By John Tranchina

Ty Young has learned that it takes hard work to succeed in sports, and the Jones High School senior offensive lineman has thrived on both the football field and in the classroom because of that mentality.

Young credits his father for being one of his biggest motivators in life, “a hard worker who has shown me how to be a man and lead my life in a meaningful way.”

While overcoming Type-1 diabetes, Young has translated that into success in football, where he helped Jones go 8-4 last year, advancing to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.

“To be successful in my sport, it has taken many hours put into the weight room, mat room, and field,” Young said. “Plus, all of the mental side of it: remembering plays, alignment, and all of the little things.”

He fondly remembers the Longhorns’ hard-fought 49-42 victory over Prague in the ninth week of the season, which pushed Jones’ record to 6-3, as a highlight of 2021. 

“Beating Prague last year was very enjoyable because they were an excellent team and it took us up a notch as a team,” Young said.

He notes that going against good teammates in practice is also a key to improving and recognizes that those battles help everyone.

“I battle with Kameron Estrada the most in practice,” Young said. “He is talented and a hard worker and he pushes me and my ability.”

In the classroom, Young has also excelled, becoming a member of the National Honors Society, the mu alpha theta math honor society, and the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). His favorite person to follow on social media is author Tim Grover, “because of his advice and opinions he shares.”

Through it all, Young remains grounded, realizing that the key to everything is the connection he has established with his teammates.

“The highlight of my career is the relationships I have built with my team and coaches,” he said. 

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