Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, Picayune’s Matias Orozco!

You know the popular saying that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog? Well I’m convinced Mark Twain was talking about this week’s outstanding recipient. He may not be the oldest or the biggest, but boy does he have the heart, passion and talent that makes him one of the best on the courts here in the Magnolia state. Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, Picayune’s Matias Orozco!

At nine years old, Picayune’s Matias Orozco was looking forward to playing at the park to celebrate his birthday. Better than any gift brought to his party, Orozco was introduced to his passion.

“Two guys that were at the party came with two cheap Walmart racquets and a can of balls and they just starting hitting over there, so I was like ‘Oh, let me try this!’ and so I went and hit a couple of balls and after that my dad saw I was interested in it and got me a small racquet so I could start playing and then on I just started practicing and actually playing everyday and working,” said Matias Orozco.

Little did he know that the sport of tennis was in his blood. Orozco’s father, Oscar, played tennis during his time in Venezuela.

“He might honestly be the most important figure in my entire thing because my dad has been my coach before I joined the junior high team. My dad has been the one pushing me, helping me get through everything,” said Orozco. “The one that has given me all the strategies and he’s even the one that got me this tennis racquet and these strings. Literally everything I have for tennis. I owe everything to him.”

Now 13-years old, Orozco is continuing his father’s legacy by playing varsity for the Picayune Maroon Tide. Not only has he been representing the school since the 7th grade, but he’s also commanding the entire court being their number one singles player.

“You have to think about everything,” Orozco said. “You have to make all of your own choices. If you mess up, it’s your own fault, but when you do good it’s like ‘Oh, let’s go! I did it by myself!’ and I like to just depend on myself. I like playing doubles. I think it’s great and fun, but the feeling of singles, I can be out there doing exactly what I want and I just like it.”

And just like his play, he’s at the top of the leader boards by himself too. In the past year Orozco won the 12U Mississippi State Championship, clinched back to back district titles for the Maroon Tide, and is ranked the number one 8th grader in the state.

“It’s great. It makes me feel like I am on the right path to achieve great things, which I very much want to do,” said Orozco. “I want to make this something I can do pretty much the rest of my life. I love doing this, so just the fact that it makes me feel like I’m doing the right things and it’s good motivation that if I’m doing the right things then I can move forward.”

Accomplishing many goals at such a young age, Orozco now has his eyes on an even bigger prize!

“Now winning state is a big thing for me!” Orozco said. “I tried last year and didn’t get it. Made it to the semi’s. This year I’m working because I really want to get state.”

By winning district, Orozco has already punched his ticket to the individual state championship, but for the team as a whole, Picayune will face West jones on Monday for the second round of playoffs. Best of luck to Matias and the rest of the Maroon Tide as they inch closer and closer to the State Championship title!