A secret weapon for the Hurricanes

By Barbara Gutierrez [email protected] 05-04-2026

Each time the Miami Hurricanes practice or play at home, Athena Amancio-Alsobrook gets up at 4:30 a.m. to help the players get ready. As a football sport science student assistant, she supports the team by tracking each team members' hydration, movement, running capability, and how their metabolism adapts as they play.

Using several software models such as Catapult GPS, Hawkin Dynamic Force Plates, and Perch, Amancio-Alsobrook provides valuable data via timely reports that provide information to help the student-athletes.

"The data we collect during our practices and games help optimize their performance," she said.

Eric Renaghan, director of sport science for football, said that Amancio-Alsobrook made a difference from the very beginning.

"Athena has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our football program," said Renaghan. "From day one, she brought a level of professionalism, attention to detail, and dedication that elevated everything she touched. Her contributions were consistently excellent and had a real effect on how we operate as a program."

Amancio-Alsobrook, who grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, has been obsessed with sports since elementary school. She participated in gymnastics and track and field in high school. She watched as teammates would get injured and go through difficult rehabilitation. This drew her interest in studying physiology and how it is impacted by those who play sports.

She graduated with a bachelor's in exercise physiology from the School of Education and Human Development and a minor in psychology. As part of a four-plus-one master's program, she will earn her master's in applied physiology in May 2027.

At school, she is considered a superstar.

Soyeon Ahn, professor and program director in research, measurement, and evaluation program and senior vice dean of academic and faculty affairs, said Amancio-Alsobrook's ability "to transform personal growth into collective social impact is what makes her truly exceptional."

Ahn remembers that during a Spring 2025 class held by the Data Analytics and Intelligence for Social Impact (DAISI) program in Brescia, Italy, Amancio-Alsobrook, who was a social impact intern, not only participated but also took on a leadership role. She guided her fist-year teammates through real-world data challenges, researching Italian companies so their client-an agricultural company-could make an educated decision on which software to purchase.

"We also used data to give them actionable recommendations on how to reduce their carbon emissions, which is something they wanted to do," she said.

At the School of Education and Human Development, she worked as the associate dean's assistant with EllenMarie McPhillip, supporting recruitment as a Dean's Ambassador, representing the college at key events, and assisting with the coordination of departmental projects and initiatives. Her work helped strengthen outreach efforts and enhance engagement within the school.

She later helped as an American Sign Language teaching assistant and was also responsible for grading quizzes and evaluating class participation.

For one of her DAISI classes, Amancio-Alsobrook designed Excel and R learning modules to help fellow students learn and use analytics tools in the classroom, she said.

In the Athletics Department, Amancio-Alsobrook developed a way to transform thermal images into player-friendly data within individualized reports, helping athletes monitor recovery, asymmetries, and physical stress. These insights allowed players to take ownership of their recovery, improving body awareness, and leading to more intentional recovery strategies.

"She brings together her leadership skills, a genuine passion for social impact, and an exceptional ability to collaborate with both faculty and peers in ways that feel effortless but are anything but," said Ahn.