Being a freshman in college is rough for anybody. The jump from high school to college is a big one. Some incoming freshmen are moving hundreds of miles to make Sacramento their new home. Freshman Marina Borisova traveled 5,800 miles to proudly scream, “Let’s go green and gold!”

The city of Kaliningrad, Russia, positioned between Lithuania and Poland, was once well known for its high crime and dilapidated living conditions.

It is a city that is still coated with various communist markings and after the fall of the “Iron Curtain,” the oblast-state was geographically cut off from the rest of Western Russia. Things were going to be different for Borisova in America.

“(My family) didn’t know just how different it was in America,” Borisova said. “When I was walking the streets I didn’t hear Russians talking, it was strange to me.”

Sacramento has become famous for being the most diverse city, which includes a large Russian population. Borisova’s Russian-speaking friends at Encina High School helped explain the finer points of American culture.

While only having lived in the United States for just over three years now, Borisova has made the transition to American college life with a flinch. Perhaps her biggest obstacle before coming to Sac State was getting used to all the positive reinforcement she has been receiving.

“I love it here. Everyone is supportive and always cheering for you,” Borisova said. “It isn’t like that in Russia.”

Borisova describes the coaching methods of many Russian coaches as aggressive, and at times violent.

“Russian coaches are always yelling at you, telling you are not good. They might say you are fat or throw a chair,” Borisova said. “Here they would never say that.”

Said Hornet coach Kim Hughes: “We have to give her constant reassurance. It took a lot of getting used to working hard without getting yelled at (for Borisova).”

The 5-foot-2 freshman moved to America in 2002 with her family. At the time Borisova was very unsure of moving all the way across the Pacific, when living in far west Russia was all she knew. Friends of the Borisova family had immigrated to America beforehand and encouraged Borisova’s father to do the same. After much consideration the family arranged for green cards.

Not long after leaving Kaliningrad, she picked up her career in gymnastics, now running 15 years long. Borisova enrolled in Pozsar’s Gymnastics in Sacramento and was quickly recognized as one of its rising stars. Hornets assistant coach Tamara Ross also shares her coaching time with Pozsar’s Gymnastics and recommended that Hughes take a look at Borisova’s natural talent.

“She has a high skill level on each event, with a special international flare,” Hughes said. “Russian gymnasts have excellent skills in the basics of gymnastics. Their dance skills are also very strong.”The freshman’s strong base in gymnastics came from a strong athletic vein in the family. Borisova began her career when she was 3 years old, her mother, Svetlana Iakounitcheva, was her first coach.

By the time Borisova had reached Sac State she had already placed first in the all-around, beam and bars in the 2005 state championships and qualified for level 10 regionals twice.

On Feb. 12 Marina and the Hornets will face off against old rival San Jose State, but this time both teams are in their first year in the Western Athletic Conference.

The Spartans will hope to get over .500 against a talented Sacramento State team.

Brad Alexander can be reached at [email protected]