It was during a breakout year as a 10-year-old on a championship team in his local AYSO league that Julian Font discovered that when it came to sports, soccer was the choice for him.
“That [season] was when I realized I wanted to take soccer on as my number-one sport,” says Font.
Now as a senior and captain of the varsity soccer team for JSerra Catholic High School, Font takes his leadership role seriously.
ARVE Error: need id and providerAnd with several freshmen varsity players this season, the Lions boys’ soccer head coach, Oliver Wyss, believes Font’s ability to be a role model for his younger teammates is what sets him apart.“I like to make sure that we look as professional as possible, whether it’s on the field or at school. That’s really important to me,” says the 17-year-old.
“He is a tremendous talent on the field with his pace and finishing ability, but he brings so many other qualities to our school and soccer program,” says Wyss. “He is a fantastic leader, constantly encouraging and displaying a consistent work ethic. He is also a standout in the classroom and in the community, which is paramount here at JSerra.”
“I’m going to miss representing JSerra as a whole,” says Font. “It’s always fun to see that level of play get better and better. It’s going to be different, but I have the memories of playing with friends that I grew up with.”
And when he’s not on the field, Font most likely has a guitar in hand, following in the footsteps of many of his family members who have a background in music.
“A lot of my uncles are in bands and they influenced me to take on guitar,” says Font. “It’s always been as serious as soccer is to me.”
But for now, Font’s path is focused on soccer, having committed to play for the University of California, Irvine beginning next fall. During the overwhelming and sometimes stressful recruiting process, Font spent countless hours alongside his father attending soccer showcase events and reaching out to coaches.
“When it came down to it, I realized [UCI is] where I want to play for the next four years,” says the Ladera Ranch resident. “It’s a great group of guys; I’ve met them all.”
As he plays in his final year for the Lions, Font says that his high school soccer experience has taught him plenty about leadership and humility, and how crucial it is to have the support of a good team.
Photo credit: Sarah Reid