It’s a sunny Tuesday in May, and Junior Jay Galgano has just woken up at 5 AM to play the 1st round of CIF golf in Los Angeles, the only golfer to do so from Ojai Valley School. Later that day, in his 1st round of CIF baseball, Jay will show up in the 5th inning and blast a 3-run home run in the 6th inning, propelling his squad to a 15-0 victory.
But this is just any other day for Jay. He is currently the school’s only 4-sport athlete, playing flag football in the fall, soccer in winter season, and baseball and golf in the spring.
“It’s pretty special,” said Jay. “I think being the only four-sport athlete at OVS kind of reflects how I’ve been throughout my life, where I’ve always been around sports, I’ve always played sports, I’ve always wanted to try sports and be better at sports.”
Jay’s middle school basketball coach, Nick Almanza, only had good things to say.
“I’m always impressed that he doesn’t get rattled easily,” said Lower Campus Junior Boarding Coordinator and Jay’s former basketball coach Nick Almanza. “I remember coaching him, and not a lot got under his skin or got him angry or frustrated.”
Jay credits his long-term success and talent to the continuous love and support from his family.
“Growing up with a supportive brother and an athletic family, sports came easy,” said Jay.
His family moved this summer, and Jay is now a resident student. Even through moving houses, long nights filled with homework, selling his car, and having a completely different living situation, Jay makes it work and stays humble.
“He’s a quiet leader, you know? Calm, go with the flow, really even keel dude,” Mr. Almanza said.
Even though Jay’s life may seem jam-packed and very stressful, he loves to spend quality time with his friends and sometimes escapes from sports. Jay said one piece of advice he’d give to future and even current athletes:
“You’ve got to learn to lose,” he said. “Greatness comes from failure, and losing is the best way to learn.”