Enrique Orellana is an 11th-grade student at Urbana High School playing his first season on the varsity basketball team. This season has been up and down for Enrique, but the energy and dedication he brings to every practice and all the games is what makes him stand out. After previous years of hard work and development both on and off the court, Orellana’s effort is finally paying off.
Enrique takes pride in being a student-athlete. Whether it’s sitting in the front row or completing long reading assignments, he is determined to succeed. “I try to put in as much work on the court as off the court in the classroom,” he says. His discipline and focus presented in school carry over to basketball. Practices and games are less stressful due to his strong work ethic and time management skills.
The Urbana basketball team is focused on Friday the 13th, when they face their rival, Linganore, in an intense regional matchup. Enrique is especially looking forward to it after their earlier loss against them. His goal for the season is for the team to reach and win the Frederick County Regional Championship, where they hope to continue advancing through the playoffs.
On the hardwood, Enrique models his game after NBA star point guard Trae Young and up-and-comer Braden Smith because of their elite playmaking and ball-handling skills. Both represent what he believes a true point guard should be. On the other hand, a more personal role model for Orellana is his older brother for what he accomplished on varsity and his academic success in college.
After high school, Enrique plans to attend a four-year college while majoring in business. When he isn’t focused on being a student-athlete, he spends his free time playing his favorite video games, including FIFA and 2k. Orellana enjoys hanging out with his friends and building his relationships. Along with participating in risk-taking and roadrunning, where you turn ideas into income, which is beneficial to his future decisions.
When asked what the biggest difference he noticed between JV and Varsity basketball was, he stated, “You have to be locked in on defense and never take plays off because the game is much faster moving.” Enrique prides his game on defense and always tries to make the right play. Not only is he good on defense, but Enrique also has the highest scoring game by a Hawk this season, recording 27 points in a win against South Carroll. He remarked on this as his favorite memory of the season.
As Enrique Orellana continues his first varsity season, he embodies the characteristics and work ethic required to excel as a student athlete. He is focused on achieving his future goals and personal improvement to help the basketball team. Looking ahead, Enrique hopes to grow both as a student and a basketball player, with a chance to make an even bigger impact next season.
