Clarke Central High School 2008 alumna Dr. Erica Malagón-Blackwell (fourth from the left) is surrounded by family and supporters at her induction into the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 11 at the University of Georgia’s Center for Continuing Education. Malagón was nominated for the AAHOF by CCHS athletic director Dr. Jon Ward and CCHS swimming and diving coach Emily Hulse. “I remember coming to this event about 15 years ago as a high school student and being inspired by the inductees and those honored for their service to the community, so it is extra special getting to be back here as an inductee,” Malagón said in her speech. Photo courtesy of Erica Malagón
As part of the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame weekend, Clarke Central High School 2008 alumna Dr. Erica Malagón-Blackwell gave an induction speech on Oct. 10 and was formally inducted into the AAHOF on Oct. 11
Below is Malagón-Blackwell’s speech in its entirety.
Good afternoon. My name is Erica Malagón and it is a privilege to be here today.
Congratulations to my fellow inductees and thank you to the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame for this honor and to our Clarke Central High School athletic director, Dr. Jon Ward, and swim coach Mrs. Emily Hulse for nominating me.
I remember coming to this event about 15 years ago as a high school student and being inspired by the inductees and those honored for their service to the community, so it is extra special getting to be back here as an inductee.
I started swimming at age six during the summer of the ’96 Atlanta Olympics with the Downtown Dolphins summer league swim team. I was a student at Alps Road Elementary at that time. A few years later, I continued my training with the Athens Bulldogs Swim Club while I was at Clarke Middle School and then competed for Clarke Central High School. I then fulfilled my childhood dream of swimming for the University of Georgia. I can say that I got most of my education and did most of my competitive swimming on Baxter Street.
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” This quote, that my lifelong coach Harvey Humphries borrowed from the famous UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, has resonated with me throughout my 16-year athletic career.
Clarke Central High School 2008 alumna Dr. Erica Malagón-Blackwell (third from the right) stands outside the University of Georgia’s Center for Continuing Edcation next to, from left to right, Emily Hulse, Aitor Ezquerra, Jeffrey Barnett, David Ragsdale and Dr. Nuño Castellanos on Oct. 10 after giving a speech as part of her induction into the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame. Malagon-Blackwell thanked past educators in her speech for their support during her time as a student-athlete. “I am thankful for the many opportunities that my Athens community provided me both in academics and athletics and I owe immense gratitude to my high school teachers, like (Mr. David Ragsdale and Mr. Jeffrey Barnett) and college professors like (Dr. Nuño Castellanos and Professor Aitor Ezquerra) and my first professor, my mother, Dr. Sarah Blackwell, who helped me cultivate a love for lifelong learning and find purpose in serving others,” Malagón-Blackwell said in her speech. Photo courtesy of Erica Malagón-Blackwell
During those years, I learned what it meant to put in the hard work each day in order to reach my goals. I learned how to be resilient when things didn’t turn out the way I hoped. I learned what it truly meant to be a team player. And I learned to believe in myself and encouraged those around me to do the same.
I am part of the 99% of student-athletes to go professional in something other than their sport and I am currently finishing my last year of medical residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. I am thankful for the many opportunities that my Athens community provided me both in academics and athletics and I owe immense gratitude to my high school teachers, like (Mr. David Ragsdale and Mr. Jeffrey Barnett) and college professors like (Dr. Nuño Castellanos and Professor Aitor Ezquerra) and my first professor, my mother, Dr. Sarah Blackwell, who helped me cultivate a love for lifelong learning and find purpose in serving others.
I am also extremely grateful to my coaches Emily Hulse, Jonathan Foggin, Harvey Humphries, and Jack Bauerle for pushing me to reach my full potential in swimming and to my teammates from Clarke Central, ABSC, and UGA for being such amazing friends and for helping me through the ups and downs of being a student-athlete. Finally, thank you to my boyfriend, Jacob Acharte and my parents, Sarah Blackwell and José Ramón Malagón. I could have never accomplished what I have without their unwavering love and faith in me.
