Julian Mendoza is a rugby player who shares his journey in the sport, along with his motivations, goals, and experiences balancing athletics and school.
Question: Can you introduce yourself?
A: My name is Julian Mendoza, and I play rugby.
Q: What motivates you to play rugby?
A: My brothers introduced me to rugby when I was nine years old, and they would take me to Saturday morning practices with them. Ever since then, I’ve been part of the team and have continued to grow. Coach Sweeny has known me since I was really young, so playing with him now is an honor. It’s really special to me.
Q: Who do you mainly feel supported by, and why?
A: I feel mainly supported by my brothers, my coaches, and my friends because they all support me a lot and push me to my limits.
Q: How do you balance rugby, academics, and your personal life? What are your greatest challenges, and what strategies help you?
A: I always try to be a student before an athlete. When I’m in school, I focus on my work, tests, homework, and assignments instead of just thinking about rugby. There are times when I visualize how practice will go later, but I balance it by staying focused on school first.
Q: How do you think you can improve, and what are your goals?
A: I think I can improve by being a leader for my team—being there for my teammates, helping them at practice, and not goofing around. That can help both me and the team improve overall. One of my main goals is to play rugby in college.
Q: What are your plans after high school? Do you plan to continue playing rugby?
A: I do plan on continuing to play rugby in college. I’ve had several colleges email me about tours and their rugby programs, and they’ve mentioned scholarships. I definitely want to keep playing after high school.
Q: Are there any other sports you are interested in playing in the future? Which ones, and why?
A: I don’t think there are any other sports I’m interested in playing in the future—it’s mainly rugby. I did play basketball and football when I was younger, but that’s about it.
