By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
College scholarship signings for athletics are a rare event at IDEA Frontier.
Prior to Monday, the only one in school history for the Chargers took place four years ago.
Frontier celebrated two more such signings in the school’s gym on Monday morning. Sabrina Garcia signed to run cross country and long distances in track next school year at Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio, while Julian Puente, a discus and shot put thrower, signed with Fontbonne University of St, Louis, Missouri.
OLLU competes in NAIA Division I, while Fontbonne is an NCAA Division III school.
It was a happy day for everyone in attendance. Even a group of grade-schoolers took a break from their PE class in the gym to sit in on the signings and looked on with interest as the two senior athletes secured their college futures.
Both Garcia and Puente plan to pursue degrees in biology to eventually enter the nursing field.
Garcia has been to UIL state meets in Class 3A three times in cross country and once in track earlier this month. She did well at regionals in track to qualify for state in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, but was hampered by a strained calf muscle at the state meet May 11-12 in Austin. Had she not been hurt, Garcia figured to medal in Austin as her time from regionals in the 3,200 was the second-best time at state. Last fall, she took fifth place in the 3A girls race at state in cross country.
Garcia can now smile about her middle school days when she first began running competitively. She was so shy back then, she was reluctant to pass other runners on the track because she didn’t want to offend them.
“I told her if she ever wanted to be successful, she’d have to learn to pass people, and she eventually did,” said Albert Alanis, Frontier’s athletic director/track and cross country coach. “She didn’t want to be rude to the other runners, but she has no problem passing them now.
“I am personally very proud of her and the accomplishment she has made,” Alanis added. “I’m very grateful to Sabrina’s parents and to Sabrina for allowing me to work with her.”
Said Garcia, “I’ve come a long way. When I was younger, I didn’t want to pass anyone, and if I did, I’d say, ‘I’m sorry’ and I’d look back. Coach Alanis told me not to look back. Now I’ve reached the point where I just go (past other runners). You’ve got to be a little bit competitive sometimes.
“Mainly what I’ve done is because of my coach,” Garcia added. “He’s pushed me to where I wouldn’t have ever thought I could go and to where I didn’t think I was capable of going. He’s pushed me in telling how to eat well and drink water (to stay hydrated). He’s just a good coach and he’s always been there for me.”
Regarding his standout runner, Alanis said, “I would definitely say Sabrina is a dedicated athlete. She’s one of the more committed and consistent athletes we’ve had. Academics is important to us at this school and she found a way to balance academics and athletics, which is hard to do here. She was shy at first, but through the years, I’ve really seen her grow.”
Meanwhile, Puente is expected to compete in the javelin and hammer throws along with the discus and shot put in college.
“I’ve been throwing here at IDEA since the eighth grade,” Puente said. “This year I worked really hard and made it to the 3A area meet.
“It’s been hard to compete in sports because our focus here at IDEA is on academics and we don’t have the facilities that other schools have,” he added. “But I’ve worked really hard (to do well in my events).”
Alanis praised Puente for his accomplishments and getting an athletic scholarship. He becomes the first male athlete from the school to do so.
“Julian is one of those student-athletes who is very committed,” Alanis said. “He’s always asking what he can do to get better as far as weight training and things like that. He’s always ahead of the ball game (with his training). He’s a hard-working athlete who never misses practice. He’s constantly seeking information about different ways to improve and even going online. He’s someone who is self-driven to do well.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess