Golden Gloves

Victoria Trabysh ’20 is a fighter by nature. She currently works as a civilian with the U.S. Air Force, so it stands to reason she wants to become a fighter pilot!

Victoria is employed at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, the home of the Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command. A psychology major at Trinity, Victoria is now a research psychologist tasked with evaluating undergraduate pilot training effectiveness. Her research of aspiring pilots will help Air Force commanders develop future training curricula. “Ultimately, this study will impact every single airman who comes through pilot training,” says Victoria, who received a bachelor’s degree from Trinity last May. “The most recent pilot training curricula utilizes specialists in cognitive performance coaching who work one-on-one with the pilots. To me, it’s like a sports psychologist working with an individual athlete.”

She is well regarded by her superiors at Randolph. As a matter of fact, the Air Force will sponsor Victoria starting in August, as she begins her graduate studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Daytona Beach, Florida. Victoria will enroll in the Master of Science in Human Factors program, which includes statistical and quantitative procedures, experimental design, and survey methods of the aerospace industry.

Victoria will have a four-year obligation to the Air Force upon completion of her degree. She could continue to work as a civilian, but prefers to become an Air Force officer and, ultimately, a fighter pilot.

“I’m always striving to push my limits, continue breaking gender barriers, and be part of something bigger than myself,” Victoria says. “That’s what gives me a sense of purpose in life. Becoming an officer in the Air Force, hopefully as a fighter pilot, would allow me to do all of those things at the highest possible honor.”

As a Trinity student, Victoria was an intern at Randolph during the summer for 12 weeks, between her junior and senior years. She gained experience in a number of areas including occupational analysis. Victoria credits psychology professor Harry Wallace for telling her about the internship program and for catalyzing her Air Force passion and future career.

Victoria minored in sport management and presented findings with assistant professor Dominic Morais at the 2019 North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Conference. The topic was the impact of strength and conditioning on student-athlete identity. 

During her time at Trinity, Victoria was vice president of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and participated in the Young Achievers Mentorship Program, promoting intellectual development with an eighth-grade student. A Dean’s List student, Victoria was named the 2020 Outstanding Senior in Psychology. She also was a finalist for the Outstanding Senior in Sport Management.

Victoria Trabysh plays guard for Tiger Women’s Basketball in 2017.

A native of Amarillo, Texas, Victoria came to the Trinity campus in fall of 2016 and played basketball for two seasons. The 5-foot-3 guard helped the Tiger women capture the 2017 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship and advance to the NCAA Division III Round of 16. The following season, Trinity again won the conference title and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

It was earlier mentioned that Victoria is a “fighter.” She truly is—as an amateur boxer with a 5-5 record. Since joining her new coach, former Air Force boxer Ellis Johnson, Victoria is sporting a 4-2 mark over the last year and a half.

Photo courtesy of Eric Guajardo

Fighting in the 112-pound class, Victoria won her first belt in 2019 at the “Battle of Big D” in Dallas, Texas. She battled her way to become the South Texas Champion in San Antonio the same year. Victoria fought in the USA Boxing Championships in December 2019 and lost by a split decision in the opening round.

Victoria was unopposed in the recent San Antonio Golden Gloves event. She received a bid to the Texas Golden Gloves Tournament, tentatively scheduled to begin May 19 in Fort Worth, Texas. Victoria is also competing in the USA Boxing Championships through through April 3 at Shreveport, Louisiana. 

“I just love the individualized aspect of boxing,” Victoria says. “In team sports, there are other people to rely on. In boxing, it’s just you. The losses are hard because it’s all on you. But, the wins are that much more exciting! I believe a lot of people think of combative sports as violent. But, I don’t think you truly understand it until you get in the ring. I love that adrenalin and pressure.”