IN THEIR first moments of life, new hatchlings are introduced to their habitats in conventional ways. However, that has not been the case for freshman Blue Eagles Andy Roxas and Sam Doragos of the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) and FAST Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST), respectively, who have had to navigate the road less traveled. Gracing an unorthodox college atmosphere has certainly presented adversity for two of the Ateneo’s latest student-athletes, but Roxas’ and Doragos’ drive to soar to premier heights is already a force in itself.

Settling in the nest

Despite playing two very different sports, the genesis of both Roxas’ and Doragos’ athletic journeys are cut from the same cloth as both were raised in households with existing athletic pedigrees.

Roxas was raised around the legacy of exemplars such as his great-grandfather and his older brother who have etched their names into the game’s national and collegiate stages. The AMFT’s newest winger shared candid insights on carrying the same surname as former captain and UAAP Season 82 champion Julian Roxas. Despite the weight that his surname carries, Andy is forging his own path with qualities that distinguish him from other players such as his brother.

“Obviously it adds a little bit of pressure, given the things [my brother] has achieved in the team. But, I’m my own player and I’m gifted in my own ways,” the younger Roxas detailed. 

Like Roxas, Doragos has an older sibling who has made waves in the same sport. Inspired by her sister’s free-spirited nature and dazzling brilliance in swimming tournaments, Doragos was prompted to zero in on her own competitive swimming career. She embarked on the road to the Ateneo after early spurs of passion from her childhood. After honing her skills as a youngster in the Ayala Harpoons Swimming Club, she was among those whose talents were recognized early by the Ateneo program. Her journey, however, like Roxas and many others, met a roadblock when the pandemic struck and caused the cancellation of sporting events.

Due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns, these two promising athletes had to deal with the athletic heartbreak of being high school seniors unable to play the sports they loved. As Roxas and Doragos both served as team captains, their grief was further compounded by the missed opportunity to lead their respective teams in their pre-collegiate swan songs.

The two prodigies were grateful to have been selected by their teams during the pandemic, as competing in the UAAP was something they both dreamt of in their yesteryears. When their positions on their teams were formalized, Roxas and Doragos shifted to settling into their nests, albeit with an online setup. 

Despite such online sessions being as timely as ever given the pandemic’s mobility restrictions, the two freshmen acknowledge the importance of returning to their usual stomping grounds. On one hand, football is perpetually recognized as a tactical and chemistry-reliant game that goes 11 players deep, thus requiring training on the football field. Similarly, swimmers need constant pool sessions to sharpen their strokes and maintain their fitness levels so as to avoid obtaining slower lap times.

For the time being, both Roxas and Doragos are limited to online training sessions, but with such rarities in quarantine conditions comes the emergence of adversity. Doragos faced quarantine blues in her final year of high school and lacked motivation for the sport at one point. Thankfully, the up-and-coming swimmer found her way back to the sport she adored in huge credit to her teammates, who reinvigorated her fire by endlessly reminding her that their sacrifices will reap wonders in the near future.

Comparatively, Roxas suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury a year back, but he ultimately recovered from the setback through admirable resiliency and immense support. Roxas was able to work around his injury, engaging in a tedious rehabilitation process that ultimately set the stage for his fiery determination come his collegiate debut.

Ruffled feathers

Roxas and Doragos may be familiar with hurdles and setbacks surrounding their athletics in both the past and present. However, current challenges such as academics and balancing it with athletic commitments prove to be as daunting, especially in the online setup. Regardless, various factors allowed them to get the hang of juggling both, such as their previous years of experience as student-athletes in high school.

Getting along with blockmates and joining various organizations made adjustments for athletes like Roxas and Doragos easier. “[People in my block and organizations are] always open. Just shoot them a message, and they’ll help you [with] whatever you need. The [organizations] and the blocks really helped me [to] get to know people and feel comfortable in my situation and where I am,” Roxas shared.

Along with the challenges of the pandemic, this adjustment period helped them assimilate into college. Being able to acclimate themselves to the collegiate scene also provided applicable life lessons like weighing priorities and balancing time between academics, school organization work, and sports.

Simultaneously, these lessons also opened doors for personal growth during the entire process. Doragos shared, “The adjustments that I experienced throughout this pandemic helped me learn about myself and how I push myself. It [helped] me to [become] a better person than I was before.”

Ready for flight

Throughout these adjustment periods and experiences in the online setup, Roxas and Doragos relish the contribution of their coaches, teammates, and blockmates in their evolution as Atenean athletes. From creating a sense of brotherhood to having a viable online training system, these have made them ready for flight, especially with the pending return of on-site classes and training. Roxas remarked, “I think a lot of, if not all of us, are really waiting for the day we’re on-site [for] classes.”

“The fact that there’s a chance now [that] we’ll have an on-site school and on-site training, I guess there’s more inspiration for us,” Doragos stated.

Moreover, the two rookies are also motivated to achieve their goals, mainly centered around winning multiple titles that would bring pride to the Loyola Schools.

Both Roxas and Doragos went through challenges in their transition to collegiate life, both athletically and academically. Despite this, they as student-athletes showed their competitive fire by persevering and ultimately excelling in training and in their studies.

If there are tips that both can provide to future Atenean athletes, it would be working hard and hoping for a bright future. Doragos shared, “There’s more to look forward to.There’s hope that things will get better and there [are] still more opportunities out there.”

“Put in the work—don’t take any shortcuts—because that’s the only route to success,” Roxas shared.