Orosz has eyes on state meet

Arizona State recruit leads Wheeler toward postseason; Lake Central’s Fritz sidelined

By Dave Melton

For Wheeler senior Hailey Orosz, the hardest part was convincing her parents.

Orosz said she had settled on Arizona State as her No. 1 college choice months ago. The distance to Tempe, though, forced Orosz onto the campaign trail.

“Every day I’d come home from school and say, ‘You know, if I had my letter of intent right now, I’d sign it,’ “Orosz said. “They’d always say that there was more stuff to talk about. But I guess they talked about it, and it happened.”

Orosz said she received her parents’ blessing on her birthday — March 31 — and on Tuesday she signed a national letter of intent to continue her career at Arizona State. Two days later, Orosz celebrated in her usual fashion: with a pair of victories at the Highland Invitational.

She won the 3,200-meter run in 11 minutes, 57.80 seconds and joined junior Emma Hellwege and freshmen Lucca Okeley and Elise Byers on the Bearcats’ 3,200 relay team that finished first in 9:48.26 — the third-best time in the state this season, according to MileSplit.

Orosz’s success has opened a door she didn’t anticipate three years ago.

“When I was a freshman, I never thought I’d be going D-1,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d run in college. But that was a goal I had. It does feel weird. It’s like I’m moving on, but it’s a good thing. You’re always changing. I have something to look forward to.”

Orosz’s mother, Kim, confirmed her parents were fully on board with her college decision.

“Even if she had other offers, she felt that’s where she needed to be,” Kim Orosz said. “And she does run really well in warm weather.”

Hailey Orosz’s focus now turns entirely to this track season, with