University of Delaware Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Twins Selected to Puerto Rico U20 National Team
2/13/2024 7:18:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
McKenzie and Mia Didio, a pair of twins on the University of Delaware women's lacrosse team, are going international to help trace their roots. Both sisters will represent Puerto Rico in the summer of 2024 in Hong Kong, China, as they recently earned spots on the Puerto Rico U20 National Team. The sisters will face off against the best 20-year-old women's lacrosse players from around the world.
It was initially a casual encounter. Both always wanted to learn and become more involved with their grandmother's heritage, and they stumbled upon a rare opportunity that combined their love for athletics with their family cultural background.
"McKenzie was the one who looked into it, actually," Mia said.
After taking advice from their coaches at Delaware, Amy Altig, Steph Lazo, and Kara Nakrasius, they decided to pursue tryouts for the U20 United States women's lacrosse team. After testing the waters, both realized how competitive the contest would be.
They shifted focus. Mia noticed, while watching the world tournament over the summer of 2023, that to her surprise there was a Puerto Rican team.
"We watched and thought that we could be a part of that," Mia said. "That's when McKenzie dove in to see if there was a U20 team for Puerto Rico."
McKenzie and Mia acknowledged that they are not too familiar with their Puerto Rican roots, with McKenzie even allowing that "we've never considered ourselves big Puerto Rican people." They saw this experience, however, as a strong opportunity to learn more and experience their culture.
"We've never been submerged into the culture… we have never really understood what it meant to be Puerto Rican," McKenzie Didio said. "So, I think this is a very special way to become part of that culture."
McKenzie added that the idea of representing Puerto Rico quickly built. Both Puerto Rican descendants would get more excited each day as they researched the U20 Puerto Rican National Team.
After McKenzie reached out to Sophia Lugo, an assistant coach for the Puerto Rico National Team, Lugo expressed significant interest in having McKenzie and Mia tryout.
With that, the twins flew down to Florida for tryouts.
The first day, McKenize and Mia would be tested on their basic foundational skills, conditioning, and footwork. The second day featured more competition, with seven-on-seven drills, in which they would meet other hopefuls trying to make the national team.
An intensive tryout would lead to a Zoom call between the Puerto Rico coaches, McKenzie and Mia, and their parents. Immediately the coaches congratulated them, indicating that the sophomores from Westport, Connecticut would be traveling to Hong Kong in the summer 2024 to compete for the U20 Puerto Rico National Women's Lacrosse team.
McKenzie was almost in chills, noting, "I feel like this is a one-time opportunity that not many people get to experience."
Additionally, it brought a deeper meaning, something greater than just McKenzie and Mia, focused on family that had come before them.
"Not only did it mean so much for my mom, but also my grandma," McKenzie said. "Being able to represent them in a new capacity is so exciting. It is something bigger then ourselves."
After receiving the news in mid-January, McKenzie and Mia would continue to train for their sophomore season with the Blue Hens. Unfortunately, during the first spring practice Mia would tore her ACL, ruling her out from competing in her second year as a Hen as well as most likely with the U20 Puerto Rican National team.
Concerned that her once-in-a-lifetime experience would be taken away by her injury, Mia's coaches would have her back.
While Mia would most likely be unable to compete in games in Hong Kong, her coaches still wanted her to be involved. And so did Mia. Both sides concluded that Mia would take on a team manager role, assisting the coaches and players by giving them advice while watching them practice and compete against other countries.
"I know I'll be surrounded by the girls and helping them as much as I can and then giving any assistance I can to the coaches."
Even though McKenzie could not feel the direct pain of her sister tearing her ACL, she hurts too. Like any twin would.
"If she goes through something, I'm going through it too," McKenzie said. "I would have been devastated if she could not come to Hong Kong, because she's like my right hand and without her left leg I'm her right leg now… but she is like my coach now. I think being able to still have her there [Hong Kong], nothing is going to change."
Mia is still devastated about her injury, but the loyalty her Puerto Rican coaches showed her during a challenging time really emphasized how special this group is for Mia. They reiterated that she was still part of the team, she would still be going to Hong Kong, and that she would always have a spot with the team, just in a different capacity than originally planned.
"It just made me feel a good side to what happened," Mia said. "Not being able to play in this massive opportunity hit me hard, but knowing that I have a future with this team was really exciting."
Now, McKenzie will look to suit up for her second season with the Hens. She is eager to play a larger role for the team, while having her distant sights set on playing for Puerto Rico in the summer. For Mia, her role changes, and pretty significantly. But even with the injury, she knows she is just one surgery and rehab away from getting back on the field.
The sisters are going to Hong Kong on a mission. The team bonding has been great, and socializing with the team will be enjoyable. They are also looking forward to taking in the sights of a country that they have never been to and diving into a new culture. But they also came to compete, Mia noted. They're collegiate athletes, after all.
