I don't know how good I'll be, it's a lot to learn.
I want to introduce you to this new sport.
Freshman year, wow. Let's see what's in store for me.
Learning this new sport is hard.
You're never gonna play, practicing like that.
This is how I was introduced to football. My friend Randy invited me to play a game with him and I was nervous because it was something new.
I know that the only way I can get better is if I put in the work.
After being introduced to the sport, I began my football career in high school.
I know it's supposed to be student athlete, but I feel like an athlete student sometimes.
Due to it being my first year, I had a lot of learning to do but my coaches expected a lot out of me.
Wow!!! Thanks Coach
The Iron Man Award goes to Hector Medina
With such high expectations, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands and better myself in anyway I could.
I had a hard time balancing school and football because I had so much to accomplish in the classroom and on the field.
At the end of Freshman year, all of my hard work paid off as I received the Iron Man award.
Starting my sophomore year, I became even more dedicated to becoming stronger to be the person my team could rely on.
I was able to accomplish one of my goals that I had set from the beginning of the year, and it was a feeling like no other. To play under the Friday Night Lights.
My first game under the lights.
Medina54
Even more time was invested in learning the playbook and building chemistry with my teammates while doing it.
You're gonna be playing center for us this year.
I play football and injured it during a game.
So how did you hurt your knee?
You can do it. Just keep practicing and work hard.
My coaches have me learning a new position and it's hard.
Even with a varsity position, it wasn't what I had planned. This was a position I had never played before.
Hector, you're moving back to offensive tackle.
I encountered many obstacles, one being an injury during sophomore year, making me rely on knee braces for the rest of my career.
I always had doubts if this was for me, but one person that always kept me motivated was my mom.
We were so close.
I was switched back to my original position of offensive tackle my junior year.
I'm making you team captain this year.
My team was really good, but we were always missing a piece to become great.
Hey bro, are you gonna eat that?
Due to that missing piece, we missed the playoffs by an overtime loss.
Coach Locke
Coach Locke
Senior year, I was given a responsibility I always wanted. I was chosen to be the leader of the team.
I always enjoyed spending time with my teammates during team dinners.
Senior season was a success and we were firing at all cylinders. We were given the opportunity to play in playoffs for the first time in seven years.
We made playoffs!
I can't believe we lost.
All Star 54
Let's EAT!!!
The bus rides were always where I isolated myself and turned my focus onto the game.
I have a lot to think about, to make my decision.
I think it might be best to not play in college and hang up my cleats. I don't think my body can take another four years of playing.
Unfortunately, our playoff run was cut short with a close game loss to end our season.
A month after season I was invited to play in an All Star game, to lace up one last time.
That's it for me.
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I received the opportunity to play in college at the University of La Verne.
La Verne54
After long consideration, and everything that I had endured, I didn't believe that continuing my career was a good idea.
I came to the conclusion to end my career in high school and focus on the next chapter of my life.