(This article was written by Roel Rodriguez and was featured in the December 2024 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)
It is the dream of every Texas high school student athlete to make it to “State” in their respective sport and to be crowned a State Champion. Whether it’s through a team and/or individual sports, these athletes are driven each year to achieve their goal of holding a State Championship trophy or medal.
Making it to the State finals has always been a dream of many athletes from the Rio Grande Valley, especially students and athletes from Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD).
In Harlingen, we boast “Champions Choose HCISD” and for the Harlingen High School (HHS) Men’s Cross-Country Team and Harlingen High School South’s (HHSS’s) Cross-Country member, Kai Sepulveda, this continues to be true.
HCISD is getting accustomed to joining the State’s elite at State final competitions and excelling at UIL academics, theater arts and athletics further solidifying that HCISD is a District of Champions.
This year, the entire HHS Men’s Cross Country Team qualified for the Texas UIL 6A State Cross-Country Championships. The seven-member Cardinal team finished as the 14th best team in the State of Texas.
HHSS’ runner, Kai Sepulveda, also qualified for the Texas UIL 5A State Cross-Country Championship, a feat that has never been done before in South Hawks’ history. Kai competed against 160+ runners from across the state finishing at 17:05. As a sophomore, Kai is eligible to return to the State Championship next year.
The tradition of excellence continues for HCISD where champions exist, proving that dreams can come true.
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