McALLEN — It seems the athletes who work the hardest are the same ones who find the hardest work to do.
At least that’s the case regarding Alicia Ziegler.
Ziegler, a standout volleyball and track star for the McAllen Memorial Mustangs, was first introduced to sports on a first-grade volleyball team. She went rogue after that, competing in everything and anything she could.
Then she found track.
“I remember her coming up to me and telling me, ‘I run the 400, the 800 and the two hurdles,’” Memorial track coach Cynthia Oyervides said. “But she did whatever we asked her to do. That’s just how Alicia is.”
On Wednesday, Ziegler signed her National Letter of Intent in the McAllen Memorial gymnasium in front of coaches, family, friends and more to run with the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals. Incarnate Word is a NCAA Division I school that competes in the Southland Conference.
Ziegler, the District 31-5A champion in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, will compete in those two events, as well as the mile relay today in the District 31-32 area track meet at PSJA Stadium in Pharr. The senior has dominated the hurdles this season, winning 11 times in 12 events in the 300, taking second the other time and capturing first place nine of 12 times in the 100, with three second places.
She has the second-fastest time in Region IV-5A in the 300 hurdles and fifth-fastest time in the region in the 100 hurdles.
Doing the difficult seems to be the norm for the student-athlete who also attends IB Academy, where the workload can be immense.
“Of course, I have to try the hardest things,” Ziegler said prior to signing. “(School) was all hard, especially with the time I was putting in for practice. It has definitely been a unique experience.”
Oyervides said that what separates Ziegler from many student-athletes is the work effort and dedication she brings. It has been apparent in the many events she has run for the Mustangs’ track and field team, including relays, middle distance and the high jump.
“Dedication is a big thing in college, and it can be difficult to adapt to,” Ziegler said. “Everyone’s mentality is different, and as a student-athlete you have to know what you want and what you’re doing. Hopefully it won’t be that hard for me.
“This does take some pressure off me, but there are still goals I want to achieve. It doesn’t end here at all.”