IN THE EYES OF THE PLAYER

Individual players take on key roles to support the team

by Michelle Rosas, Web Assistant

The majority percent of people going to watch Friday Night football games are there to see the touchdowns and make high school memories. The focus is more on the ball and field rather than the people who are making everything happen.

As the countdown ticks, the Bearcat football team trains harder and harder everyday to get ready for the football game. The Bearcat football team trains anywhere between 9 - 15 hours per week.

Senior Bastiaan Jaureguy trains as much as he can to get ready for a game.

“I’d probably say I take 15 hours to 16 hours a week, making sure that everything’s set perfectly in my own head so I can play my best football”, Jaureguy said.

Jaureguy also says that there’s always pressure when being on the field but he tries his best to not overthink. He says that once you start to get into your head that’s when you start to mess up. As well as training and practicing for a game Jaureguy likes to prepare himself before a game by thinking about the plays he’s going to make and taking deep breaths and putting earbuds on.

Jaureguy says he spends six days a week practicing and preparing for games and takes Sundays off to let his body rest.

All those days and hours of training are worth it because at the end of the day Jaureguy gets to play on the field, being one of the Bearcat’s top players. He plays both offense and defense as tight end and defensive end, only taking a break on kickoff, punt, and kickoff return. He has been on varsity since his sophomore year, and has played a huge role in helping the team get to the second-round of CIF this year on the field and just helping hype the team up before the game.

“I feel this big high go through my body, and then it just gets me pumped up and I’m ready for the game,” Jareguy said.

Another player on the team, Dominic Weber says that before a game he mentally prepares himself and thinks about how he can use all of his effort to help his team win the game. Weber starts on the offensive line, and has earned over 10.5 pancakes this season, and is constantly trying to improve.

“I try to think about what I need to do. How I can give all my effort— what’s gonna happen—how I can react. What I need to do to beat my opponent,” Weber said When it comes to training, Weber spends around 10 - 13 hours a week training for a game. Once Weber steps foot on the field he feels this rush of adrenaline and a small feeling of nervousness.

“For me, I feel a lot of energy, a lot of excitement. I also feel nervous. But for me, it’s just going out there to have a good time,” Weber explained.

Player #51 Brain Ibarra has his own way of preparing before a game. Ibarra also plays on the offensive line.

He spends about five days a week working and perfecting himself to do his best for a game. Before a game, Ibarra says he imagines himself playing his heart out and giving it his all during the game.

“I imagine myself out there just playing my heart out and my butt off just to win the game,” Ibarra said.

Ibarra also says that when the team wins he feels a lot of joy and he feels great. But that he will start focusing harder on how he can help his team win the next game.

Thanks to these bearcats, the rest of the football team, and the coaches, the Bearcats crushed have had a winning record of 7-3 this season, and are continuing on in the CIF Division II tournament.