By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
The Brownsville Hanna runners are a tight-knit group, and their family dynamic was on full display as the Golden Eagles celebrated Aaron Hinojosa’s latest accomplishment.
On Wednesday, Hinojosa signed to compete in cross country and track for McMurry University in Abilene with a plethora of teammates there to cheer him on. He’ll be competing for the Warhawks in the American Southwest Conference at the NCAA Division III level upon graduation, achieving a goal he’s been working toward for years.
“I’ve always wanted to run at college and go to the next level, so it’s really exciting to be able to do it. It’s a great thing to do,” Hinojosa said. “It’s going to be a new experience, a different, broad spectrum of people to run with and new experiences and challenges. I really liked the campus and the environment when I went for a visit. I had a bunch of emails from other coaches from other states, but I really liked (McMurry) because it’s in Texas, and the coaching staff and the program are really exciting.”
Hinojosa credited the supportive environment Hanna has for fostering his success. He thanked cross country coach Olaya Teran, track coach Armando Rocha and his teammates for their constant encouragement and for pushing him to be his best.
Teran and Rocha both called Hinojosa a leader and role model who set a precedent for hard work in the program. He contributed to the cross country team clinching back-to-back District 32-6A titles, four Brownsville city titles and some track city championships, too.
“I’m very proud of Aaron. He’s done well here. We have accomplished a lot in the past few years, and he’s been a big part of it,” Teran said. “I’m glad he’s going to continue his education and run at the university level. I know I’m going to hear great things about him, that he’s a great leader, because I know that he’s going to represent the Hanna cross country team well.”
Hinojosa has had individual success as well, and said winning the 800-meter run at the track city meet in 2020 was a proud moment for him. Rocha said Hinojosa’s dedication and hard work has and will continue to pay off at the high school level, and he has high expectations for the runner’s next chapter.
The influence Teran and Rocha have had on Hinojosa is evident in his future plans. He’s going to study kinesiology and mathematics for education while running at McMurry and wants to be a teacher and cross country or track coach when his career is over. Hinojosa said the Hanna coaches taught him to never take it easy and always keep pushing himrself, and he thanked his teammates for pushing him and making his experience fun.
Along with the Hanna program, Hinojosa expressed immense gratitude for his family’s never-ending support. It has been a big factor in his Golden Eagles career, and it will continue encouraging him as he takes on college athletics.
“My mom and my grandparents are always there for me, always supporting me through everything, taking me to practices, being there for me at my meets. My little brother, too. I can always hear him in the stands yelling at me to go faster, and it’s a really cool thing to have,” Hinojosa said.