Rigo Villa Player Interview

     Recently I sat down with one Tinora High School Baseball players to discuss some topics and heres what he had to say: 

Player Interview


I interviewed Tinora High School senior baseball player Luke Harris. He is a senior outfielder for the Rams this year. He has a great year this year and hopefully plans to play at the college level in the fall. 

  1. Why are you so passionate about sports?

I have to admit that I have a sports addiction. watching, discussing, and playing them. I'm naturally quite competitive, and I constantly want to improve. I've learned a ton about baseball over the years—the players, the coaches, and the tactics. I firmly feel I would make a fantastic sports analyst, which is precisely why I'm here right now.

  1. Is there any specific athlete you look up to?

A few actually, first it would have to be Mike Trout, one of the best players in the game today. I've watched him ever since he first got into the MLB, one of the best home run hitters I always try to hit every time when I'm up at home plate. Next I would have to say Justin Fields QB for the Bears. I was an instant fan when he played at OSU, and what I really admire about him is his poise and quiet confidence. The Bears have been struggling for years but he continues to ball and doesn't care about what other people think of him and how he's playing. 

  1. What do you believe are the greatest challenges that athletes face today?

Well what's been a major thing as of late is definitely mental health. What I feel that plays into that would definitely be high expectations from the athlete themselves and the people closest to them. The fear of failure can seriously affect someone's mind and how they try to cope with things in everyday life.  This can cause social approval issues, athletes worry so much about letting family and close friends down. This has an influence on how much pressure and expectations put on themselves.

  1. What have you learned about teamwork from past experiences on your teams?

Building trust takes time, which is one of the difficulties of teamwork. Being at ease with one another goes hand in hand with having trust. This is one of the reasons the practice environment is crucial because it helps us establish communication by taking the development of positive relationships within the team. When someone joins the team for the first time, we all notice this. 

  1. Have you served as a team captain before?

This year is actually my first year serving as a team captain. I must say it is a lot sometimes. I enjoy it though because it's my team leader and I have influence over how I want teammates to follow. Some days though when i'm not feeling I know i still must always give 100% and never look defeated because everyone is watching me. I do my best day in and day out and I will do that as a team captain or even a CEO.

  1. How important is an athlete's public image?

I think it is very important because this is how professional athletes market themselves. This needs to be carried out in a way that is true to them and consistent with their character and life experiences. Second, athletes must create a social media presence that communicates with their followers and represents their brand identity. Sharing their experience, ideals, and story with their audience is a part of this. Third, athletes should look for collaborations and partnerships that complement their brand identity and mission. This can improve their marketability and aid to reinforce their brand message. 

  1. What are some hobbies or interests outside of sports?

Some hobbies of mine include fishing, hunting, playing video games, and hanging out with friends on the weekends. I've gone hunting and fishing all my life with my father, uncles, and grandpa. Sometimes the hunt can take all day like 20 hours or as quick as one, it's all dependent on the animals that day. Some interest I do have is the real estate business. I read on occasion to try and understand the house selling market. I have plenty of time to figure it out but I at least try and still educate myself.

  1. What do you see yourself accomplishing in five to ten years?

I see myself in the next five years getting not just my high school diploma but also my college degree. I plan on getting a degree in business but also possibly double majoring in exercise science. I don't know where I will be attending college at but I hope to make that decision soon. Further down the road in 10 years I see myself in real estate and being a small business owner as well. And if i don't end up on that route I would like to be an athletic trainer. Grew up around sports my whole life so I'd like to always be as close to them as possible. 

  1. Rank the top five priorities currently in your life?

Well to start off number one first and foremost would have to be god because without him I would not be here. Second would be family, my parents, grandparents and other relatives. Without their constant support things would be a lot more hard and stressful but they help make things easy. Third would be my education, as I love sports I know that time will end soon but an education lasts a lifetime and will be beneficial to my future success. Next is definitely sports, I've been playing them all my life so it is a big part of me and what I love to do the most outside of school. Finally I would say my last priority would be my health. Outside of sports I like to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, like hitting the gym at least 4 days out of the week.

  1. How have the past teams you've been on made you a better player?

From all the teams I have played on in my life it has taught me a lot and helped me too. From it I got better in my batting and my batting motion. A few teammates through time help me tweak a few little mechanics. Also they helped me get faster, train in the offseason everyday that way when it was time to steal bases no one was able to get us out. Finally, just constant positivity from my teammates all year helps boost not only my confidence in play but also how I carry myself.

By: Rigo Villa

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Running Interview With Track Athlete : Destinee Smith

Tinora Football Fall Schedule Release!!!

Tinora beats Paulding in OT Thriller