Jasmin Buenrostro: What are some of your main thoughts for running as Mr. Cardinal?

Alejandro Davalos: Uhm, I believe that running for Mr. Cardinal is more like a community service act. Representing the school as a student for the students is my main reason.

JB: What are some skills you have that make you believe you’ll become Mr. Cardinal?

AD: I think I’m a good well-rounded person, as in I’m able to take initiative for myself and for others. I have good leadership and I like to commit to my community. 

JB: I saw that you were on the football team, is that true?

AD: Oh yes, I’m on the football team, varsity starter, number 73. Offensive left tackle and defensive end.

JB: What strengths do you have that make you believe you are a good athlete?

AD: I think I’m really capable of keeping people accountable, especially when they are feeling down and we’re, you know, low on the score. Recently, we had to come back from two loss streaks and yesterday’s game (09/07) was a really big one because they raised everybody’s hype for the next coming weeks.

JB: Tell me about a time when you played badly. What’s something you’ve learned or something you’ll do differently next time?

AD: I think I was mainly playing badly last year because I didn’t have much football knowledge in general. But when I was doing badly, I think the main thing I did was talk with my coaches. Find out the best methods to make sure I’m successful and not just one play and the bad plays, but every play when I’m doing good. I want to do better than good.

JB: What have you learned about teamwork throughout your past experiences on the team?

AD: I know for a fact that to have good teamwork, you have to have good friendships and good bonds because without good bonds people won’t actually listen to one another. So, if you have good bonds, it’s easier to make a team work together. 

JB: How would you motivate your team after losing a game?

AD: I would probably just give a prep talk. Can I mention names, is that okay? Well, one of my teammates, LaRay, he’s one of the main guys. He always steps up and he talks in front of the team. He lets everybody know that this isn’t the end of the line for anybody and there’s always time for improvement. Even off the field, even out of the games. There’s always a time when we all can come together and just make it work so we can win the next game.

JB: How do you ensure your team doesn’t get overwhelmed?

AD: That’s a good question. I think it’s more of spreading out the work. Instead of putting all the work onto one person. It’s good to have multiple leaders instead of only one person because then that person is going to feel like they have to carry all the burdens of the team.

JB: Is there a coach or perhaps another athlete that you look up to as a role model?

AD: I think for sure the athlete that I look up to is number 64, Miking Cash. He’s a great player overall. He’s never looked down on anybody. He’s always picking up other people with his hype. He has a good personality, and good talks too. He gives good advice all the time. He’s always giving 100%. I’ve never seen a time where he’s just sluggish and walking around. He’s always on both sides because he plays offense and defense all the time so he’s never out of the game. So for a person to never be out of the game and never be tired is just amazing to me. 

JB: What are some qualities you believe a coach should have?

AD: I think it’s good for a coach to have a little bit of strictness, and also have a bit of leeway because I am pretty sure when players are playing, they want to have fun, but also they want to have that strictness to where they’re having fun and they’re winning games. Because no one wants to joke around and lose games. Also, nobody wants to be super strict and then play a game and not have fun. Because that’s what the game is for, to have fun.

JB: How do you manage time between your sports and school work?

AD: I think at this point, since sports go all the way to 8:30pm and I usually go to sleep around 10pm, I think there’s a time where you have to kind of make time for homework. And stuff like that between school. I think that’s just a trait for college too. Because most of the time for sports, you wake up super early and you’re starting sports, and then you go to class and then you go to another practice in the middle of everything. So you just got to find time between classes to be able to finish some work. Even if it’s not fully finished, just get some of it done. So by the end of the day, you’re able to finish it.