Xavier’s Segura learned a new game

CEDAR RAPIDS - Jóse Pablo Segura came from Mexico and enrolled at Xavier High School for his freshmen year.

Other than making new friends and adapting to Xavier, there were many other things he was nervous about.

'Playing football in America is very different than football in Mexico,” Segura said. 'I was not sure what the coaches or the players would be like here.”

Segura joined a football team when he was nine years old. He joined because his dad had also played and he really wanted his son to play. Segura didn't want to play at first because he thought it was going to be violent. But his dad pushed and he eventually fell in love with the sport.

During Segura's first year in football, he played wide receiver. He didn't play much and was only put in the game at the last quarter.

'I really sucked at first.” he said. 'I was very bad. But then my dad told me to try the running back position so I did and got the starting place.”

In America, teams are organized by schools. In Mexico, teams are clubs. Student sections are not commonly seen in Mexico and the crowd is made up of mostly parents.

'Football in Mexico is a lot harder, but in America it is a lot faster,” Seguara said. 'The coaching styles are different. The coaches yell at you a lot and in America it is a little easier.”

He loved that in Mexico players are more rough and hit a lot. In America, they get pulled out of the game for hitting too often.

'I really enjoyed playing with Jóse because he was really good and helped our team get better,” freshmen Derrick Skala said.

Segura had a successful first season in America. The Saints lost only one game.