AUSTIN — Growing up in Albany, Adam Hill is used to sports changing with the seasons.
That’s the norm for most athletes in the Class 2A town 55 miles northeast of Abilene. That’s becoming the norm for Texas Tech football signees as well.
Red Raiders football coach Joey McGuire has long admired athletes from multiple sports, especially talented athletes in track and field. He was able to watch a number of games at the UIL state championships held at Mike A. Myers Stadium last week.
Four signees from the 2024 class competed in top competition in the state of Texas. All four won at least one medal, and three won gold.
“I’m a little biased against us, but I think (multisport athletes) are the hardest workers,” Hill said. “Athletes, especially in small towns, because in soccer you have to play on both sides of the ball. You have to play basketball, you have to do track and field, and a lot of us have to play baseball. But we are the most committed and I think we can bring a lot to the table.”
Adam Hill isn’t finished with high school track and field yet.
Hill, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker, placed second in the 2A shot put (53 feet 1/4 inches) and won the 300-meter hurdles in 38.05 seconds.
He was also a favorite to win the 110 hurdles, but lost his balance after holding for a long time and made a false start. He won silver medals at this competition the past two seasons.
Hill capped off a busy day as the anchor of the Lions’ 1,600 relay with a 48.87 split. He left Austin the next morning for a playoff baseball game in Albany. The outfielder has played in the 2022 Region I-2A finals, among other games, and he hopes to add one more game before heading to Lubbock.
“(Technical coaches) love to see us do well in different sports,” Hill said. “I’m going to graduate on the 24th (May), but I should still play baseball. Their coaches are all about that. Don’t worry about being here until baseball is over, mind your business. , he said.
Hill also played as a running back for the Lions, leading the team to back-to-back state football championships. After Albany’s win in the fall, he recorded 132 rushing yards and three total touchdowns and was named Offensive MVP.
Malik Esquerra wins two medals
The 110 hurdles was a popular event for future Red Raiders. Beckville’s Jacoby Williams won the 2A race (14.19 seconds) for the third year in a row, and Killeen Shoemaker’s Malik Esquerra won the gold medal in the 5A race (13.72 seconds). Both signed as part of Tech’s freshman class.
In his state meet debut, Ezquerra also placed third in the 300 hurdles in 37.04 seconds. Since he became a sophomore and focused on track and field, he said the recruiting of soccer players has increased.
“That’s what the coaches told me,” said Ezquerra, a 6-3, 187-pound safety. “They said they’re recruiting soccer like track and field. Once the times are on track, the recruiting will increase even more because they want fast players.”
Oliver Miles wins second medal in triple jump
El Campo’s Oliver Miles won the silver medal in the 4A triple jump with a score of 48-21/2. The previous year, he won the event with a huge jump of 50-10 on his final jump.
Miles, 6-2, 175 pounds, will compete in both sports for Tech. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he was recruited as a football athlete. McGuire called him a “utility guy” who can play defensive back or receiver.
Miles said he is excited to begin coaching at the next level. He also said “atmosphere” was a key draw, a sentiment echoed by Hill and Ezquerra.
“I just went there a few times and it felt like Albany,” Hill said. “It felt like home in West Texas. Everything really felt the same, but definitely a little bigger.”
