“Sip the juice cuz I got enough to go around …” The lyrics of Eric B. and Rakim have been spinning through my head all week, since I sat down to interview MHS Athlete of the week, Jose “Juice” Galvan. Jose didn’t earn his ubiquitous nickname from playing a minor part in the 1992 film starring the late Tupac Shakur. He got it, because one day at JV practice when JV Head Coach John Trujillo told the boys to drink lots of water to stay hydrated, Jose raised his hand and asked the coach if it would be okay to have a glass of juice instead. Trujillo gave him the okay, and a nickname that Jose is proud to carry with him everywhere. Jose’s favorite flavor? Mango, of course.

“Juice” is a senior at Mammoth High School. He is also a recognizable force on the Varsity Football Offensive Line. I asked Gault about his lineman. “Juice is the unofficial leader of our O-line. He is our inspiration. Our motto is, ‘Juice can block anyone.’” It was only a couple weeks back that Jose triumphantly showed up to school sporting a well-earned “Offensive Player of the Week” t-shirt. One of Gault’s Whiteshirts. I asked Head Coach Marty Thompson about the shirt. “Because he killed his guy on the line.” Anyone who really knows football understands that a team lives and dies by its offensive line. A team cannot run, pass, or kick without a set of front men who protect their guns and wheels. Galvan is a part of this unit, the offensive line, known amongst each other as: “Gault’s Dawgz.” Marty said of Jose, “He’s a hard worker, and he’s quiet. He doesn’t talk. He works every day.”

This is Jose’s third year of football. He began playing football his sophomore year of high school. I asked him what he thinks about it. “I enjoy it, because we can hit people. And, we get to eat out in Panda Express and In-and-Out for away games.” Being on the team for Jose isn’t just having fun at practice, it’s traveling to away games and making an experience of it all. His favorite item on the menu at In-and-Out is the “Double Double.” Jose has been playing soccer for several years as well. This winter will be his first year playing for Mammoth High School. When I asked “Juice” what position he intends to play, he very directly responded, “I play bench, or goalie.” His coaches all love his sense of humor. Varsity Football Assistant Coach Andrew Jones said of Galvan, “He is a hard-working, dedicated guy. Always funny. Always there. Always willing to do whatever it takes. Very dedicated to his team. He’s come a long way. Last year, he played sparingly. This year, he stepped up, playing on offensive line. The team is happy when he is playing.”

I asked Jose where he gets his sense of motivation. His coaches definitely light his fire. His parents Javier and Maria encourage him to do his best, and hope he pursues education at the college level after this year. Jose stated as far as self-motivation goes, “I know I got a long way to go till I’m out of this world. Since I have a long time till I die, I might as well do something with it. Not be a drag on society.” A simple mantra, well said.

Jose’s favorite school subject is English with Mr. Cooper “because we get to read books.” Jose definitely wants to go to college. He is undecided on a major or career choice. It comes with his happy-go-lucky approach to life. In sports, he just wants to continue to “play and have fun.” His favorite sports team is the Oregon Ducks. Jose admires U of O running back De’Anthony Thomas.

Jose’s advice for others: “Just focus on what you’re doing, and keep doing what you are doing.”

“Juice” leads “Gault’s Dawgz” into battle tonight at Silver Valley. A Huskies victory against Silver Valley with a Boron win against Excelsior creates a three-way division tie with Vasquez, Excelsior, and Mammoth. It locks the Huskies into the playoffs, and keeps the juice flowing.