Q: How are you adjusting to being on varsity?

A: “Being on varsity is a big jump. It’s a lot of pressure backing up your older brother who is a big part of the team and just trying to make it with the older guy[s].”

Q: How do the practices affect your school and social life?

A: “We practice everyday so balancing school and practice is sometimes hard. You just gotta do whatever you can with what time you have. I might also do track for LC and that will be a challenge balancing that in my life.”

Q: How do you balance homework and practice?

A: “Since football goes [till 6 p.m.] you really just have to do as much as you can during class and PTE because you really have no time. You’re always so tired after [practice], you just wanna go home and sleep.”

Q: How often do you practice?

A: “[We practice] for like three [or] four hours every day except Sundays.

Q: Do you plan on participating in any other sports throughout your high school career?

A: “I might do track this year but I’m injured right now.”

Q: What are some of the differences being on varsity versus Freshman or JV?

A: “Freshman was so easy, everyone played both ways [but] competition wasn’t as good. And then JV is just a little bit better but Varsity is just hard. You see the guys that played so much last year not playing at all. It’s more stressful.”

Q: What are some improvements you need to work on?

A: “I need to be able to tackle better and get big because I’m pretty skinny.”

Q: How are you feeling for the rest of the season?

A: “I’m feeling kind [of] bad [about the rest of the season] because I just tore a muscle a couple weeks ago, so I’m not going to be able to play for awhile and it sucks because I was injured last year too and I didn’t play that much.”

Q: Do you look up to any football players or teams?

A: “I look up to my older brother who plays the same position as me and I’m his backup, so it’s just a lot of pressure knowing that I have to fill his shoes and kind [of] replace him when he leaves.”  

Q: What have you learned about teamwork from being on Varsity?

A: “[That] you can’t play a sport by yourself.”  

Q: How does the team make you a better player?

A: “There are just so many positive guys on the team that bring you up and when they’re playing good it shows that you wanna play good.”

Q: How did you get injured?

A: “A guy fell on my knee and it [bent] back and I tore a muscle.”  

Q: Are you out for the season?

A: “I could be.  It all depends on how it gets better. If I do play, it’s going to be the last couple of games.”