Athlete Interview: Damian Marano
Meet Damian Marano, a 16 year old high school
Junior and varsity basketball athlete here at AHS. Damian is a high-achieving student, with an excellent GPA and the desire to support our community. After highschool, he plans on getting accepted into a university, preferably USC or UCLA, although he’s not too sure on what he’d like to major in. Outside of school, Damian enjoys drumming, working out, playing video games, cooking and eating.
Damian’s highlight comes from his journey through basketball. Starting in first grade, playing basketball at his local YMCA until he made his 8th grade team, Damian found significant enjoyment in the overall competitiveness of basketball. Although he wasn’t exactly inspired by a specific person, he’s grateful for getting to play on the school team, especially alongside his friends. Damian’s favorite memory was getting to participate in his very first varsity tournament down in Monterey Bay. He expresses his experience joyfully, illustrating the bonding he experienced with the team and playing at the “next level,” giving him an introduction to high school sports.
However, Damian emphasizes that there are always struggles and challenges within moving forward. He believes the biggest challenge he faced was “gaining confidence in [his] ability to compete”. Having the determination to push past challenges proved he wasn’t going to let anything discourage him. His favorite lesson he’s learned through his journey concludes that discipline prevails over motivation. He focuses on prioritizing his development as a student, as well as an athlete, all
owing him to see all of the progress he’s made throughout his career.
Looking ahead, Damian wants to continue playing basketball for as long as possible. He believes that, “Whether it be competing for a college, or merely just for fun, I will continue hooping for the majority of my life.” With his future outlined, Damian Marano’s story is one of inspiration and growth. These lessons he’s learned have transformed his life to where he is today, and he hopes they can do the same for everyone.
