Hidalgo Early College Senior, Melanie Salinas will be advancing her basketball and education career with Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama this upcoming fall. Salinas officially signed to Faulkner University on June 2nd at Harvest Christian Academy in Edinburg, where she was accompanied by her family and friends.
Salinas will be entering the university as a Junior due to her educational accomplishment of graduating with her associates degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Texas College while still attending high school.
“I am so excited and nervous to be going to a college that is out of state,” Salinas said. “I had options that ran from Central Methodist University (CMU) to this one (Faulkner University). But I decided to choose Faulkner because I wanted to make a name for myself and have it known that a valley kid can go all the way.”
Salinas began her basketball career when she was in eighth grade and did not get serious about the sport until her junior year in high school.
“I just joined basketball to spend more time with my friends,” Salinas said. “It was nothing serious until I started noticing that I have potential to be good.”
Salinas has been in varsity basketball since she was a freshman. She was moved to varsity from the JV team three games before the district season ended for the Hidalgo Pirates.
“They just wanted me for my height, since I am very tall,” Salinas said. “I was doubted a lot but I have the mentality that if I am doubted, I will prove myself and that is what I did.”
The 5’11 post was also a part of a traveling team that helped her improve her skills as an offensive player. She was a part of the Valley Rebels Elite team and was placed as a guard instead of her comfort post position.
“I think I was placed as a guard to help me improve my offense game,” Salinas said. “I really hated it because I had such a hard time dribbling the ball, I was used to rebounds and helping out inside the perimeter.” With the help of the Valley Rebels Elite team, Salinas was able to bring her practice to the Hidalgo Pirates, where she was named 4A Defensive Player of the Year her junior year and was named 4A Second Team All-District her senior year.
“Coach Arjona (Girls head basketball coach) was very hard on me,” Salinas said. “Without his help, I would not have been where I am at now. He (Coach Arjona) would get so mad at me because the ball would always slip my hands, but I wanted to show him that I can improve and that my height wasn’t the only good thing about me.”
The Hidalgo Pirates maintained their team effort by giving Coach Arjona a season record of 32-8 for the 2019-2020 season. The Hidalgo Pirates made it to the second round of playoffs in the 2020 season. The team defeated Robstown in the first round with a score of 36-31 at La Feria. Their season ended against Devine in the second round with a score of 44-37at Corpus Christi.
“Every coach is concerned with how coachable an athlete is,” Coach Arjona said. “Melanie came to our program with nothing in the bag, but very coachable. She wanted to win and be a well-known player. Hard work, dedication and commitment made Melanie an outstanding player and an even better teammate that made a big impact in our program.”
Salinas played in nine playoff games throughout her career.
“I know going to this university (Faulkner) will make me become a better athlete and a better person overall,” Salinas said. “I am excited.”