We have had quite a trip through the topic of Native American women in sports. We have shared the stories of strong women who persevered to achieve their goals. Some went as far as the Olympics, Sharon and Shirley Firth (Skiers), Naomi Lang (Ice Dancer), Tai Babilonia (Figure skating), Mary Spencer (Boxer), Adrienne Lyle (Dressage rider), Tumua Anae (Water Polo), Mary Killman (Swimmer), and Abby Roque (Ice Hockey). If there had been girls’ basketball at the Olympics in the early 1900’s I am sure that the incredible Fort Shaw 10 Basketball Team would have medaled. We are concluding our stories of athletes with two great athletes –Alexandrea Schulte (Golfer) and Alvina Begay (Runner)
Alexandrea Schulte, b. 1988, Northern Ute Tribe – Professional Golfer
Alexandrea (“Alex”) was born in Houston, Texas to Robert and Teresa Schulte. They moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma where she attended Bishop Kelly High School. There she won 3 high school state golf championships and many national junior events. She won the Oklahoma Junior Girls championship at the age of 14. She was named one of the top teenage players in the country.
She began playing golf at age 8. She would travel with her father across Texas with his softball team for the tournaments. In between matches Alex would go to the golf course and hit a bucket of balls. That was when she was hooked on golf. She began to dream of playing with the Ladies Professional Golf Association ((LPGA).
Alex graduated from the University of Arkansas earning a degree in communications. Attending on a full golf scholarship, she played golf for all four years. While there she made four regional appearances and one in the NCAA Championship. She garnered two Arkansas State Women’s Amateur titles.
In 2016 Alex began supporting the joint Native and Nike initiatives to promote golf with young Native Americans. She shared her story with the youth and between speaking engagements she maintained a vigorous training program. Her goal was to run 100 miles a month and stay on a healthy diet. She hoped it would lead to a chance to play with the Ladies Professional Gold Association.
Alex participated in many golfing events but she also has a passion for helping Native youth. She believes that there are so many Native American kids with talent. They just need someone to look up to. Alex shares the message with the kids to be proud of their Native American heritage and to persevere to accomplish their dreams. In an interview she said, “I’ve always wanted to go to schools, speak with the kids, interact with them.” “It’s a personal goal. I think I want to go to reservations during the off-season and meet kids. I think I can help … I’m just putting myself out there.”[1]
Alex went on to represent the Ak-Chin Indian Community in promoting golf. The tribe owns the Southern Dunes Golf Course in Maricopa, Arizona. She represents the tribe at various events and also assists the community in Youth Educational and Sports Programs. She gives motivational talks to the youth and participates in clinics. The Ak-Chin is proud that Alex represents the tribe with dignity and respect at all times.
The Ak-Chin has 770 enrolled tribal members. They own farms, a resort with casino, and the Southern Dunes Golf Course. Golfweek named the Southern Dunes one of the best courses to play in the United States in 2009.
I do not have later information on Alex. I looked online and can find no evidence that she ever played with the LPGA. One roadblock she had to overcome is the prohibitive cost. At the time she needed $45,000 to cover her travel, memberships and other fees. Ak-Chin provided half of it. Some sponsors provided more. I was unable to find out if she ever achieved her dream of playing with the LPGA. (Reader: please send me the link if you have information.) Alex is still honored today for her ambassadorship, her fighting spirit and her work with young people.
Alvina Begay, b. 1980, Navajo – Elite Runner
Alvina Begay was the eldest of five children. She was born on a Navajo reservation to Alvin and Wanda Begay in Ganado, Arizona. She helped to care for her younger siblings while her mother worked to support the family. She learned how to organize her time and when she was not caring for her siblings she went out running across the mesas and trails of Ganado. She dreamed of going to the Olympics one day.
She lettered in track and cross-country in junior high and high school. She was the cross country state champion 2 times and track state champion 4 times in the 1500m and 3200m events. She exceeded in many other achievements. She continued to excel in the sports in college.
When Alvina went to college she majored in Nutrition and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2003. Rather than go on for her master’s degree she began to train for the Olympics. There were hundreds of other women in training including the best runners in the world. Running at an elevation of 6,000+ feet on dusty dirt roads and trails was great training. Alvina’s tremendous discipline and focus resulted in her a place on Team USA. She won a respectable finish.
