The Claw

Patrick Brooks, age 17, is a dedicated and exemplary athlete; one of the few Varsity members of SLV Wrestling this year, he is doing his best to “finish strong no matter what happens or where [he] ends up, because once [he] starts something, [he] follows through until the end.” This is his fourth year of Wrestling for SLVHS.

Patrick’s primary sport is Football, which ended mid-November. He has been a part of Football and Wrestling since his freshman year and he says that being a part of both sports has brought him his “favorite experiences of high school.” He explains that through these sports, he learned key life-skills like “becoming responsible, working with others to achieve a common goal, and finding the value in obstacles and problems in defining a person.” He explains that, because of the challenges he faced in sports, he was able to “learn to put in the time, effort, and work to overcome them. And that is an incredibly valuable thing to learn growing up.”

Patrick illustrated the difficulties that come with managing one’s school requirements, as well as the demands of sports. He states,“It is really a huge burden to try and succeed in both school and athletics, and more often than not it requires you to go the extra mile. I have had my fair share of difficulties, but in the end I would not have done it any other way. The most important thing someone can  do as an athlete and a student is to complete the work, and to do it on time. It pays off in the long run no matter what obstacles may come your way. There is no problem out there that is not accompanied by a solution.”

It is really a huge burden to try and succeed in both school and athletics, and more often than not it requires you to go the extra mile. I have had my fair share of difficulties, but in the end I would not have done it any other way.

When asked about who is favorite teacher was, Patrick says that it was hands down Mr. Morris, “Although I only had him my freshman year, he was such an energetic and fun teacher, I would be lying to myself if I said anyone else. He was also super supportive, offering me, as well as my peers, an endless amount of motivation.” Morris was also Patrick’s Head Coach for Varsity football last year. As to this year, Patrick says that his favorite class is Photography with Ms. Yurkovich.

After High School, Patrick plans to go to Cabrillo College to complete the requirements for a transfer to the Cal Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California. Patrick’s long term goal is to work towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Transportation. As to whether or not he plays any college sports, he says it is “dependent on the demands [his] classes have of [him], because in the end, education comes first.”