Professional PLL
06:00 PM
Jul 19
Phi
Den
US Lacrosse is happy to join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 and recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history and culture of the United States.
Across the country, Americans with Hispanic Heritage are picking up lacrosse sticks and falling in love with this game. For some, the connections made through lacrosse have brought them closer to their heritage, as more and more Hispanic countries adopt the game and participate in international competitions.
From youth players to those in the professional ranks, Hispanic Americans are a crucial part of the lacrosse community — and each person has a unique story to tell. In partnership with Lacrosse the Nations, we will highlight proud Hispanic Americans in the game of lacrosse and their family stories on our social media platforms.
We are grateful for you. We support you. You help make this sport special. Te estamos agradecidos. Te apoyamos. Ayudas a que este deporte sea especial.
Daniela Eppler
Heritage: Mexican
Location: Washington, D.C.
College: Virginia
Title: Coach, Mexican National Team, Skywalkers Lacrosse Club
What does your heritage mean to you?
To me, my heritage is an integral part of my identity. Although I was raised in Baltimore, Md., my heritage was embedded into all aspects of my upbringing. Not only did I grow up completely bilingual, speaking primarily Spanish at home, but my mother made sure to integrate our Mexican culture into our daily lives through meals, activities and by taking us to visit our family in Mexico at least twice a year. My ability to speak Spanish fluently was one of the greatest gifts my mom could have given me, as it allowed me to really immerse myself in my heritage and create the incredibly close ties with friends and family in Mexico that I have today. My heritage has been such a large influence on my life that I primarily identify myself as being "Mexican" more so than I do being "American." This is not because I believe my Mexican heritage is better than my American heritage, but because of the huge role that my Mexican identity has played in my life since I was a baby. To me, my heritage is associated with happiness, family and, of course, amazing cuisine, and I could not be prouder to be Mexican.
What is your family's immigrant story?
My family's immigrant story is quite unique. My great-grandmother on my mother's side was Polish and immigrated to the United States where she met a man from the Yucatan area in Mexico. They got married and moved to Mexico to raise my grandmother and her two sisters. My grandmother married my grandfather, who was from Mexico, and they moved to Baltimore so he could complete his medical residency at Johns Hopkins, and then they moved back to Mexico. Being familiar with Baltimore, my uncle and my mother both moved to Baltimore to pursue careers in the sciences as well. My uncle did his residency at Union Memorial Hospital, and my mother completed her PhD at Johns Hopkins. My mom met my dad, who was my uncle's boss, and stayed in Baltimore ever since.
What role has lacrosse played in your life?
I could not imagine my life without lacrosse. It has provided me with incredible opportunities to make lifelong friends in teammates, opponents and coaches all over the world. It has also provided me with incredible opportunities to travel, to live abroad and to grow as a person. Most importantly, lacrosse has provided me with the opportunity to not only represent a country that I love, but to give back to a community that has given me so much throughout my life. Having the opportunity to grow the game in Mexico, to represent Mexico on an international stage and to use the game to create opportunities for young players is one of the greatest gifts this game has given me.