Easy-going, adventurous, and thoughtful are just a few of the words that can be used to describe triathlete Senior Travis Giffen. Not only is Giffen a triathlete, but he excels in all three sports that he plays.
While playing football, soccer and lacrosse, Giffen still manages to get excellent grades, maintaining above a 4.0 GPA since freshman year. “I made sure that after practice and games, that I would go home and do all of the work that needed to be done and also I pay attention in class,” said Giffen.
Giffen is quite the multi-tasker. While playing all three sports during their seasons and maintaining exceptional grades, he is also in ASB and this year is the ASB President. “Sports have helped me in my ASB position, because in sports you are dealing with a bunch of different people, with a bunch of different opinions just like in ASB, so sports helped teach me how to work well with others,” said Giffen.
Sports have always been a part of Giffen’s life. Since the mere age of three, Giffen has been playing soccer. “I started when I was three for soccer, and I started playing competitively when I was nine. I did not start football and lacrosse until freshman year,” said Giffen.
Though Giffen plays three sports, his favorite is football, in which he is the linebacker. “Football is my favorite, although we have not had the greatest success, because I worked really hard at it and I enjoyed the challenge that it presented,” said Giffen.
“The greatest impact has been that sports have helped me to become a better competitive person and it has helped me to make friends while still working on myself and building strength,” said Giffen. After high school, Giffen is attending Santa Clara University. He is also going to be in the Air Force ROTC program at San Jose State. “Air Force ROTC is a scholarship and I go a couple times a week and it’s where you get physically fit and take classes to learn about government and the military. Then you graduate as an officer,” said Giffen
There have been many games in Giffen’s sports career, but one does stand out. He explained, “Sophomore year in football versus Mission Bay, I had a nice sac on Dillian Baxter. Also, freshman football when we beat Cathedral in the night game,” said Giffen.
Throughout Giffen’s UC High experience, his favorite classes have been AP Biology and AP Human Geography. Giffen said, “AP Biology with Dr. Mann because I am really interested in Biology and freshman year AP Human Geography with Mr. Schiller because aside from the lessons, a lot of the class was discussion based and we covered a lot of global issues.”
Giffen has gained so much knowledge and strength from playing sports throughout high school, but he said that what he has gained the most from participating in sports is: “It has definitely helped with my leadership and it has helped me become a patient person.”