SENIOR, THOMAS KELLY SPORT: WRESTLING
Why he’s got game: Jimenez was one of two Trojans to win individual titles en route to helping lead Kelly—in only its seventh year with a wrestling program—to the 2009 Public League city championship on Jan. 23. He successfully defended the 189-pound crown he claimed as a junior in 2008 by turning back Mather’s Ameen Solebo 5-4 in overtime in the finals. That triumph also avenged an 11-4 loss to Solebo in a dual meet the previous week. The three-year varsity grappler heads into Saturday’s St. Ignatius regional with a 33-5 record on the year and is serving as Kelly’s captain this season.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? That I’m a devout Christian. I started going to church with my family when I was in grammar school. To me, God comes first in life. When I pray, people ask me what I’m doing because they don’t expect that from a wrestler.
What is your dream job? To be either a police officer or possibly work for the FBI. I like the idea of working in law enforcement to help out people in your community. I like to think of myself as a good guy, so I guess I would be catching the bad guys.
Do you have a superstition or pre-match ritual? Other than praying, not really. I just try to concentrate before a match—stay relaxed. My mind is pretty blank before a match. That’s the weird thing about me, I’m not the type of guy to get pumped up before match. I get pumped up during the match.
Which pro athlete or celebrity would play you in a movie and why? It would have to be Brandon Slay. He was an Olympic freestyle champion in 2000. He was an instructor at a summer camp I went to in Wisconsin. He’s a really strong guy but also has a way with people ... He talked about what type of person you should be when you’re not on the mat and told us we all have to be good people.
