LG’s Hector Orona, Our Newest Athlete of the Week, Drawing International Soccer Attention
La Grange junior soccer player Hector Orona has a superior skill set on the field that has put his game at great attention.
Orona was recently selected to the 2020 All-VYPE Austin boy’s soccer team and also received a call from the Mexican National Team to let him know they were interested in having him play for the team. In order to back up all the positive talk, he netted a hat trick in a game earlier this season for the Leopards.
“Ever since stepping in the door, you could tell that Hector was going to be something special on the soccer field,” said La Grange head boy’s soccer coach William McGonagle. “He’s put a lot of time in. Spends a lot of time going and playing in Austin, Round Rock, and going to a lot of these national and international tournaments and things. It definitely shows.
“It’s kind of interesting because you look at the next level and you kind of realize he’s probably more of a midfielder. He’s athletic, he distributes well and everything, but here he’s known as a scorer. It’s just because he has some ability that other guys at this level don’t. I think his biggest strong suit and something that’s on display everyday when he steps out there on the practice field or every game is that you know he’s going to give you everything he has.
“He’s a big mentality guy. He’s going to fight to the very end. He always wants to be the best at everything he does and I think that’s what keeps him at a high level.”
Orona’s already illustrious career has given him the thumbs up for this editon’s Player of the Week.
Question: At what age did you start playing soccer?
Answer: “I started playing soccer at the age of 4.”
Question: Which professional soccer player would you say you model your game after?
Answer: “I looked up to Cristiano Ronaldo a lot, but I changed my mind to (Lionel) Messi. I like the way he plays and his attitude.”
Question: What colleges are you currently interested in?
Answer: “Right now, whatever’s coming my way I’ll take. Hopefully I can get some offers and go to a college that I love.
Question: What’s it like to be noticed by the Mexican National Team?
Answer: “It was a great moment. I deserved it because I worked hard for it. One of my main goals was to get noticed by them and it happened.”
Question: What’s your goto meal on game day?
Answer: “Usually it’s hot wings and fries. Not pizza because I don’t like to eat greasy stuff. A salad.”
Question: What are some of your hobbies?
Answer: “I like to fish, play Xbox, be with family, and practice soccer.”
Question: What’s your favorite memory of playing soccer?
Answer: “2018 summer, I went to Barcelona to go play over there and I got to see some of the Barcelona players. I had a good experience over there. Played some amazing teams, learned a lot of stuff, and it probably was the funnest time of my life.”
Question: What other sports are you good at?
Answer: “I’m pretty good at kicking a football. Basketball, I can hoop. That’s about it.”
Question: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Answer: “I think it would be to like Paris or something. I like Paris and I want to go watch the PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) team play. They’re a very good team. I would like to go watch them play.”
Question: What would you say is the best word of advice you’ve received?
Answer: “Our coach likes the word ‘motivate.’ He likes when we motivate each other. He likes positivity. I just kind of get that stuff.”
Orona will continue to be a name to watch as his elite talent has put him in the spotlight on some of the biggest stages in soccer.
Fayette Co. Record’s Athlete of the Week
A Weekly Feature by BRIAN PIERSON
Recent FCR’s Athlete of the Week
Dec. 4: Megan Brothers, La Grange Basketball
Dec. 11: Holden Kloesel, Flatonia Basketball
Dec. 18: Campbell Youens, La Grange Swimming
Jan. 8: Airyanna Rodriguez, Schulenburg Basketball
Jan. 15: Shelby Hofferek, La Grange Soccer
Jan. 22: Kenny King, Schulenburg Basketball
Jan. 29: Emma Jurecka, Fayetteville Basketball
Feb. 5: Hector Orona, La Grange Soccer
* Read about the new honorees in our Friday editions and then watch their interviews on our Facebook page a few days later.