“I was ready for whatever came my way,” said recently graduated Grants High School senior Boudy Melonas when asked to sum up his high school sports playing career. Students play for a variety of reasons, Melonas, plays for adrenaline. That’s right a good old fashioned adrenaline rush. “When the adrenaline is up---I’m ready to take a shot or catch a ball,” said Melonas reflecting on his four-year playing career at GHS.
Melonas credits “hard work” as the reason for his success. At an age where socialization is at a premium for most teens, Melonas defined hard work for him as sacrificing time with friends and family to get those “reps” in, whether it was shots up in the gym, a few more catches with the football or baseball. “It’s hard to make the decision to work on your game instead of going out with friends,” said Melonas.
Melons received inspiration for his drive, focus and ambition from no other than standout NBA player Kobe Bryant.
“He had the mentality, I watched his videos, he was locked in and cut out distractions---once you learn to lock in you are a different person,” said Melonas Melonas’s high school career took a big leap early as a freshman when he made the varsity boys basketball team. “The games were more intense, fast paced and I played with seniors—it took a lot,” said Melonas of his experience as a freshman. One game, against Bloomfield, Melonas, who was known as a strong defensive player was guarding an upper classman. As his opponent dribbled to the goal, Melonas “picked his pocket” and dribbled down for a layup.
“The feeling after scoring that layup was hard to explain—I knew then I was able to play against the bigger players,” said Melonas.
“Starting him, a freshman, was one of the best decisions I made as a coach,” said GHS head basketball coach Landon Chavez.
“I am most confident in that one sport—baseball that is,” said Melonas who went out for the varsity baseball team his sophomore year. “I fought for a spot and got the center field position,” said Melonas. “I ended up getting good at center field, I was fast and had a good arm and earned a starting position.” Melonas’s sophomore year the Pirates amassed a 23-6, 8-0 record and made it to the state tournament and lost the Academy Chargers that year by a score of 7-5 in the quarter finals. “We should not have lost that game against Academy-we were more hungry the next year after that loss,” said Melonas Melonas took on more of a leadership role his sophomore year on the varsity basketball team.
“Melonas was the heartbeat of our team…he led by example,” Coach Chavez said.