Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Parents’ names: My mom is named Amanda Barragan, and my dad is named Davy Barragan.

Siblings: Albert Gonzalez, Atom Gonzalez, Zuleyka Gonzalez, Camila Barragan. Cousins who also live with me: Aiden Tweedy, Ryley Tweedy, Mia Barragan, Davy Barragan.

Position or events: I am a captain for soccer and I play center back defense. For baseball, I play middle infield.

Social media: Instagram - alex_g.onzale.z

Career highlight: Receiving first team defense for all conference my senior year, and receiving honorable mention both sophomore and junior year.

At what age did you start playing your sport(s)?
I joined baseball my eighth grade year. I started playing soccer my sophomore year.

Who introduced you to your sport(s)?
I was introduced to baseball by my friends. Then later I was influenced to play soccer by my family and my friends.

What is your favorite sport?

My favorite sport is soccer. This activity requires you to have a connection with your team. It was very easy to work together as a team with everyone being so close, which was my favorite part about the sport. By playing this sport it gave me a second family.

How has balancing academics and athletics been different for you from your freshman year to your senior year?
During freshman year, I felt that my classes were very straightforward. It was very easy to balance my academics and sports. The classes didn’t require tons of effort which made it very simple. As I went into my senior year, I was very stressed with what to put first. But as time went on, I got a hang of both and was able to succeed in both criteria.

What is your favorite part about your sport(s)? What about it has caused you to stick with it for this long?
My favorite part of soccer was my coach and my teammates. My coach is named Dakota Berg and he has pushed me to be my best. My teammates also have had a significant impact on me. They always brought each other up even if we were playing our worst. I thank my teammates for their encouraging words, and my coach for the opportunity to play.

What would you say is your biggest asset on the court/field?
My biggest asset on the field was not letting people get into my head. As games went on, I started to see players get down on themselves for criticism. It taught me to reject any criticism from anyone off the field and focus on my role for the team, which I think is very hard for many to do.

What has been your most memorable experience in high school sports so far?
My memorable experience was a home JV baseball game my freshman year. I was playing shortstop and the ball came right to me. I put my glove out and it fell but I caught it with my bare hand before it hit the ground. Then, I threw it back to first and got a double play.

How does it feel as a senior, to look back throughout high school and see your growth (as a person and athlete)?

It feels amazing to see what I achieved throughout high school. I was able to push myself to my full potential in both academics and athletics. My academics increased significantly from going to a 3.5 freshman year to a 3.8-3.9 sophomore and junior year.

Do you have any pre-game rituals/routines/superstitions?
I normally give myself my own pep talk to lighten my mood and strengthen my adrenaline. But before the game, I usually also have a light snack to give me some energy for the game.

Do you take any extra steps to prepare for a big game, outside of regular training?
I prepare my mindset to be the strongest it ever could be. Playing the sport is not hard, but having the right mindset is. Usually the day of the game I listen to music to boost my self-esteem.

What has been your favorite experience with being a senior this year?
My favorite experience was being able to participate on the homecoming court. I will thank Sophia Ramirez for inviting me to be her partner for court. Being on court was amazing to be on because every individual made every second enjoyable.

Any memorable coaches or teammates you’d like to give a shout out to?
I want to give a shoutout to my soccer coaches: Dakota Berg, Brian Berg, Rodrigo Arvizu. But I’d also like to give a shoutout to my baseball coaches: Jeff DeMeuse, Jordan Jorgenson, Ryan Klessig, Bryce Duerst and Coach Ethan. They all pushed me to do my best and I am forever grateful for never giving up on me.

Any hobbies outside of sports?

I go to the gym at least three times a week or more. I watch a lot of movies and TV shows frequently. But I also give myself time throughout the day to complete my homework, and accomplish any responsibilities I have at home.

Favorite food?
My favorite food is either ravioli or lasagna.

Random fun fact about you?
I don’t like having a dirty room. I hate anything to do with messes and spills.

Dream vacation destination?
I would like to go to Venice, Italy. The architecture of the buildings amazes me, especially the bridges all throughout it. I would also really like to try the ravioli in Italy!

Favorite movie/TV show?
My favorite movie is The Bronx Tale. This movie taught me that you can’t trust everybody but to also be careful with who you surround yourself with. There was a specific quote that stuck to me that was said in the movie. The quote is: “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” These few words have had a major impact on me because it’s very devastating seeing individuals not push themselves to their full potential.

Future plans? (college, major, career, etc.)
I plan on attending the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse for college. Lacrosse will give me the opportunity to major in Kinesiology. This kinesiology degree will get me a future career as a physical therapist. But further down the road I would like to pursue my education even further and get into chiropractic school. From there I would like to be a licensed chiropractor.