Gatorade GameChangers: Jordan Lujan - Southern High wrestling

Southern High wrestler Jordan Lujan is in his second year representing the Dolphins on the mat. The 15-year old sophomore has an extensive Jiu-Jitsu background out of Purebred Academy. Lujan is a green belt with several podium finishes dating back to 2011.

Lujan said, "We had a Jiu-Jitsu background so my brother joined wrestling in high school and my dad kind of brought up the idea that I should join. I enjoyed Jiu-Jitsu a lot and it was kind of similar so that's why I got into it."

Jordan was a starter at middle blocker for the jv volleyball team his freshman year. He also played left wing on the rugby team. Lujan got hooked into the sport of wrestling after getting a taste of the All-Island meet last season.

Lujan added, "I love the hostility. You know it's very intense. You got to know what you want and you gotta have confidence in yourself. It's a sport for one person, you can't rely on anybody everything is on you."

Lujan is hungry for redemption. The 126-pound competitor is currently 8-0 including the preseason. Jordan is Co-Captain of the Team. He took 3rd place at last years All-Island tournament, barely missing out on a top 2 finish.

Lujan said, "Last season I really didn't take it that seriously. I always always feeling terrible after my matches. It was taking longer for me to recover and when my dad started helping me with my diet and I started taking my conditioning seriously. My body started to heal faster and I was able to train harder than I could last year."

Jordan says he is taking this year's season step by step and not trying to overthink his matches. Just focusing on his craft and being a student athlete with good grades.

Lujan said, "A lot of people think Southern High is a bad school and we have this bad rep and here our wrestling team is really trying to change that image and we're trying to show that we're just like all these other schools and we deserve to be here."

With AP courses keeping him busy in the classroom, he finds time after school as an Alter Server at San Miguel Parish. Jordan is also an active volunteer at Kamalen Karidat homeless ministry.

"It feels to give back to my community. Here at the south we really don't have that much here so it's always good to help with the church and stuff. My parents raised me well, they taught me from a young age to always be humble. Respect everybody and stuff like that. I have good morals and I'm so young so I have a lot of time on my hands. I don't have to worry about any adult hood stuff so I got a lot of time to do the best that I can, while I can," he said.

Whether it's in the classroom taking care of his grades or on the mats taking care of business, Jordan Lujan is always pushing to become better. And that's what makes him a Gatorade Game Changer.