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He’s often arrives right after school, prepping for the evening’s practice with a warm-up training session or chatting with members of the JV squad.

For him, soccer isn’t a chore or even a hobby, it’s a deep passion that has run through his veins for nearly the last decade.

“It’s always been my escape,� he said. “So, I wouldn’t say it was my distraction from the rest of the world, but it was something that I was really good at and I don’t have to worry about my future. I don’t have to worry about things that I’ve done, regrets or nothing. I’m just on that field and I do what I do best.�

The 17-year-old high school senior began his soccer journey eight years ago and credits one of his closest friends, Kristobal Medina, for his love of the game. The two began playing in elementary school and have been on every team together since then, including the varsity boys soccer team at Cholla.

But, the journey hasn’t always been easy for Colores or Cholla’s soccer team.

After having a successful first season with the Chargers, Colores began his sophomore year with lots of confidence, he says. But, that confidence was challenged after he fractured his ankle during the second game of his sophomore season.

When describing the incident, it sounds like the injury could have been season-ending. But Colores quickly assures that his ankle didn’t hold him down for long.

“That didn’t stop me. So, I just did strengthening on the rest of my muscles around the ankle, took a lot of ibuprofen and I played through, and that rest of the season, I played strong and I got an honorable mention for regional play,� he said.

The challenges didn’t stop after his fractured ankle sophomore year.

During his junior year, Cholla’s team went 0-11-1, meaning they didn’t win a single game last year, but had one tied game.

Colores calls last year “an unfortunate season.�

But this year is different for Colores and the Chargers.

They’re currently 1-2 overall, which is already a big difference from last year. With only a couple of games into the season, Colores has recorded four goals and 22 steals.

So, what’s changed since last season?

The biggest change comes in the form of leadership. Cholla’s boys varsity team is now under the helm of Gabriel Rocha — the former boys soccer coach at Catalina High School who made three state appearances and a recent honoree at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 40 under 40 awards.

Joining Cholla was a bit of a homecoming for Rocha, whose parents, siblings and immediate family members went to the school. His grandfather was a janitor at Cholla until retirement.

“Coaching soccer has just been something I’ve always done. It’s my passion,� he said. “If I could do it full time, I would, but I love working with the youth. I work my day job so I could do this as much as I can. And I love being out here. It’s just been a great experience and I’m very grateful I’ve been able to do it for as long as I’ve been able to and hope to continue to do it for twice as long.�

Now as the head coach at Cholla, Rocha is working toward turning the program around for the better.

“We’re on the rise and that’s what we’re trying to do,â€� he says. “But what I came here to do is to bring this program back up to be a prominent powerhouse on the west side and in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and ultimately in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Our goal is always to win the state championship. And part of that is changing the culture here.â€�

When Rocha joined the team, one of his first interactions was with Colores who handed him a big packet of paperwork that he already filled out including sponsorship and uniform forms and information about fundraisers he started.

Rocha says Colores made quite the first impression on him.

“I was like, ‘Holy cow. Like, who is this?’ and that just really shows what kind of leader he is,� Rocha said. “He just took ownership of it. They haven’t had the best couple of seasons since he’s been here and he’s really taking ownership, especially his senior year, to just make it the best he can, regardless if I was here or not, he would have had the same approach to it.�

Colores is a leader on the pitch as the team’s captain, in the classroom with his 4.57 unweighted GPA and outside of school with a long list of compelling hobbies and side gigs.

When Colores isn’t on the pitch, he’s often working as a handyman at a trailer park owned by his grandfather.

Colores began training as a handyman when he was around 8 years old. He learned everything from his grandfather who grew up in Mexico and worked in multiple trades.

“He would give me a bathroom and he would say, ‘You’re gonna tear down the walls, you’re gonna lay down the concrete, you’re gonna put tile in it and then you’re gonna set up the bathroom, the drainage, the plumbing and I’ll be back to check on you if you need it,’� Colores said. “And just like that, he let me break things and I would screw it up and then fix it again, screw it up and fix it again and that’s how he taught me.�

Since starting his handyman journey, he’s learned how to fix plumbing, electrical and air conditioning issues. He also knows how to work with concrete.

All of these trade skills prepped Colores for something else he truly loves aside from soccer: mechanics.

Over the last several years, he’s built his dream car, a 1978 Ford F-150, from the ground up.

He received the truck from his grandfather when he was around 10 years old and since he was learning trade work at that age, he utilized those skills to build his dream truck so it would be ready by the time he was able to drive.

“One day I decided to get serious about it,� he said. “I took everything out of the back because it was storage. I took everything out. We sparked it, got it started and once I heard it running, I just wanted to make it louder. I wanted to make it faster. I wanted to paint it the color that I wanted. I have a drawing (from when I was a kid) and I have teeth coming out of the bottom of it. So, it was just a crazy dream as a kid, but now to have it finished, it’s definitely something I want to keep going.�

He makes a lot of sacrifices to complete his project cars, he says, including putting every last penny he has toward the cars. His latest project car is an old Chevy Blazer.

Although he has an undeniable love for all things involving trades and mechanics, nothing will replace his first love and passion for soccer.

After he graduates high school in May, Colores hopes to play collegiate soccer in the U.S. or overseas. His ultimate goal is to play soccer professionally, but not for the reasons you might think.

While many aspire to play professionally because of the possible fame, Colores only has one thing in mind: his family.

“My dream after high school is to set up my family pretty early,� he says. “That’s my main goal. That’s my drive. That’s why I work or that’s why I’ll train five hours a day. I really want my family to be financially free and burden free, that way they can live the life they want.�

Until then, Colores is focused on building a team that will create a lasting legacy at Cholla after his time at the school ends. Creating that legacy is important to him, he says.

“He’s an exemplary leader. He’s humble and hard-working and he’s sincere,� Rocha said. “I think that combination of things just makes him very unique. And not many kids have that maturity or that mentality anymore. … And part of my role is how do I help him find that next door or find him that next home that’s gonna be the best fit for him? And he definitely has that potential. He has that leadership. And I know for a fact that he’ll work to get there.�

Fast five with Lucas

Who is your favorite soccer player of all time?

Javier Hernández Balcázar (also known as Chicharito).

If you could create your dream soccer team, what players would be on your team?

Ronaldo in his prime, Tony Cruz as a center man and Sergio Ramos.

Where is your dream place to play soccer?

Either in Germany or Anfield where Liverpool F.C. plays.

What is your pre-match snack?

A McDonald’s Hot ‘n Spicy.

What is your favorite class right now?

American government.