Mario Perez Jr. '15 Recruiting Profile

My parents have raised me very well to the person I am today. I am very self driven and always wanting to learn something new. Something that makes me different from other recruits is that I love to be able to put smiles on peoples faces, I`m very outgoing. I have played every sport possible, but I'm gifted the most in running. I am probably the most competitive person you will ever meet and very self driven. School is very important to me because I love to learn new things and always want to get the better grades.

I`ve been running since the 4th grade and have always competed in the highest level for my grade. My dad in high school wrestled, ran cross country and track.  He ran cross country in college as well. I have running in my blood. Running came naturally but my dad has always made sure my form was correct. My dad knew I had something special when I started winning or finishing in the top 5. Mosts races I was running   one age group higher. 

Freshman year was a very good year for me knowing i was running varsity till VOL championships. I was the seventh fastest runner in my league. In a lot of invitationals and league meets I was always the first freshman to finish in the varsity races. My fastest time that year was a 16:54. When it came to VOL Championships and Sub Sections I ran Frosh/Soph and took first in both races.

Sophomore year i didn't make grades because of my biology class in which I didn't do well. This was probably the toughest year for me because of not making grades and being unfocused in school and sports. That fall I ended up running track and the week before I had my first race I had a hairline fracture on my left ankle and was out for 3 weeks. When i came back I wasn't in the best shape but still ended up placing top 10 for league championships for the 3200. 

Junior year I transferred schools so I can focus in school only and get on the right path. The school I transferred to did not have cross country and track so i did not run at all my Jr.  year. The school did have a basketball program in which I particiapted in and did pretty good. I ended up leading D4 nation is assist (12.2 APG)  and double doubles (4 that year). I lead my team to the playoffs and got knocked out the first round. For Spring I ended up playing Golf and made playoffs for that as well. 

Senior year I started up a Cross Country team and now our team has grown to have 5 people on the team. It has had a pretty good season so far. I personally still need to improve my times much more but its a good start for me since not running in two years. I have very high expectations for myself and hope to accomplish those through out time as the season goes on. I hope to further my running and run in college.