Varsity football player, Ayden Sanchez (12), is a star player in the game; bringing his talent and strength, Sanchez has made himself a headliner for the Aliso football team.
Sanchez has been playing football since he was five years old and has played on varsity all four years of high school. As a linebacker and receiver, Sanchez is a valued asset to the team on offense and defense.
On Friday Oct. 6, at Aliso’s Homecoming game against Capo Valley High School, Sanchez amazed the crowd. During the first half, Sanchez completed an impressive hurdle over an opposing player, highlighting his impressive abilities as an athlete.
While tackling the challenges of football, Sanchez is able to manage his workload and maintains good grades. Last year he was awarded as scholar athlete for having a 3.8 GPA by the end of the year.
Sanchez commented, “It’s definitely not an easy task but I’ve been playing sports my entire life and I’ve gotten into a routine.”
As a dual sport athlete, Sanchez not only dominates on the football field, but also on the lacrosse field. Sanchez has played on the Aliso Varsity Lacrosse team for two seasons, and will play his final season in the spring.
Sanchez has gone to the CIF lacrosse finals with Aliso twice, and helped the team win the 2022 Division II CIF Championship his sophomore year. Last year, Sanchez was awarded as the Best Defensive Player of the Year for lacrosse.
Sanchez states that his biggest accomplishment as an athlete is his commitment to Mercer University. In July, Sanchez announced his commitment to play Division I lacrosse for Mercer University in Georgia.
When asked about what solidified his commitment, Sanchez explains that, “The coaching was the biggest part. The coaches seemed to like me the most and they were the most enthusiastic with me. But my heart and my thoughts were definitely the main motivator for what I picked.”
Sanchez is viewed highly by his teammates and coaches, and admired for his dedication to the team.
Football player Marcus Macabitas (12) comments, “I’ve known Ayden for a long time… I play with him in lacrosse and I play with him in football. He’s probably the best teammate I’ve ever had. He’s always there picking up other people and he plays any position he needs to. He’s played every position on this field. I love him as a friend, and he means a lot to me and I’m glad to have been able to play with him.”
Not only is Sanchez admired and respected by his teammates, but also by his coaches.
Coach Calahan, Aliso’s Head Coach for the varsity football team states, “Ayden Sanchez is what we call a dog. He does everything a coach wants out of a player. He can play any position on the field and he has this season… He never complains and does whatever needs to be done in order to win. He has been an absolute pleasure to coach these last two years.”
According to Calahan, Sanchez has played six different positions on the field this year. Sanchez has earned himself a substantial amount of recognition for his skills this season and continues to impress his peers.
The football season has ended and Sanchez expressed his appreciation to have played alongside his teammates. He is looking forward to the next chapter of his sports career.