Laredo Sports Medicine Clinic is proud to announce our spotlight athlete for June 2015…Jordy Velazquez! For most, being faced with obstacles means being severely hindered. Not very many can say they have successfully overcome the obstacles life has thrown their way, but Jordy Velazquez is a prime example of someone who has. Our spotlight athlete’s story begins as a young third grader when Jordy would watch his older brother play football. Inspired by his older brother’s ambition, Jordy decided to follow in his footsteps and joined his elementary schools flag football team. His time in flag football would leave such an impression on him that he would eventually transition to contact football during his seventh grade year. At the end of his middle school years, Jordy made the decision to continue with his football career in high school.
This is where his story begins. Always driven to succeed, Jordy decided that if he was going to participate in a sport, he was going to not only fully commit to it, but that he was going to do exceedingly well in it. Making the most out of his time during the offseason of his eighth grade year, he began lifting weights, sprinting, and working on his quickness. His hard work paid off as he was moved the be a part of the varsity football squad. He was invincible. Unstoppable. Then he encountered challenges he faced head-on.
At the beginning of his high school career, Jordy and his family lived in Rio Bravo, TX. Not having the appropriate means of transportation to get him to his early morning football practices, Jordy would jog the eight mile commute from his house to school every day. He was constantly exhausted. He knew that he aspired to receive recognition in his chosen sport, so he continued pushing forward.
His first obstacle seemingly in his rearview mirror, he then suffers a shoulder injury during one of his games that would haunt him and leave him feeling discouraged. The injury caused him to temporarily be bumped down to the junior varsity level as he healed and regained his strength. Being demoted left Jordy feeling like all his hard work and dedication had been for nothing. He lived in shame, grew to hate the sport and his coaches, and felt worthless. Yet, the anger he felt only drove him more. It drove him to prove everyone wrong and he worked hard once more with one motive in mind: to be the best he could be.
The resentment he felt towards his injury ultimately put a strain on his personality as well. He went from being the guy who was energetic and optimistic, to being aggressive and feared. Even though he discovered that being feared had its perks, he decided to channel his aggression into something positive and productive. He slowly started finding his way back. His enthusiasm returned and he started using his newfound power to lead his peers and fellow teammates in a positive manner. His rebirth and regained confidence was now being expressed again on the field and by his senior year, he had become a standout football player. He had finally reached his ultimate goal.
Throughout his high school football career, Jordy received honors such as a unanimous first team all city selection, first team all district, and was a part of the first ever district co-champion and playoff team in LBJ history. Though Jordy would also excel in other sports throughout high school such as Track & Field and Powerlifting, his football career is what stood out the most.
Jordy’s academic career is also quite impressive. As a senior preparing to graduate on June 6, 2015 from LBJ High School, he will be finishing in the top 5% of his class with a 3.8814 GPA and ranks 26th in a graduating class of 579. He was a member of the Distinguished Achievement Program all four years of high school and a member of the National Honor Society for his last two years of high school. Jordy also actively volunteered his extra time by doing community service at the local animal shelter, the Bethany House, and at LBJ football games and track events.
Jordy has an important upcoming decision to make this summer. He has already been accepted to attend college at Texas A & M in College Station but he is unsure if he would like to study Biology or Kinesiology. Ultimately, he would like to become either a dentist or a sports medicine doctor, like Dr. John Puig. Before he leaves to College Station, he will spend the summer shadowing a local dentist at Ahh Smiles. He hopes the shadowing will help teach him more about dentistry and guide him in the decision making process.
In the end, Jordy views his trials and tribulations as a blessing because they helped him get to where he is today. About the adversity he had to face, Jordy had the following to say,
“With few resources, many misfortunes, and a non-existent support system, I proved that dedication and hard work can help accomplish anything. Although to many it is just a game, I used [football] as a platform to help me get out of my agony and now this platform has contributed to most of my success. Perseverance, in the end, was the root of my successful high school athletic and academic career.”
LSMC congratulates and is proud to recognize Jordy Velazquez as June’s Spotlight Athlete.