Goshen College

HIGH SCHOOL:
Competed for coaches Bekah Shenk, Adam Homo and Barry Hines at Elkhart High School … three-time cross country sectional and regional qualifier … one-time semi-state cross country qualifier … cross-country team captain (senior year) …  four years Honor Roll (academic) … graduated with a technical honors diploma and a total of 65 high school credits with an associates degree from Ivy Tech South Bend … also participated in National Honors Society, National Technical Honors Society, and was a student at the Elkhart Area Career Center for Veterinary Careers

PERSONAL:
Born on December 28 … parents are Maria Mellado and Demetrio Garcia … has one sibling, Yadhira Garcia … chose Goshen “because the environment is very positive and the people are so friendly and welcoming. Also, when I met and talked to Coach Nyce in person, he was kind and very confident in me and wanted me on the team. I just knew that I had to run for him!” … most admires his mom because “despite everything she's been through, she always found a way to keep her head up and keep on moving to make sure my sister and I have a good life” … little-known personal fact is “I'm able to crack my left knuckle non-stop” … best athletic moment was “when I was nominated a captain for my senior year of cross country. It proved that I was improving and showed me that my underclassmen respected me very much.”

QUICK FACTS:
MAJOR: Sociology
FUTURE GOALS: Qualify for the Boston Marathon, Work at Cat Care Clinic in Mishawaka, someday open my own shelter for cats, and write my own song.
HOBBIES: Playing guitar, running, collecting comic books and Funko Pops, listening to rock music
 
FAVORITES:
ATHLETE: Teagen Rodriguez
TEAM: The Goshen College men’s and women’s cross country teams
TV SHOW: The Walking Dead
MOVIE: The Super Mario Bros
VACATION SPOT: Warren Dunes State Park
MUSICAL PERFORMER: Pierce The Veil