FALLBROOK -- Two-sport high school athletes are fairly common, but participating in two different sports in the same season is uncommon.
Fallbrook High senior Uriel Aguirre has done it for the past three years, playing lacrosse and running track each spring. He has added duties as captain for both teams this year.
Aguirre hopes to set a school mark for the mile and bring a lacrosse championship to Fallbrook before he graduates in June.
Q: How do you make it work, playing two sports at the same time?
A: It's really not that hard because I have my teammates from both sports really pushing me to do well at both.
Q: Do you get flak about not concentrating on just one sport?
A: Not at all. My teammates think it's great that I can do both. They want me to succeed at lacrosse and track. My teammates don't mind because they know I'm going to give it my best at both sports.
Q: Do you ever tire from all the competition?
A: I do get exhausted from doing both. Sometimes by the end of the week, I get a little fatigued.
Q: Have you ever competed in both sports on the same day?
A: Actually, I have. It's tough sometimes when I do both on the same day because I use up a lot of my energy running, and then I'm out there later on playing in a lacrosse game.
Q: How does your body hold up to that much physical activity?
A: It's not that difficult for me because I'm so fit. Over the past three years I've been able to adapt, so now I can do both sports at the same time with no problems.
Q: Your goal at the beginning of the track season was to break the school record in the mile. How's that going?
A: Not very well, actually. Mostly it's because I don't have Bret Hasvold (who graduated in 2008) here to push me anymore. When he left, I lost my best teammate and competitor because he would push me out on the track to run harder. It's different without him here this year.
Q: What's the worst part about participating in two sports at the same time?
A: Actually, if I could do another sport, I do it. I don't regret participating in two sports. The only bad thing about playing two sports is that I do miss out on having much a social life and spending time with my friends and family.
Q: And the best part?
A: I've learned a lot as a teammate on both teams. You can learn something from every person on every team. The best thing you learn from being a part of two different teams is that you absolutely get out of it what you put into it.
Q: How has playing in one sport helped you in the other?
A: Both sports work together in helping me be an overall better athlete. Track helps me calm down. Lacrosse is the opposite, it gets me fired up. My teammates help me out a lot in keeping focused on whatever sport I'm playing at the time.
Q: Has playing lacrosse caused you any injuries that have prevented you from running track?
A: That has always been a major concern for me for the past three years. I always try to stay focused and prevent injuries. I got a minor concussion earlier this season, but that's about it. When I'm playing lacrosse, I try to play safe and try to avoid injuries. I'm always conscious of trying not to get hurt. I love the contact in lacrosse, but I don't go out there and do something that isn't smart and then end up getting hurt.
Uriel Aguirre
School: Fallbrook
Class: Senior
Sports: Cross country, track and lacrosse
Height: 5-foot-7
Weight: 135 pounds
Birthdate: Dec. 26, 1990
Birthplace: Fallbrook
College: Oregon State
Quick hits
Favorite subject: Mythology
Favorite movie: "The Lion King"
Favorite TV show: "SportsCenter"
What I drive: Camry
Favorite fast food: In-and-Out
Guilty pleasure: Junk food
Favorite person: Marty Hauck
