Handley High School 17-year-old senior
Sport: Volleyball. Position: Defensive specialist
Parents: Heather and Jose Onzura
Hometown: Winchester
What do you love about volleyball?: I really enjoy the adrenaline rush it gives me, whether it’s making a good play or winning a close match.
Most memorable moment in volleyball: Probably this past year, winning a set against Millbrook and James Wood, because they are really great schools at volleyball.
Most embarrassing moment in volleyball: Running into the bleachers to save a ball. I believe it was this year against James Wood. I was just at least surprised that I got the ball up, and I saved the ball, but we didn’t end up getting the point because it was out of the antenna.
Most difficult moment in volleyball: Probably when COVID happened, where everything was shut down. I pretty much went a long time without playing volleyball, and then I had to rebuild my skills again.
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My grandma. She passed away two years ago, but she was really fun to have around and she always knew how to make me laugh, and I absolutely love her. My favorite athlete Samantha Bricio. She’s a professional volleyball player, and I would just love to meet her. My tía Lupe from Mexico. I would probably have her make the meal if I had to have dinner with her, because she makes the best Mexican food.
Biggest athletic influence: Definitely my coach, [Handley volleyball] Coach [Kristen] Larson, because she saw that I had potential, even when I didn’t see it in myself, and she always pushed me to be better.
Favorite teacher: My former sixth-grade math teacher at [Daniel Morgan Middle School] Joseph Wood. He really helped me, because I struggled in math that year, and he would just go over through the problem step by step and helped me get a better understanding of what I was doing.
Favorite athlete: Samantha Bricio
Favorite sports team: Baltimore Orioles
Favorite movie: “McFarland, USA”
Favorite TV show: “The Vampire Diaries”
Favorite song: “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Favorite food: Gorditas. It’s a Mexican dish. It’s made from corn, which we call “masa” in Spanish, and you could fill it with steak or chicken or anything you want.
Worst thing you’ve eaten: Menudo. It’s a Mexican food, but it’s like a soup where, obviously there are vegetables, but it’s a type of meat that I just don’t really care for.
Plans after high school: I want to attend Laurel Ridge Community College. I haven’t decided what I’m going to study yet. I’m bouncing between options, but I do know in future years, I would like to continue my passion for volleyball, and I would like to open my own club one day.
— Compiled by Justin Robertson