Alvina’s accomplishments include:
– Eight top 10 U.S. road championships
– 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials in the marathon, qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon in the 10,000 meter race
-10th overall female in the 2008 New York City Marathon at age 27
– Finished the Boston Marathon in 2:22:05
A number of the Native American women athletes whose stories we have related have become members of the Nike N7 organization for Native American and Aboriginal youth recreation leaders. The first Sport Summit took place on October 28-30, 2011. Nike created this line of sportswear to honor indigenous communities and the indigenous athletes who play for their people, their pride, and their influence on Native American youth. The N7 fund is used to support indigenous sports programs.
Alvina was a main speaker on the second morning of the first Nike N7 Sport Summit and kicked off the day with a two-mile walk/run around the Nike campus. She was also a panelist, relating how sports has influenced her as a successful woman. Because she is a Nike N7 ambassador, Alvina has a platform to encourage other Native American youth to reach their dreams in sports. campus.
As a registered dietitian, Alvina also speaks at events to encourage Native American youth to maintain physical fitness. Better health practices need to occur to address the preventable diseases among the indigenous population such as diabetes. Indigenous youth are encouraged to stave off hardships like drug and alcohol abuse, gangs, high school dropout rates and unemployment.
Alvina learned from her own life how to get through hard things and keep striving and pushing to accomplish them. She did not succumb to injuries but resolutely pressed on. Alvina Begay continues to be a wonderful example for young people of establishing goals and of perseverance in the pursuit of them.
For an interesting interview about her life you can listen to this story, “Tough Girl Podcast” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A53HUahe80M
She relates her training, her diet, and her life history including becoming a mother. She honors her parents and community for the help in her life. The episode in inspiring and motivating.
[1] Simon Moya-Smith. “Golfer Has Drive to Help Native American Youth”, January 15, 2012. https://ictnews.org/archive/golfer-has-drive-to-help-native-american-youth/
Native American Women Athletes – Alexandrea Schulte and Alvina Begay
So many Native American kids have so much talent. I think they just have to have someone to look up to.
We have had quite a trip through the topic of Native American women in sports. We have shared the stories of strong women who persevered to achieve their goals. Some went as far as the Olympics, Sharon and Shirley Firth (Skiers), Naomi Lang (Ice Dancer), Tai Babilonia (Figure skating), Mary Spencer (Boxer), Adrienne Lyle (Dressage rider), Tumua Anae (Water Polo), Mary Killman (Swimmer), and Abby Roque (Ice Hockey). If there had been girls’ basketball at the Olympics in the early 1900’s I am sure that the incredible Fort Shaw 10 Basketball Team would have medaled. We are concluding our stories of athletes with two great athletes –Alexandrea Schulte (Golfer) and Alvina Begay (Runner)
Alexandrea Schulte, b. 1988, Northern Ute Tribe – Professional Golfer
Alexandrea (“Alex”) was born in Houston, Texas to Robert and Teresa Schulte. They moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma where she attended Bishop Kelly High School. There she won 3 high school state golf championships and many national junior events. She won the Oklahoma Junior Girls championship at the age of 14. She was named one of the top teenage players in the country.
She began playing golf at age 8. She would travel with her father across Texas with his softball team for the tournaments. In between matches Alex would go to the golf course and hit a bucket of balls. That was when she was hooked on golf. She began to dream of playing with the Ladies Professional Golf Association ((LPGA).
Alex graduated from the University of Arkansas earning a degree in communications. Attending on a full golf scholarship, she played golf for all four years. While there she made four regional appearances and one in the NCAA Championship. She garnered two Arkansas State Women’s Amateur titles.
In 2016 Alex began supporting the joint Native and Nike initiatives to promote golf with young Native Americans. She shared her story with the youth and between speaking engagements she maintained a vigorous training program. Her goal was to run 100 miles a month and stay on a healthy diet. She hoped it would lead to a chance to play with the Ladies Professional Gold Association.
