Aldine ISD Spring 2024

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ALDINE GOLF CHASING Aldine’s Ochoa is Her Own Hype Machine

ANOTHER CROWN

\\ By Matthew Ogle

FOR MOST PREMIER GOLFERS, THEY’VE BEEN COMPETING SINCE CHILDHOOD. However, that isn’t the case for Aldine’s Victoria “Toya” Ochoa. Despite the prowess she has displayed on the course, Ochoa surprisingly began competing in the sport just a year ago. After dealing with an ongoing ACL injury from her days playing volleyball, she was ultimately led to the links. “I had to find a way to kill some time after the injury,” she said. “I didn’t want to just sit around on my butt. He (Coach Rhoden) and the team seemed pretty cool, so I figured I’d try it out just to mess around and goof off. “I’m usually pretty relaxed, however, I’m still very competitive. So, I got pretty good at it, and it worked out for me.” It would seem so, considering in just her first year, Ochoa would finish fourth overall in the district tournament. Her friendly demeanor isn’t limited to the golf course either. After all, she happened to be this year’s Homecoming Queen. “I’m not the shy type at all, I’m very loud,” Ochoa laughed. “The whole week of Homecoming, I was going up to everybody saying ‘vote for me, vote for me’. I’m also a trainer, so I was telling all the football guys the same thing. The whole experience afterwards was really cool, and we obviously had a good time.” Ochoa has already cemented her status as a do-it all student-athlete at Aldine. Given her background in the training program, her career choice shouldn’t come as a surprise once she graduates in the coming months. “I’m going to attend college to pursue a career in Kinesiology,” she said. “My experiences with injuries and the training program kind of inspired that. But even before then, I wanted to be a physical therapist. I’m fascinated by that career path.” She’s already acquired the Homecoming crown. All that’s left for her to achieve now is a district title on the course, prior to an inevitable run in the postseason. That would be the way to go out as an Aldine High Mustang.

Victoria Ochoa

ALDINE ISD \\ 7

vype.com \\ SPRING 2024 \\