FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
Thanks in large part to its defense; the La Feria Lions are off to an impressive 5-0 start to the season. On the defense is senior linebacker Robert Fraga, who leads the Lions defense with 31 total tackles, two sacks and one interception in three games.
The Valley Morning Star had a chance to catch up to Fraga before the team’s big game against the Rio Hondo Bobcats.
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Q: It’s your senior season, what are you going to miss the most when you graduate?
ROBERT: I am going to miss playing home games. Seeing the stands packed with fans cheering you on is an awesome feeling, especially when it’s an intense matchup. It’s truly a feeling like nothing else.
Q: What has been this week’s message heading into the Rio Hondo game?
ROBERT: There needs to be a lot of energy and effort going into the game. We need to start and finish the game strong. It is paramount that we play physical and with a lot of intensity.
Q: You’ve had plenty of positive moments in your athletic career, but which one stands out the most in your mind?
ROBERT: The one that stands out the most would be the time I caught an interception pass and returned it for a touchdown against Santa Rosa this year. My position coach told me that one of these games I would get an interception, and I did.
Q: What is your favorite sports quote?
ROBERT: “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan. I love this quote because it challenges a person’s ability to solve problems. There are a lot of difficulties we face, and it’s up to us to determine what we are going to do when those difficulties present themselves.
Q: What are some of your game day preparations or rituals?
ROBERT: I listen to music before a game. To pump me up, I listen to Eminem, Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent.
Q: If you could have dinner with anybody who would it be and why?
ROBERT: I would have dinner with Leonardo da Vinci. I would ask him about the many invention ideas he had such as the submarine, helicopter, flying machine, tank, etc. It amazes me that we wouldn’t be able to develop most of his ideas for centuries to come.
Q: If you had a time machine and could go anywhere for 20 minutes would you go to the future or to the past?
ROBERT: I would go to the past, in particular Italy during the Renaissance period. I would love to witness the different types of art, science, and literature that emerged from this time frame, like Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, and Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince” to name a few.