Vera (2014-17, men's soccer)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
To have been part of such a great program and follow many former zips into the professional league. Hopefully my legacy I left behind there can inspire others to accomplish their dreams.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
We’re doing good, just trying to stay busy while staying safe. Definitely different than our normal busy days, but it gives us more time to do other things we don’t get the chance to do.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there?
Use this time to take a break, reflect on any parts of your study, sport, or anything you feel like you need to work out so that when everything gets back to normal, you are even better than where you left off.
What is your current job, title, ect. that are keeping you busy these days?
Professional soccer player. Although we are unable to train and play games, our team is very active with Zoom calls together and live workouts to stay connected and fit.
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
Akron is known for being one of the best soccer schools in the country and has produced numerous pros each year.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
Cold! My first year there I experienced the coldest winter I’ve ever had.
What makes being a student-athlete at Akron unique?
Being able to balance studies and also train the Akron way every day while holding up the standards of an Akron soccer player. Wherever you went, over in the counties around Akron, lots of kids and people knew who you were.
What are your favorite memories on court, field, etc.?
Being able to play next to and share the locker room with so many great people, scoring the game-winning PK and sending Akron to the College Cup in 2017 and meeting my fiancée.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
Each spring and preseason is a time where our limits are pushed and we grow as a team together. We would wake up and be ready to do fitness before 6am and then have a short break before have another hard training that same day. This would really help us to bond and learn to work for each other.Â
What is your personal success story?
Coming in as a freshman looking to compete with two other left backs, then working hard to earn my starting spot over the years and being able to wear the captains band during my senior year and helping Akron to a college cup. Then being drafted in the MLS SuperDraft.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
How to balance things and get work done even when your body is tired and doesn’t want to. I’ve learned that everything can be accomplished if you have the right mentality.
How has being a student-athlete at Akron aided in your personal development?
Patience and positive mentality throughout everything.Â
Being a student-athlete requires a lot of time management. How have you learned to do so?
Learned to get work done and study in uncomfortable places, (airports, bus, 3 a.m.). Also learned it’s easier to get the work done right when it’s assigned instead of waiting for the weekend.
What is your view on the difference between playing and competing?
I’m a competitive person. So competing is fun for me. Whether it’s playing a game for fun or a competition for the national title, I’m competing to win.
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
Learned to stay patient and push through pain. When my body wanted to give up I just had to remind myself why I was at Akron.
