Heart, Heritage, and Hard Hits

 Every so often, you meet an athlete whose journey reminds you exactly why rugby matters — not just as a sport, but as a vehicle for identity, resilience, and community. Aimee Ramos is one of those athletes. A standout for San José State University Women’s Rugby and a rising force representing Mexico Rugby, Aimee’s path is built on grit, cultural pride, and an unwavering commitment to becoming the best version of herself.

From a childhood shaped by soccer idols and a volleyball coach who taught her the hard lessons of mental toughness, to discovering rugby by chance on a college plaza, Aimee’s story is anything but linear. What began as a spontaneous decision to attend a practice has evolved into national team caps, international competition, and a deep sense of responsibility to represent her family, her heritage, and her community with honor.

In this Q&A, Aimee opens up about the mentors who shaped her, the cultural identity that fuels her work ethic, the moment she first pulled on the Mexican jersey, and the demanding climb from collegiate club rugby to the international stage. Her answers are honest, grounded, and full of the fire that defines her game.

This is Aimee Ramos — her journey, her voice, and her love for rugby.

LLR- Growing up, who were the athletes or mentors who shaped your approach to the sport?

Aimee- I grew up playing soccer, so at the time Mia Hamm was always a huge inspiration. I always credit my high school Volleyball coach for “breaking” my mental game. I’ve always been very hard on myself, but it got to the point that I was a bad teammate on the court because I couldn’t shake my mistakes. He started to bench me when I started spiraling because “why keep you on the court, if you’re not gonna contribute, you’re just an extra body out there at this point.” My teammates would be upset with me because they knew I was much better than the players that would be subbed in for me, so I quickly had to learn how to shake things off and be mentally tough, otherwise I’d continue to let my team down. 

LLR- How has your cultural identity influenced the way you play and carry yourself on and off the field? 

Aimee- I was raised to always believe that I needed to work harder in all aspects of life as compared to my peers simply for being Mexican. Being a minority, it's easy to be written off or passed by, so that gritty, always grind, work ethic was ingrained in me ever since I was little. I’d say that mentality is what drives my obsession to be the best player I can be both on and off the field. In addition, the belief that the behaviors of Mexicans are always under the microscope is what helps keep me grounded even when I’m upset. My reactions can have much bigger consequences if not kept in check. So, knowing that I’m not only representing myself and my family, but my country and community helps me maintain a level head both on and off the field. 

LLR- What made you choose San José State University as the place to continue your academic and athletic career? 

Aimee- I had only been accepted into two schools, Fresno State for Kinesiology, and San Jose State for Biomedical Engineering. As much as I desperately wanted to get away from home, I knew an engineering degree would most likely give me more stability career-wise long term, so I decided to stay in San Jose and accepted the challenge of trying to get an Engineering degree (I’ve always struggled with math). So academically, I made the deep dive and fully embraced the challenge. Athletically, after high school, I’d decided I was going to “retire” from sport. But that lasted about 1 month because I quickly got bored not knowing what to do in the gym or how to keep myself active. I had been walking down 7th St. Plaza during club tabling looking for the club soccer team, to which I had no luck, when I was approached by the rugby team. I was asked if I wanted to try it and though, well, I have nothing else to do, how bad could it be? I went to my first practice the next day, and never looked back. 

LLR- How would you describe the rugby culture at SJSU?

Aimee - I’d say it's a mix between inclusive and fun, while also being very competitive when it’s time to lock in. It’s important to remember that we are a club, so we definitely need to have some fun and keep it light. However,2 national championships in 8 years definitely shows the team is willing to lock in when it’s time to step up 

LLR- What did it feel like the first time you put on the Mexican national team jersey?

Aimee - Everyone always laughs when I say this, but the moment I walked out onto the field, its like I could feel my ancestors walking with and around me. I was hit with gratitude, excitement, nervousness, and pride all at the same time because I knew that in that moment, I was now representing something much larger than myself. Seeing my parents up in the stands the day I debuted made it that much more emotional. It felt like wow, all the sacrifices they made to give me a better life were finally paying off. 

LLR- How did you earn your spot on the national team, and what was that process like?

Aimee - I probably had every speed bump you could imagine, so I’ll try to give the spark notes version. One of the assistant coaches at SJSU was chatting with me one day and the question of have you ever thought of playing for Mexico popped up. She had sent off a few of her high school girls to play with the U-20 so there was a connection to the Mexico coaching staff there. At the time, I almost exclusively played 15s, and I knew Mexico didn’t have a 15s team, so my immediate answer was “no, they don’t even have a team.” To which she responded, yeah but you could play 7s. I almost immediately let out a cackle because I knew I was nowhere near being in 7s shape. But, I definitely still had dreams of playing international rugby. So, I scrapped together a highlight reel (with almost all 15s film) , sent it over, and got to work trying to get fit for 7s. A few months later, I met the Mexico captain at a PR 7s try out, where by a miracle, we were placed on the same team to scrimmage together and had an instant connection on the field. She vouched for me with the coach, and a few months (and a long battle to get my dual citizenship) later, I got invited to my first camp. After that camp, I got called up for my first tour and debuted in Poland at the last stop of the Challenger series. 

LLR- What are the biggest differences between playing collegiate rugby in the U.S. and competing internationally for Mexico? 

Aimee- Going from D2 club rugby, to international rugby is a very big jump. Training alone was almost ten fold what I was used to in college. The intensity was also a big jump. Much faster pace, bigger hits, more pressure, you name it. 

LLR- What does representing Mexico mean to you personally and culturally?

Aimee - For me, it means getting to show the world that Mexicans aren’t just field workers, or the help. It means showing that we’re able to work just as hard as the rest of the world and are capable of doing what others are. It’s also my way of thanking my family for all their sacrifices. Although they came to America to give my brother and I a better life, it’s important to embrace my roots and never forget where we come from. 

* Part 2 coming soon..