"Being able to spread our love for lacrosse and our culture is a massive success," Mia said. "But when we go to Hong Kong, everyone is going to play to their best ability. We are going to compete, and I want to see Puerto Rico succeed and grow.
It was initially a casual encounter. Both always wanted to learn and become more involved with their grandmother's heritage, and they stumbled upon a rare opportunity that combined their love for athletics with their family cultural background.
"McKenzie was the one who looked into it, actually," Mia said.
After taking advice from their coaches at Delaware, Amy Altig, Steph Lazo, and Kara Nakrasius, they decided to pursue tryouts for the U20 United States women's lacrosse team. After testing the waters, both realized how competitive the contest would be.
They shifted focus. Mia noticed, while watching the world tournament over the summer of 2023, that to her surprise there was a Puerto Rican team.
"We watched and thought that we could be a part of that," Mia said. "That's when McKenzie dove in to see if there was a U20 team for Puerto Rico."
McKenzie and Mia acknowledged that they are not too familiar with their Puerto Rican roots, with McKenzie even allowing that "we've never considered ourselves big Puerto Rican people." They saw this experience, however, as a strong opportunity to learn more and experience their culture.
"We've never been submerged into the culture… we have never really understood what it meant to be Puerto Rican," McKenzie Didio said. "So, I think this is a very special way to become part of that culture."
McKenzie added that the idea of representing Puerto Rico quickly built. Both Puerto Rican descendants would get more excited each day as they researched the U20 Puerto Rican National Team.
After McKenzie reached out to Sophia Lugo, an assistant coach for the Puerto Rico National Team, Lugo expressed significant interest in having McKenzie and Mia tryout.
With that, the twins flew down to Florida for tryouts.
The first day, McKenize and Mia would be tested on their basic foundational skills, conditioning, and footwork. The second day featured more competition, with seven-on-seven drills, in which they would meet other hopefuls trying to make the national team.
An intensive tryout would lead to a Zoom call between the Puerto Rico coaches, McKenzie and Mia, and their parents. Immediately the coaches congratulated them, indicating that the sophomores from Westport, Connecticut would be traveling to Hong Kong in the summer 2024 to compete for the U20 Puerto Rico National Women's Lacrosse team.
McKenzie was almost in chills, noting, "I feel like this is a one-time opportunity that not many people get to experience."
Additionally, it brought a deeper meaning, something greater than just McKenzie and Mia, focused on family that had come before them.
"Not only did it mean so much for my mom, but also my grandma," McKenzie said. "Being able to represent them in a new capacity is so exciting. It is something bigger then ourselves."
After receiving the news in mid-January, McKenzie and Mia would continue to train for their sophomore season with the Blue Hens. Unfortunately, during the first spring practice Mia would tore her ACL, ruling her out from competing in her second year as a Hen as well as most likely with the U20 Puerto Rican National team.
Concerned that her once-in-a-lifetime experience would be taken away by her injury, Mia's coaches would have her back.
While Mia would most likely be unable to compete in games in Hong Kong, her coaches still wanted her to be involved. And so did Mia. Both sides concluded that Mia would take on a team manager role, assisting the coaches and players by giving them advice while watching them practice and compete against other countries.
"I know I'll be surrounded by the girls and helping them as much as I can and then giving any assistance I can to the coaches."
Even though McKenzie could not feel the direct pain of her sister tearing her ACL, she hurts too. Like any twin would.
"If she goes through something, I'm going through it too," McKenzie said. "I would have been devastated if she could not come to Hong Kong, because she's like my right hand and without her left leg I'm her right leg now… but she is like my coach now. I think being able to still have her there [Hong Kong], nothing is going to change."
Mia is still devastated about her injury, but the loyalty her Puerto Rican coaches showed her during a challenging time really emphasized how special this group is for Mia. They reiterated that she was still part of the team, she would still be going to Hong Kong, and that she would always have a spot with the team, just in a different capacity than originally planned.
"It just made me feel a good side to what happened," Mia said. "Not being able to play in this massive opportunity hit me hard, but knowing that I have a future with this team was really exciting."
Now, McKenzie will look to suit up for her second season with the Hens. She is eager to play a larger role for the team, while having her distant sights set on playing for Puerto Rico in the summer. For Mia, her role changes, and pretty significantly. But even with the injury, she knows she is just one surgery and rehab away from getting back on the field.
The sisters are going to Hong Kong on a mission. The team bonding has been great, and socializing with the team will be enjoyable. They are also looking forward to taking in the sights of a country that they have never been to and diving into a new culture. But they also came to compete, Mia noted. They're collegiate athletes, after all.
"Being able to spread our love for lacrosse and our culture is a massive success," Mia said. "But when we go to Hong Kong, everyone is going to play to their best ability. We are going to compete, and I want to see Puerto Rico succeed and grow.
Players Mentioned
A
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