When Jorge Veintimilla Martinez ’26 traveled from Spain to the United States to attend Bryant, he didn’t know any English. Now, a year later, the Exercise and Movement Science major has completed a hands-on internship, worked in the university’s Biology lab, presented original research and — as a member of the men's soccer team — has played a part in the team’s historic season. The senior, who fell in love with sports at a young age, is now focused on turning his passion into action.
“When I had to make the decision on what to study for my career, I thought about helping people improve their quality of life through sports,” says Veintimilla Martinez, who calls Villar del Arzobispo home.
Over the summer, the Bryant senior interned at Ethos Performance Group, an organization that takes a holistic approach to helping athletes enhance their performance and achieve long-term health goals through coaching and science-based programs. From June through August, he helped develop individualized and team-based programs for athletes — including initiatives focused on nutrition and fueling strategies, rehabilitation, and injury prevention — and became proficient with a variety of assessment tools.
“The best part was working with different people. I was there with wrestlers, MMA fighters, hockey players, football players, and others. In Spain, these sports are not common, so just to be with them, learning about their culture, how they think about their sport, and how they take care of themselves was useful for me,” says Veintimilla Martinez, who now helps the organization in his free time.
He also gathered client feedback on the company’s new app and gained business management experience by assisting with the launch of a new center, helping with everything from managing the transition to troubleshooting any issues that arose.
Finding his footing
Veintimilla Martinez first learned of Bryant through Ruben Resendes, the university’s head soccer coach. Already pursuing his higher education studies in Valencia, he decided to take the leap and transfer.
Veintimilla Martinez was initially nervous about the move due to his language barrier, but that fear was soon quelled once he got to campus and started meeting members of the soccer team and connecting with Bryant faculty and classmates.
“Everybody understood my situation and helped me. Professors gave me more time and were available if I needed to go to office hours to talk about class,” says Veintimilla Martinez, adding that friends from the soccer team helped him learn English.
Since arriving to campus last year, Veintimilla Martinez has completed a directed study with Clinical Associate Professor of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Jennifer Hurrell, PT, DHSc, worked in the university’s Biology lab with Hurrell and Academic Lab Manager Emily Tetrault, and presented research at Bryant’s annual Research and Engagement Day on the effect of frequency infused crystals on human performance.
When he’s not honing his skills in the classroom or lab, Veintimilla Martinez can be found on the soccer field.
“In Spain, I was tired of soccer but coming here — this year especially — I'm in love with soccer again. I want to practice every day, and I feel like I'm once again the kid who fell in love with the sport,” says Veintimilla Martinez, who plays midfield.
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That love has helped to power Bryant’s men’s soccer team to an exceptional season. The team held the nation’s longest winning streak during the 2025 regular season and enjoyed its highest ranking in university history when the NCAA Division I United Soccer Coaches poll ranked the team second in the nation. Veintimilla Martinez has had a strong season as well, notching two assists against the University of Connecticut this year and playing a critical role in the game against Binghamton University, where he blocked a shot that would have tied the score late in the second half. In November, his efforts earned him Second Team All-America East.
From faculty rooting for him in the classroom to teammates supporting him on the field, the community behind Veintimilla Martinez has been instrumental to his success.
“Bryant has given me everything and changed my life completely,” Veintimilla Martinez states. “Everybody is open to helping you — it's truly like a small family.”