Have you ever been to a football game at Glendale High School? If you have, I’m sure you have heard of the captain of the team, senior Alex Shirvanian.
Alex is known for his leadership skills and passion for football. He has been a member of the team since his freshman year, and he first started playing the sport in the sixth grade when he was a student at Wilson Middle School. Alex was also a member of our Journalism staff for two years, and he is currently working on the 2025 edition of our yearbook.
How did you first get involved with the GHS football team?
I didn’t want to take P.E., and I wanted a free 7th [Period], so I thought, “What’s a sport I’m good at?” I played football for two years at Friday Night Lights during middle school. That’s where I started playing. So I was like, I’m good at football, so let’s see how I do, and I turned out pretty good.
Who got you involved in football, and how did they inspire you?
Nobody got me into football other than my dad, but someone who inspired me on my team was Freddie Rios Barrientos. He was in tenth grade when I was a freshman, and he helped me throughout my football career. He taught me everything I needed to know. He was a great senior captain for me last year. So he inspired me. Freddie was the football captain last year, and he currently attends Yale.
Why did you decide to join the team at GHS?
When I came here at GHS, I didn’t know much about high school football…So I thought it’d be fun if I just joined football and see how it goes. I didn’t intend to come and play football here, but I tried it and it turns out I was good at it, so I just stuck with it.
How and why did you become a captain?
I’ve been here for four years, and the longer you’ve been on a team, the more your coaches trust you. So they
picked me, not only because of that, but because of my work ethic. I always came early in the morning and left late. I had a good relationship with my coaches, and they liked the way I played.
What are some of the challenges that you or your team members have faced in the past? How did you overcome them?
I think our hardest challenge was overcoming the fact that we weren’t doing good. I went through a 2-8 season, and a 1-9 season, when I was a freshman and sophomore, and it brought our team down.
Once [Head Coach Manuel] Lemus came here…he turned everything around. We worked together with him and brought our team back.
We had a winning season last year, for the first time, in a very long time. So I think our hardest challenge was not winning. We had to win, and I think our program was dying, in a way. And we had to revive it, so Coach Lemus helped us.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts about being on the team?
I think [that] my least favorite, but also my most favorite, [part is] the amount of work that I put into it. While we’re conditioning, while we’re running, while we’re lifting, while we’re putting in all the work that we do, I think it’s the hardest sport to do, because of how long you need to train. [All this work is] to play just only ten games, [and] that’s if we don’t get into the playoffs.
I think my favorite part about this is how much work goes into it, and how much it builds our character. [I enjoy] how much team bonding we go through because we go through so much together.
What is the most difficult part of being the captain?
I think managing the team is the hardest part. There are a lot of players, maybe fifty to sixty players on our team. So it gets really hard managing everybody, making sure everyone’s on top of it.
What specific goals do you have for the team this year?
Like I said before, GHS football [is] not known for winning a lot of games, so that was our main priority. Our head coach…went on the whiteboard, two months before the season started, and he asked us that question. We said, first it was to win our first game. Then it was to win our second game, and third game, and [we just need to] keep the train going.
Will you continue being involved in football after you graduate?
I’m gonna go to [Glendale Community College] for two years, and I’ll possibly play there. If I’m good, then I’ll transfer out to a better university and play there.
Why should the students at GHS join football?
I think if people want to give themselves a real challenge and go through hard work to reap the rewards of being a football player, they should join. Our team is very bonded together, and especially if you’re good at football, people should join.
I see people walking around campus, and they’re like huge guys, and they don’t want to join football. I don’t understand it. But if you’re good at football, and you want to put yourself through work and get rewarded, then definitely [join the team].
What’s your favorite team?
The Las Vegas Raiders. That’s my favorite question yet!
If you’d like to know more about our Nitro football team, please contact Coach Lemus at [email protected]. And please come out TONIGHT, to Moyse Stadium, and support of football team as they take on Burroughs! It will be Senior Night, and a RED ALERT, so please wear read to the tonight’s home game!
Keep riding that train, Nitros!
