Senior Leo Lai began playing football the summer before the beginning of freshman year as a leisure activity. As his passion for football grew, he started taking the sport more seriously, attending recreational and training camps outside of AHS. 

“I joined football because a lot of my close friends signed up for it and I thought, why not give it a shot?” said Leo. 

Leo then tested his luck and tried out for the football team at AHS. He qualified to be a member of the Varsity team his sophomore year. Throughout the school year, his athletic skills improved, and when he became a junior, he earned the position of all-year captain.

Leo quickly advanced in the sport during high school, but not everything was smooth sailing. During the course of the 2018 to 2019 season, the Varsity team reached the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships. However, the team, unfortunately, lost. Leo described his experience as both an emotional peak and valley.

Some of Leo’s achievements include: Lineman of the Year, Rotary Athlete of the Month, and the Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation.

Although he does not foresee football in his college career, Leo is doing his best to finish out his last year of high school. His training includes running twice a day, each run about one to two miles, in addition to a daily afternoon workout. Under quarantine guidelines, the football team has optional in-person practices.

Leo’s favorite aspect of being on the football team is engaging with new people, and meeting and interacting with others who share his love for the game.

Photo courtesy of Leo Lai