Central’s Solarzano to run track for Vanguard U
EL CENTRO — Central Union High senior Aaron Solorzano recently signed a national letter of intent to attend Vanguard University of Southern California, a private Christian university in Costa Mesa.
“I decided that I wanted to continue studying after high school, so I started looking at schools where I could run and were a good fit for my faith in God and my desire to major in the sciences,” Solorzano said. “Vanguard University is the school I want to attend based on their mission and programs.”
Vanguard was attracted to Solorzano based on last year’s outstanding track season which saw the Spartan claim Imperial Valley League championships in the 400 meters, the triple jump and the 4x400 relay. He also finished sixth overall in the 400 meters at the CIF San Diego Section Division II finals.
“The Vanguard coaches were able to offer me a scholarship based on my times from last year and my transcripts,” Solorzano said. “I visited the campus, and I was able to meet my coaches, some of my future teammates and some of the recruits who were pretty awesome.”
According Central track-and-field coach David Hernandez, who took over last year after five years as an assistant, Solorzano’s contributions go beyond winning titles.
“I have had the privilege to coach Aaron all four years, and he is a perfect example of what hard work and dedication can accomplish,” said Hernandez, who himself ran track at Central. “Aaron is a true leader on and off the track, and he was unanimously voted our team MVP last season” Herendez also spoke of Solorzano’s commitment to find the right college for himself as an example of his work ethic.
“I give all credit to Aaron. He told me early on that Vanguard University was the school he wanted to go to due to it being a Christian school,” Hernandez said. “I just helped guiding Aaron through the process. Vanguard University is lucky to be acquiring not only a great athlete but an even better person.”
Solorzano has excelled at sports since he started school in Mexicali where he learned to work hard and be competitive.
“I began my running in the first grade and my PE teacher at the time picked the fastest kids to compete at a mini- Olympics, where kids from around the sector would compete,” Solorzano said. “I remember I ran the 75-meter dash, where I placed first, and after changing elementary schools three times, my coaches would always call on me to run.”
Arriving at Kennedy Junior High in El Centro as an eighth-grader, Solorzano used sports to establish himself. As he continued that approach at Central, he also continued to hone his English-language skills with an eye toward college.
“I have played soccer since I can remember, and I personally think that I was a good player. I played that at Kennedy, which didn’t have track, and also for two years at Central,” Solorzano said. “I stopped playing soccer because of the pandemic, and I wanted to concentrate on running so this year I ran cross-country.”
The middle child in a family of five with an older brother at UC-Riverside and a sister at Imperial Valley College, Solorzano describes his siblings and himself as supported but self-motivated students. His maturity is evident when he talks about his approach to his senior year.
“I’ve taken the mantle of being captain in track seriously because I understand I have to be an example to my teammates that all the hard work and sacrifice that we put in is not just to get faster or stronger but to develop character that will last a lifetime.”
As Solorzano reflected on his signing ceremony in the Spartan Gym, he was both excited and at peace with his decision.
“I know that I have made the right decision of continuing my track career at the next level, and I have developed a mindset that will help me succeed at Vanguard,” Solorzano said. “I’m truly thankful to my family, my coaches and all the people who have been supporting me throughout this journey.”