Paola Orozco is a junior at Carroll University, competing on the Pioneers' cross country and track and field teams. A native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, Orozco has familial connections to Guanajuato and Uriangato, Mexico. The opportunity to compete collegiately is not just a chance to showcase her skills and hard work, but also to represent her family, their origins and the sacrifices they have made.
To Orozco, heritage is a combination of culture, traditions, values and beliefs, which she represents through the lessons her parents have taught her, including hard work, perseverance and commitment.
The CCIW is proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, and recognize the accomplishments and impact that Hispanic and Latino student-athletes, coaches, and staff have made across the conference.
Orozco found a love for running years before arriving on Carroll's campus. In middle school, she developed a passion for the sport through the "Pacer test," an aerobic capacity and endurance test used in school physical education. She recalls encouragement from her coach, Mr. Wartzenluft, known as "Coach Dubs," who pushed her to pursue cross country and track and field at a higher level.
As a young athlete, Orozco looked up to the runners whose story inspired the film "McFarland, USA," drawing particular inspiration from the depiction of Danny Diaz's efforts in the team's state championship race, recalling that "he never gave up, he fought every second in the race, and ultimately carried his team to victory."
Currently, Orozco looks up to runners like Mica Rivera Wood and María Lorena Ramírez because of their dedication to the sport. Rivera Wood competed collegiately at Utah State University before transitioning to professional running and representing Peru's national team. Ramírez is a native of Rejocochi, a small community in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, who gained international recognition after winning the 2017 Cerro Rojo UltraTrail, a 50-kilometer ultramarathon, while wearing huaraches, traditional handmade sandals, and traditional clothing.
While Paola draws inspiration from these popular figures in the sport, her "why" is much more than that.
When Orozco steps to the starting line, she carries the impact her family has had on her and their heritage. The opportunity to represent her family's sacrifices and heritage makes each run mean more to Orozco. "I show up to the start line ready to represent my family and the country they come from. I show up to represent the sacrifices they've had to make in order to give me a better life. I show up to races with my hair done by my mami, who gave up everything to give me the world."
Orozco describes, "Representing my heritage means carrying my family, their sacrifices, and their strength with me every time I step onto the course or track."
Orozco describes her experience as a Hispanic student-athlete as empowering, reinforcing her belief that she is capable of overcoming challenges and achieving her goals through perseverance. She credits much of this outlook to a saying her parents have instilled in her: "Con esfuerzo, todo es posible," which translates to "With hard work, anything is possible."
That same determination has helped Orozco navigate the challenges of balancing her academic and athletic responsibilities while staying informed about issues affecting Hispanic communities. While managing these responsibilities can be difficult, her experiences have reinforced the importance of finding a balance between pursuing her personal goals and remaining engaged with her community.
Through these experiences, Orozco has also come to recognize the importance of representation within athletics. She believes greater visibility of Hispanic and Latino student-athletes and staff can help highlight their experiences and contributions while fostering a stronger sense of inclusion and recognition throughout the athletic community.
Orozco's junior campaign with Carroll Cross Country continues October 17 at the Augustana Interregional Invitational, before the 2026 CCIW Cross Country Championship October 31.
About Hispanic Heritage Month:
National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually observed from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic culture to the nation's achievements, culture, and history.
Special thank you to Paola Orozco, Charlie Grey, Shawn Thielitz, and Carroll University Athletics for their contributions to this feature.
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The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).