Phoenix, Arizona – September 5, 2025 – The voices of future mentors that made difficult decisions easy.
 
For both Lopes' Club Swimmer Trypp Duarte and Grand Canyon University Wrestler Mya Rashed, their journeys to campus hinged on faith in their respective mentors. Their willingness to take advice, as well as their ability to bring together their seemingly individualistic sports, make them easy selections for GCU Club Sports Student-Athlete of the Month in September.

Trypp Duarte: Club Swimming 
 
Meet Trypp Duarte, a sophomore communications student from El Centro, California – and GCU Club Swimming's latest standout. In fact, Duarte stood out so much during his freshman season that he's currently making the transition to the NCAA GCU Swim team.
 
Drawn to the water since age four, Duarte felt himself most comfortable when in the pool.
 
"My mom and both of my sisters also swam," said Duarte. "It was a natural choice for me. I tried a handful of sports as a kid, but swim was the one I always came back to."
 
For a long time, Duarte kept coming back to the pool, though he would eventually miss his high school freshman season due to Covid-19 shutdowns. In August of 2020, he found his way back to the water via a new team — AquaForce Club Swimming in Yuma - roughly an hourlong commute from his hometown.
 
Originally considering the Air Force Academy for his post-graduate plans, Duarte changed course when GCU Club Swimming Head Coach Jeremy Phung invited him to tour GCU's campus last year. Duarte accepted - knowing he had a cousin attending GCU. He never looked back.
 
Arriving on campus focusing mainly on the 50, 100, and 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly races, Duarte was quickly encouraged to expand his range.
 
"Jeremy and I have a great relationship," said Duarte. "He helped me hammer out times in my best events, but also saw me as a team player. He knew how hard he could work me and just asked that I trust him."
 
Part of becoming a team player in an individual sport like swimming is realizing the drive that teammates can inspire in one another.
 
"You make such great competitive connections with your teammates throughout the year, and for me, that guy was Kyle Stocek," said Duarte. "Seeing him work gave me something to chase other than my own times. He helped me bloom into my potential, and I hope I had that effect on others."
 
A successful freshman season for Trypp ended with a bronze medal in the 200 freestyle at College Club Swimming Nationals, and from there, he returned home to El Centro, resuming his club swimming regimen.
 
Club swimming brought him back to Phoenix for an open meet at Arizona State University - one that GCU's NCAA Swimming counterparts were also at.
 
"I noticed a few other GCU swimmers and reached out to Jeremy to see if I could meet anybody," said Duarte. "He connected me with GCU Swimming Assistant Coach Takahisa Ide."

Ide told Duarte to find if he made finals that night. You can guess what happened next.
 
Duarte quickly connected with GCU Swimming Head Coach Steve Schaffer. From there, an offer to join the NCAA team in the 2025 fall season was on the table within one Zoom call. He hopes the new opportunity with the NCAA squad is just the next step in a long and successful journey in the water.
 
"In the short term, I'm focused on making CSCAA Nationals and the NCAA Championships, and it starts with being the best I can be every practice," said Duarte. "In the long term, I have my eyes set on the 2028 Olympic Trials. Why not me?"
 
His motivation runs deeper than that.
 
"My dad is hands-down my biggest swim supporter, and I love nothing more than showing him that I can keep going," said Duarte.
 
Duarte also has plans outside of the pool: keeping broadcasting and pastoral work in mind for possible career paths.
 
"Growing up in a Christian Baptist home, I've always been around faith, but it wasn't until high school that I began to make it my own. I had a revelation during a tough spot in my junior year of high school about who I am. I feel so comfortable talking to God anywhere and everywhere now, and his blessings are why I'm able to compete and accomplish everything."
 
Mya Rashed: Wrestling
 
Injuries are often seen as setbacks. For GCU Wrestling's Mya Rashed, they're an opportunity for growth.
 
Rashed grew up in Southern California as the eldest of three to a close-knit Filipino family. Her athletic career began with Kajukenbo, a form of mixed martial arts. 
 
"Kajukenbo taught me self-defense, discipline, and how to work hard," said Rashed. "Training and working toward my next belt quickly became my passion."
 
At the start of high school, Rashed wanted to get more involved in extracurriculars and discovered wrestling.
 
"I signed up not knowing what to expect," said Rashed. "I was nervous, but even more excited to learn the art of wrestling."
 
Every year, she became a better athlete, but her senior season brought unexpected challenges. Her father became her wrestling coach, and she suffered a torn meniscus that required surgery.
 
"It was an adjustment for both me and my dad being my coach," said Rashed. "It took time to properly establish the boundaries between home and practice, but eventually we found a balance and my dad was my biggest supporter during my injury." 
 
With the unwavering support of her father and encouragement of her teammates, Rashed worked her way back to the mat, earning a spot among the top 32 female wrestlers in California. However, she still prepared to leave the sport behind as she headed to GCU in the fall.
 
"I always knew I wanted to go out of state for college and was sold on GCU after talking to my admissions counselor," said Rashed. "I loved the campus - especially the size and how close everything was located."
 
Her plans to leave wrestling behind changed when she was contacted by then-team captain Sami Tuttle. 
 
"It was the first time I had even heard of GCU Club Sports," said Rashed. "I talked at length with her about how burnt out I felt with wrestling. She understood it was a big decision for me, but we connected on many levels, so I decided to join the team."
 
The adjustment to campus life and being away from home wasn't easy, but Tuttle and the wresting team became Rashed's community. 
 
Then at the start of last season, Rashed began experiencing shoulder pain.
 
"I was in complete denial," said Rashed. "I did not want to admit that I was injured again, so I kept pushing myself until I couldn't lift my arm without immense pain."
 
Despite being sidelined, Rashed remained committed to the team, stepping into her role as student leader. 
 
"Even while injured, Mya went out of her way to ensure her teammates made it to practice," said Lopes' Head Coach Austen Moore. "She encouraged them daily and even stepped into a leadership role during practices when needed."
 
Injuries didn't just challenge Rashed's body. They shifted her entire outlook. 
 
"I continued to just focus on the now," said Rashed. "I focused on my recovery and being there for my team. I learned how to lead not as a physical example on the mat, but through words and encouragement."
 
Her setbacks also led her to discover a new passion: sports psychology.
 
"My injuries inspired me to change my major," said Rashed. "I want to help athletes stay mentally strong to perform their best physically."
 
After undergoing shoulder surgery over the summer and spending time recovering at home, Rashed is now cleared to return to light training.
 
"I am so ready to be back on the mat practicing and training with my team, while continuing to use my new leadership skills and understanding of sports psychology to support the growth of the club wrestling program," said Rashed.