FULLERTON, Calif. - Coming off the 2020 spring semester, Titans Athletics had the best academic semester ever with a cumulative GPA of 3.32. Student-Athletes who are flourishing away from their field of play will continued to be honored through Student Spotlight. This week's honoree is men's soccer redshirt sophomore Mario Gomez.
A native of Ronhert Park in Northern California, Gomez has been in the Fullerton area this semester and opted in to working out with the team on campus. Over the last couple months, Gomez has been working with Fullerton Rangers Youth Soccer Club.
"I heard through former and current teammates that the women's soccer head coach, Demian (Brown), has camps on the weekends, we call them skill trainings, and he said I could come help," Gomez said.
The skill trainings consist of boys and girls with the ages ranging from 3-8 and they split them into smaller groups based their ages.
"I like it because I'm a soccer player, obviously, so to be on the other side of the spectrum of the coach/player relationship is fun for me and good perspective," Gomez said. "To work to get their attention and keep it while still having fun with them is a challenge and I like it."
This isn't Gomez's first time working soccer camps with children and it is something that he finds fulfilling.
"I've worked in previous camps with kids before and it's just fun to me," Gomez said. "I think mostly the game draws me to the camps, I like being around the game of soccer. But i have a lot of nieces and nephews that are young and from that experience, I feel like I work well with kids. It definitely takes a certain level of patience and I have that."
During this time of dealing with COVID-19, Gomez has enjoyed help the children during this time but he gets something out of the experience as well.
"We just got shutdown because of the ramping up of the restrictions," Gomez said. "And hopefully we can start back up sometime in January. But I enjoy working with the kids and honestly, it's another thing to do to keep me busy, which I appreciate during these times."
The honorees are chosen by the Athletics Academics Services staff. For example, a student-athlete that is also tutor or a member of a leadership committee would be things that could could help an athlete garner the recognition. Titans student-athletes remain busy with their sport responsibilities but still find ways to thrive in the classroom as well as impact the community.
PREVIOUS STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
Carolyn Gill - September 16
Erick Juarez - September 23
Savahna Costello - September 30
Davon Clare - October 7
Trinity Ruelas - October 14
Haley Brown - October 21
Tanner Bibee - October 28
Maya Riddlesprigger - November 18
Jadie Acidera - November 25