LOS FRESNOS — Los Fresnos high jumper Penny Alaniz signed her letter of intent to continue jumping with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s NCAA Division I program.
“I feel extremely blessed. It happened so quickly, so I am still processing it,” Alaniz said. “I am super thankful for all of the coaches and memories I have made here. I am glad this is not my last year jumping. It is an unreal feeling.”
Alaniz finished second in the high jump at the district and area meets, with her best jump of the year at 5 feet, 4 inches. The future Vaqueros athlete said she was close to clearing 5-6 but will next year.
“She has worked extremely hard,” said Ariel Torres, Alaniz’s high jump coach. “Penny is so naturally talented, so it has come easy to her, but she always puts in that extra work. We would not leave practice until 6:30 p.m. on the daily.”
Torres is proud of Alaniz for all of the hard work that she put in and wished her luck. Torres also said Alaniz can come back at any time.
Alaniz said she will be back on the weekends to do laundry and raid the fridge. Being so close to UTRGV factored into Alaniz’s decision.
“It is a relief,” Alaniz said about being close to home. “I am kind of scared to go far from my family. I have always been really close to them. I think it is perfect, and it worked out perfectly.”
Alaniz will be living in the dorms and plans to study nursing at UTRGV. She finished in the top 10 percent of her class with a 4.0 GPA.
The high jumper thanked her competition because she would have mini panic attacks before jumping. She said all of the girls around the Valley would encourage her during the meets, despite competing against her, and for that she was extremely thankful.
