Johnny Cruz '22 Recruiting Profile

My mother is one of my biggest influences as she is my pride and joy. She has high expectations and pushes me harder than anyone.  Therefore, I want to make her proud. She is competitive, strong, hardworking, and caring. Seeing her do everything she can for me, makes me want to be successful when I am older.  I want to pay her back for everything she has done for me and my siblings. I became interested in track during my seventh grade year. I tried out and quickly realized I was a natural.   I knew I had the potential to excel at this sport. Running track has taught me to push myself so I can reach my goals.  I must keep pushing even when I feel I cannot go anymore. My goals for high school are to graduate with at least a 3.5 GPA, to continue to be a leader on and off the track, and to be a positive role model for my team and classmates. After completion of high school, I would like to graduate from college with a Bachelors degree. One obstacle I have overcome was the loss of my dad when I was eight years old.  Growing up without a father was difficult because I had to adjust to life without him.  I had to learn at a young age that life is hard and not fair. Losing my dad was difficult, but it helped me realize giving up was not an option.  I learned to be resilient and bounce back from this unexpected tragedy.  I joined sports and was able to turn my grief into strength. A strength that has helped me become a successful and coachable athlete. I am passionate, intelligent, and competitive. I strive to be the the best and will work and adjust so I can succeed at this goal. I am goal oriented and a quick learner.  I take positive criticism and use it to become better. I am charismatic and a leader. I work with my teammates and help encourage them, so as a team we can win. These attributes set me apart from anyone else.