McCallum basketball’s Sofia Villanueva in Austin, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Faces off the field gives a deep look into the thoughts and lives of high school student-athletes in the Austin area. Today we feature McCallum basketball player Sofia Villanueva, who enjoys musical pertaining to her culture.
All about Sofia: Playing piano and guitar connects her to her family
Tell something about you that most people don’t know.
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Most people don’t know that I have lived abroad in New Zealand for almost three years of my life, from the ages 11 to 13. I still find myself explaining this experience to others and it is always met with amazement.
Outside of sports, what’s something you’re really good at?
Music is a big part of my life. It has been a passion and connects me to my culture. I grew up listening to my dad practicing classical guitar for hours. I learned piano and guitar from around age seven or eight. Music connects me to my family and culture.
McCallum basketball’s Sofia Villanueva in Austin, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
What has been your favorite vacation?
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One of my favorite vacations was to Prague, Czech Republic. My mom, dad, sister, and I visited this past September. We decided to visit partially because my dad’s cousin was working aboard there. In Prague there’s such a rich and interesting history. For example we visited a university Mozart and Einstein taught in.
What is your most prized possession?
It’s my jade necklace from New Zealand. In Maori culture, gifting someone jade is very meaningful. The jade gifted to me was a twist, which means an eternal bond.
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What do you plan to do after high school?
I will attend college and enter as an undecided major to most schools. I am most interested in the sciences, but entering undecided will enable me to explore disciplines further at a higher level.
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Basketball has been holistically beneficial to Sofia
What has been your favorite basketball memory at McCallum?
One that comes to mind happened my junior season when we played LASA away. We were losing at halftime and we could hear cheering in the LASA locker room as if they had already won. I hit a three in the fourth quarter to tie and my teammate Emy (Chen) scored at the buzzer to win it. The gym exploded as we all surrounded Emy.
McCallum basketball’s Sofia Villanueva in Austin, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Has basketball taught you any lessons you apply to daily life?
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Basketball has benefited my life holistically. It has greatly improved my mindset, discipline and teamwork to say the least. Basketball has taught me to persevere through the highs and lows of sports and life.
Outside of sports, what do you like most about your school?
I love the other communities in school, especially PALS (Peer Assistance and Leadership). We mentor elementary students twice a week, organize school events and volunteer in the community.
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McCallum basketball’s Sofia Villanueva in Austin, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Dream dinner: Abuela makes her Colombian soup
If you could have dinner with any four people in the history of the world, who would they be?
I would like to have Jane Goodall, my Baba (grandfather), Azzi Fudd and my great-grandmother.
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I don’t remember much of him since he passed away when I was young. From what my family has told me, we seem to have a lot in common. He
loved music, played tabla (Indian drums) and played music in a band. When I was a toddler, he wrote a song for me with his band.
You’re in charge of the menu. What are you serving?
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I would serve ajiaco, a Colombian soup with potatoes, corn, and chicken. My abuela (grandmother) taught me how to make it. For dessert I would make pumpkin muffins with my sister (Verah).