By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Since the first time a shot put was placed in her hand during elementary school, Daniella Murchison knew she had found something special.
Now all her hard work and dedication have earned her a full athletic scholarship at Southern Methodist University, as Murchison made her declaration by signing a letter of intent to compete for the Mustangs’ track & field squad during a ceremony Wednesday at Port Isabel.
“I just felt I had a real talent, when I was winning and even beating the boys,” Murchison said. “It really opened my eyes that I could actually go far in this and not have to pay for college because of that.”
With help from former coach JohvonneHernandez-Howard, Murchison’s talent piqued the interest of several NCAA Division I coaches.
Murchison chose the Mustangs because of the initial belief that SMU track coach Dave Wollman had in her abilities. Wollman was one of the few coaches that didn’t hinge his decision on how far she could throw the shot put right now.
Murchison said Wollman had told her, “I’ll take you there, I’ll get you to 50 feet. You don’t have be there right now.”
Port Isabel coachJohnny Galvan Jr. has no doubt Murchison will be successful.
“(It’s her) hard work and the desire to be the best,” he said. “Her goal is to throw in the Olympics. That desire and determination, that’s why she’s that good.”
Galvan Jr. said Murchison is already working toward her goals this season, although he believes she hasn’t reached her full potential yet.
“We hope to get gold in both, and she wants to PR (personal record),” Galvan Jr. said. “She wants to throw the furthest she ever has in both events. And she is still getting better. She’s going to continue get stronger and quicker in the ring.”
Galvan Jr. was proud that she gets to accomplish her dream.
“She’s just a perfect role model to everyone. The girls look up to her, even the guys,” he said. “Everyone’s excited for her.”
Murchison, who plans to be a pharmacist one day, was glad the hardest part, the decision, was over.
“It’s a real stress reliever. I was really stressed,” she said. “It feels awesome, and I’m excited to start my new journey.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.