FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN —Tuesday couldn’t have come any sooner for Harlingen High track and field standout Travis Barnes.
After signing his letter of intent to compete for the Division I University of Houston in the American Athletic Conference, Barnes was all smiles as he delivered a heartfelt speech to his family, friends and coaches at the Harlingen High School library Tuesday afternoon.
“Today was a very emotional day for me. I knew it was going to be a very special day. It was one of those days that you’ve dreamt of your whole life and you never would have imagined it could happen,” said Barnes. “It happened today and it’s one of those emotions that you don’t know what you’re supposed to do next. It’s definitely one of the best days of my life.”
Barnes has competed at the varsity level in shot put and discus since his sophomore year while also playing football in the fall.
Cardinals track and field head coach Efrain Ambriz said he knows Barnes will fit perfectly into the U of H program.
“He’s really gravitated toward the program and he knows some of the athletes, and he’s worked with some of the coaches from there by going to different camps,” said Ambriz. “From day one there’s never been another school that he’s had his sights set on.
“We already have another athlete there in pole vaulter Haden Flores who graduated a few years ago, so it’s not like he’s going into an unfamiliar program. He knows people there from the coaches all the way to the athletes.”
For Barnes, Tuesday was a fulfillment of something he’s been working toward for a long time.
“I’ve always dreamed of being a D1 athlete,” added Barnes. “I’ve been throwing since my sophomore year and a good five to seven guys that I threw against that have graduated already go to U of H. So when I went for my first official visit, I saw all those guys and they didn’t even have to tell me all about it because went I drove up there with my dad I just felt right at home.”