Melany Jimenez 

• Grade: 11

• Sport(s): Soccer, Cross Country

• Position(s): Outside back, center back, sometimes holding center mid

• Age Started Playing: 13

How would other people describe you as an athlete?

Energetic.

How and why did you start playing? 

I started playing because I wanted to be a part of a team and I didn’t make the basketball tryouts.

Describe how you prepare before a game/tournament. 

I usually just try to get my energy up, drink a little Red Bull, listen to music, and just talk to my friends to get in a good mood.

For people that have never played your sport, what do you think the average person gets wrong about it? 

I think people underestimate how much it actually takes. It seems like a simple sport but it has way more to it.

What personal superstitions or traditions do you have before, during or after a game? 

I usually try to get some candy in before the game, get my carbs in. I try to give myself at least a moment to listen to music and catch up with everything that’s happened.

Tell us about your favorite memory as an athlete either on or off the field. 

Probably when Jordan scored from like half the field, or just having conversations with friends during warmups. Rondos are usually pretty fun too, we talk about the dumbest things.

Tell us the story about what you are most proud of yourself for.

I’m proud at the fact that I learned to play a new position really quickly and it helped me go from junior varsity to varsity within the next year.

As an athlete, who is someone you are thankful for and why? 

I am really thankful for Jordan because she’s always in a good mood. She always tries to make people better, never really has anything negative to say, and she just tries to build people up.

What advice would you give to your younger self when you began playing?

I would probably tell myself to just enjoy the progress, have fun, and try being better.

What’s on your sports bucket list? 

I hope to score a goal off a corner, I still have not scored a single goal for the two years of varsity, and I hope to become better at other positions hopefully and just be sure of my spot.

Favorites

• Team/Sport Ritual or Tradition: We handshake with the people around us before we start the game and I feel like it just brings the energy up and connects us.
• Pre-Game Meal:  Subway
• Post-Game Meal: Coke Zero or junk food
• Exercise: RDLs, Bench press, and running
• Hype Music: Tyler The Creator, Drake, and Kanye West
• Movie/TV Show: “Home”
• Coach: Gretchen Kloes