Alex participated in many golfing events but she also has a passion for helping Native youth. She believes that there are so many Native American kids with talent. They just need someone to look up to. Alex shares the message with the kids to be proud of their Native American heritage and to persevere to accomplish their dreams. In an interview she said, “I’ve always wanted to go to schools, speak with the kids, interact with them.” “It’s a personal goal. I think I want to go to reservations during the off-season and meet kids. I think I can help … I’m just putting myself out there.”[1]
Alex went on to represent the Ak-Chin Indian Community in promoting golf. The tribe owns the Southern Dunes Golf Course in Maricopa, Arizona. She represents the tribe at various events and also assists the community in Youth Educational and Sports Programs. She gives motivational talks to the youth and participates in clinics. The Ak-Chin is proud that Alex represents the tribe with dignity and respect at all times.
The Ak-Chin has 770 enrolled tribal members. They own farms, a resort with casino, and the Southern Dunes Golf Course. Golfweek named the Southern Dunes one of the best courses to play in the United States in 2009.
I do not have later information on Alex. I looked online and can find no evidence that she ever played with the LPGA. One roadblock she had to overcome is the prohibitive cost. At the time she needed $45,000 to cover her travel, memberships and other fees. Ak-Chin provided half of it. Some sponsors provided more. I was unable to find out if she ever achieved her dream of playing with the LPGA. (Reader: please send me the link if you have information.) Alex is still honored today for her ambassadorship, her fighting spirit and her work with young people.
Alvina Begay, b. 1980, Navajo – Elite Runner
Alvina Begay was the eldest of five children. She was born on a Navajo reservation to Alvin and Wanda Begay in Ganado, Arizona. She helped to care for her younger siblings while her mother worked to support the family. She learned how to organize her time and when she was not caring for her siblings she went out running across the mesas and trails of Ganado. She dreamed of going to the Olympics one day.
She lettered in track and cross-country in junior high and high school. She was the cross country state champion 2 times and track state champion 4 times in the 1500m and 3200m events. She exceeded in many other achievements. She continued to excel in the sports in college.
When Alvina went to college she majored in Nutrition and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2003. Rather than go on for her master’s degree she began to train for the Olympics. There were hundreds of other women in training including the best runners in the world. Running at an elevation of 6,000+ feet on dusty dirt roads and trails was great training. Alvina’s tremendous discipline and focus resulted in her a place on Team USA. She won a respectable finish.
Alvina’s accomplishments include:
– Eight top 10 U.S. road championships
– 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials in the marathon, qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon in the 10,000 meter race
-10th overall female in the 2008 New York City Marathon at age 27
– Finished the Boston Marathon in 2:22:05
A number of the Native American women athletes whose stories we have related have become members of the Nike N7 organization for Native American and Aboriginal youth recreation leaders. The first Sport Summit took place on October 28-30, 2011. Nike created this line of sportswear to honor indigenous communities and the indigenous athletes who play for their people, their pride, and their influence on Native American youth. The N7 fund is used to support indigenous sports programs.
Alvina was a main speaker on the second morning of the first Nike N7 Sport Summit and kicked off the day with a two-mile walk/run around the Nike campus. She was also a panelist, relating how sports has influenced her as a successful woman. Because she is a Nike N7 ambassador, Alvina has a platform to encourage other Native American youth to reach their dreams in sports. campus.
As a registered dietitian, Alvina also speaks at events to encourage Native American youth to maintain physical fitness. Better health practices need to occur to address the preventable diseases among the indigenous population such as diabetes. Indigenous youth are encouraged to stave off hardships like drug and alcohol abuse, gangs, high school dropout rates and unemployment.
Alvina learned from her own life how to get through hard things and keep striving and pushing to accomplish them. She did not succumb to injuries but resolutely pressed on. Alvina Begay continues to be a wonderful example for young people of establishing goals and of perseverance in the pursuit of them.
For an interesting interview about her life you can listen to this story, “Tough Girl Podcast” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A53HUahe80M
She relates her training, her diet, and her life history including becoming a mother. She honors her parents and community for the help in her life. The episode in inspiring and motivating.
[1] Simon Moya-Smith. “Golfer Has Drive to Help Native American Youth”, January 15, 2012. https://ictnews.org/archive/golfer-has-drive-to-help-native-american-youth/
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“Her story truly speaks of the will and spirit to survive against all odds.”
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