Spending a significant portion of your preteen childhood in a foreign country can cause the language barrier to be an obstacle in the classroom and at home, but the language of football and of competition is universal. Cesar Chavez might have coined the phrase “Si se puede” (which translates loosely into “yes, we can”) during his campaign for better working conditions for migrant workers decades ago, but if you want to find the embodiment of what the phrase means then look no further than the Polanco Brothers Luis and Justo.
Middleton’s Class of 2015 OL Justo Polanco (6-3, 285lb) is trying to follow in his brother Luis’ (currently at Western Kentucky and Middleton Alum) footsteps by becoming just the second member of his family to attend college. At his current pace, he should be right on track. Polanco is already entrenched as the anchor of the Tigers o-line as a freshman and regardless of their 0-10 record is continuing to do the things he needs to do in order to move forward while bringing his teammates along for the ride.
Polanco has encountered some major speed bumps in the road to prosperity however, but shows tremendous poise and speaks as if he were a 4-yr veteran in terms of his assessment of himself and as a teammate. He certainly isn’t going to let something like an 0-10 season get in the way of something bigger in front of him. Polanco spoke about what was needed this spring and summer along with the motivation behind his everyday routine.
“Well as a player I think I need to be a leader and work hard towards making my team the best in the county. It felt good (being a starter) coming out of middle school and starting on varsity this past season. I really learned a lot.”
As mentioned, it hasn’t been easy. After having moved from the Dominican Republic to the states and while Luis was in middle school with Justo barely into double-digits in age his mother passed away of cancer. His family spoke little to no English and it was understandably a very trying moment in his life. One thing remained constant however; Su hermano and his ability to keep going even when things made no sense as to why he would have to live the rest of his life without a mother.
“My Mom passed away and that kept me moving forward and my brother kept me going as well. He is the first in my family to go to college. My brother just kept telling me to work hard and be respectful of my coaches.”
First year Head Coach Alonzo Ashwood hasn’t had a ton to be cheerful about on the gridiron, but he’s certainly got a disciple in Polanco. Something that’s a testament to many of the coaches within the Bay Area that often goes unnoticed. Polanco is quick to give credit to where it due. “It’s been real good playing for Coach Ashwood. He’s helped me a lot, giving me advice and (he) keeps on me about staying out of trouble.”
Polanco knows that it’s an uphill climb as far as his current situation going into the season is concerned from football to the classroom, yet he remains unwavering with a positive outlook though (how can you not at this point after what he’s experienced) and poignantly honest about his future. Even if he’s mature beyond his years, he reminds us that simply being young in age no matter the experiences is still just as much a challenge as anything else in this world.
“My biggest obstacle this season is to help my teammates to communicate better and to push through getting my homework done even though I’m tired and don’t want to or forget that it’s there.”
The Dominican Republic isn’t exactly known to be a factory for football talent. In fact, you could make the case that it’s not even on the radars of most Dominicans unless it’s baseball, basketball or soccer. The obligatory question concerning what it was like to grow up in a house that (until getting to the U.S.) was predominantly a soccer house obviously needed to be answered.
“I still watch it (soccer) at home. I played 3 years of soccer in middle school. My favorite team is Barcelona.”
Through it all Polanco simply sounds like a young man that is keeping it all in perspective and with a little bit of faith on top of that; cortesia de su madre.
“I know she’s looking down on me.” he says.
Indeed, and with a little help and family guidance from Luis even if he’s all the way in Owensboro, Kentucky the phrase, “Yo soy de mi porter hermanos (I am my brother’s keeper)” will ring no truer than ever before.