MidValleySports.Com

By George Hernandez

[El Monte] I sat down with Arroyo’s triathlete Ayleen Bravo who is a Mission Valley all leaguer in flag football, soccer and softball. Bravo is currently hitting .512 with eight doubles, two triples and a home run, and 18 RBIs to go with a .608 on base percentage.

Q: Whats up kid, how’s it going?

A: Its going good thank you for asking. I’m just trying to dominate my senior year.

Q: Your final year of high school sports is coming to an end. How do you feel?

A: I am feeling a little bittersweet because I can’t believe this is my last ride. All the work I’ve been putting in since I was 7 is finally coming to an end. This is my last year of being the little girl who just wants to ball. 

Q: Being a three-sport athlete, if you had to pick one which would it be?

A: This is a very hard question. I love them all. They all gave me a different sensations and experiences. If I had to pick I would choose soccer because it gives me that adrenaline rush I had from flag football and the personal meaning like I have in softball. It gives me the best of everything. 

Q: How would your coaches and teammates describe you?

A: Very hard working, very coachable, confident, passionate on the field, and always there for her teammates. 

Q: How are you able to juggle school and three sports through the year?

A: I think the key factor is keeping a good mindset throughout everything and telling myself that I can do it. Whether that’s on the field or with my academics I just try to keep on pushing through.

Q: What has been your greatest victory and toughest defeat in any of your sports?

A: I think the greatest victory that my team has gotten was recent. We just played South El Monte and most people know that for softball they are our rivals. This year we beat them 8-6 as a team breaking their 4-year streak. One of my toughest losses was soccer season when we lost to Rosemead. We had beat them already and this time they came to fight. It was a tough game and we lost.

Q: What are you going to miss the most after you graduate?

A: Firstly I am going to miss playing with my girls. The connections I have made with people from all the sports I have played makes me so grateful. I met the best people through sports to the point where I can call them my sisters.  I’m also of course going to miss the game. The adrenaline rushes from all sports and always playing with my heart on the field.

Q: Anything you regret from your high school career?

A: One thing I regret is not playing soccer since my freshman year because I was scared. My first two years of high school I attended Bishop Amat. I knew that there was competition and I was scared that I wasn’t going to make the team. As I got older I realized that you don’t know what you’re capable of until you try it.

Q: What are your plans for after you graduate? Do you plan to still play sports?

A: After I graduate I plan on attending Mt. Sac and major in Diagnostic Medical Sonography to become an ultrasound technician. As of right now I do not plan on playing any sports but we will see what God has planned for me.

Q: Is there anything you want to say or people to know?

A: One thing I would say is to have fun at anything you do. Pour your heart out into it and give your 100% every chance you can because four years will go by fast and you will look back and regret not doing what you know you could have done.