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 Running is paying for Angel Soriano’s education at Western Texas College, and that’s what he does during every week day -- before practice.
Soriano, a sophomore from Weatherford, keeps a busy schedule while maintaining a 3.5 average in his classes. The athlete, here on a cross country and track scholarship, is up at 6 every morning, wedging meals between his 15 hours worth of classes, study hall and his campus job, where he tutors in English and government for Student Support Services.
He also spent time as the Student Government Association President, but stepped down to focus more on his other endeavors.
“I wanted to focus on my running -- I didn’t do so great at conference, and felt I needed more focus since that’s what I’m here for,” he said.
He sent out five packets, and Coach Garrett Hicks was the first to contact him.
“I really liked the campus, even though it seemed like a maze at first,” he joked.
Grades are especially important for he and his coach, whose efforts at keeping his charges focused in the classroom led to a 2008 National Academic Championship for the team.
“I had him as a math teacher and I didn’t turn in an assignment and he suspended me from practice,” Soriano said. “So I learned my lesson. He’s very serious about it.”
Soriano plans to become an optometrist after completing his education. He said he became interested in it during a health sciences class in high school. He also plans to keep running throughout his eligibility.
“It was amazing seeing all the stuff you had to do to help people see,” he said.
He hopes to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio after WTC, where he was recruited after spending time at Weatherford College.
The sophomore ran the 800m, 1600m, 3200m and mile relay in high school and feels primed for the first meet of the season March 11 at Tarleton State.
“I feel like I’m going to light the track on fire,” he said about running the 5-meter at the meet. “My best time is 15:45 and my goal is to run in the low 16s.
He cross trains in the pool and said he and his teammates have a lot of fun just hanging out together.
“We always do crazy stuff – it’s pretty much like a family,” he noted. “If we have an issue we usually have a meeting and figure out the situation and resolve it encourage each other.”
Contact: Bobby Allen
Director, WTC News Service
325-574-7662
ballen@wtc.edu
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