Q: How long have you been playing your sports?
A: Football I have been playing since I was 6. I started out with flag football, then we moved to here and I continued to play through the league.
Q: Did you ever play any other sports growing up?
A: I played soccer for two years, but I got kind of tired of it, so I just went with football.
Q: What was it about football that drew your attention?
A: Not sure, I guess I just love running the ball and football.
Q: Why add track in high school?
A: I did wrestling my freshman year but really didn’t like that, so I tried track the next year and I found I love it and I plan on doing it again my senior year.
Q: How much training do you do per day or week on a yearly basis?
A: Every day, weekends are off, but five days a week, every week.
Q: How does your training differ when you are in the season compared to the offseason?
A: Not much difference at all, really.
Q: Do you have downtime away from sports?
A: Maybe a couple of weeks, in-between track and football.
Q: is the downtime important?
A: Yes, because I just need a break and let my body recharge for those few weeks.
Q: Rating the sports you play versus academics, which is more important in your life?
A: Academics, for sure, I think, because if I get good academics along with sports, because it will help me get into a college.
Q: Are sports and academics close in ranking in life importance?
A: Yeah, oh yeah.
Q: What skills do sports teach you that you apply to life?
A: I didn’t like wrestling but that sport really teaches you life skills, like just in case if someone comes up on you, you can use those skills. Also, teamwork is another one, learning how to work together.
Q: What goals do you have for your senior year, academically and/or athletically?
A: Academically, I hope to achieve over a 4.0 GPA, I think I’m capable of doing it and I’m going to try really hard. Then I’m, obviously, going to try my hardest at football and see where that takes me, but I also think I can get a couple of offers for track, maybe throwing the javelin.
Q: Having medaled at states in javelin as a junior, does that give you more motivation to do even better as a senior?
A: Oh yeah, for sure.
Q: What has been your best high school sports moment?
A: Going to state for the first time in track and field.
Q: Any coaches, teachers or family members who have helped you reach this point?
A: Mr. (Dave) Perkins is always supportive, Mr. (Justin) Martin, also my parents as well, cheering me on and leading me in the right direction.
Q: What advice would you give to the next generation of Conchs?
A: Work hard, try your hardest and try to bring people up instead of down. Have some good sportsmanship.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve received?
A: My dad always tells me that if someone is getting put down, try to bring the positivity up, show some good sportsmanship.
Q: Having invested so much time — physically, mentally, and emotionally — in your sports, how can you have proper closure during your senior year?
A: Between focusing on school and sports, I just want to try my hardest in everything I do.
Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of sports?
A: I like working on my truck and hanging out with family and friends.
Q: What are some challenges you’ve faced as a student-athlete?
A: Fitting in school with sports, because I get home late at night and I’ll have a couple of hours of work to do.
Q: If you could add one hour to your day, what would you do with it?
A: Either catching up on sleep or catching up on school.
Q: What are your plans for after high school?
A: I’m planning to go to college and then to medical school to become an anesthesiologist.
Q: If you have an opportunity to play a sport in college, no matter the size or location of the school, will you take it?
A: Yes, probably, yes.
Q: Is there any skill you feel you need to improve on to make it at the collegiate level?
A: I just need to get faster and stronger, everything has to go up.
Q: What would you tell your college roommate about the Keys?
A: It’s paradise and awesome.
Q: On your first trip back home, what will be the meal you ask for?
A: Probably shrimp scampi from my dad, that’s my favorite.
Q: You talked about wanting to go into anesthesiology. What interests you in that career field?
A: Honestly, I would love to go into the medical field and if I’m right there next to surgery, that would be pretty awesome, also knowing that their life is in your hands. I feel like it would be stressful and fulfilling at the same time.
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