After you graduate high school, I know you plan on going the military route, or trade school, and I heard you are in contact with a head coach to play football in college. Which of those routes are you leaning towards the most?
Xavier: I’m leaning towards the military for sure. I don’t think college football or football in general is for me anymore.
What branch of the military were you thinking of joining?
Definitely the Marine Corps.
What was the most enjoyable moment of your senior year?
I think my most enjoyable moment was probably going on [Mr.] Viteri’s fishing trip.
You played football for all four years of high school. Which year was your favorite and what would you say was the best moment of your career?
In many ways I’d say my junior year was my favorite because I was at my best level of health and athleticism and being an overall athlete. But for sure senior year had the best moment for me because I got an opportunity to lead the team.
I also know that you had a season ending injury early on, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you feel after that?
Definitely took a piece of what I was and threw it in the fire. I feel like I’m working to fill that void that I’ve lost with sports.
You wrestled for two years. How did it differ from football? Which year was your favorite?
Wrestling differs from football because you are out there on your own, and win or lose, that’s up to you. It’s all about the work that you put in, and you can’t rely on anyone but yourself. Junior year was definitely my favorite year.
What was the most memorable moment in your high school career?
Summer workouts during football season. Just grinding and bonding with my team, and leading, making other people better and making myself better.
If you could tell your freshman self one thing, could be anything, what would you tell yourself?
Step up and be a leader earlier, and focus up in the classroom.
How hard has senioritis hit you?
Dude, this last semester of high school, senioritis, for lack of better words is kicking my a**.
If you had the chance to re-do your high school experience would you do it? Why or why not?
No, just because mistakes I made, they were all lessons that will stick me, and I wouldn’t trade the friends I made along the way.
If you could change one thing about your high school experience, what would it be?
Dude, definitely earlier on I would stop focusing on things that don’t matter, like girls. Around my sophomore year, definitely just focusing on my grades and sports.
Are you excited to graduate? Do you think you’ll miss high school?
I’m not necessarily excited to graduate, but I am excited to finally be doing my own thing, starting a career and not worrying about having to wake up at 6:30 a.m. I also don’t necessarily think I’ll miss high school, but I’ll keep the good parts of high school with me, and keep the real ones and good friends I made along the way.
