Young student athlete Isaiah Contreras is excelling in football, proving that hard work truly pays off, he has received recognition for his hard work both on the field and in the classroom. With the help of trainers at Sun Ute Community Center, Contreras found an interest in weightlifting and training as he worked to gain strength for his upcoming football season.
Contreras is a first descendant of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and he is the son of Ayla Olguin and Oscar Contreras. He attends Escalante Middle School where he is an eighth grader, Contreras will be attending Durango High School next year where he hopes to continue his football career and earn a collegiate football scholarship. As a young child, Contreras was shy and kept to himself; it was recommended by his mom to try a sport to branch out and meet new friends, he gave football a try and has been playing ever since.
Prior to his season, Contreras wanted to gain more strength, so he began training during an after-school lifting program. He then began working out at SunUte Community Center as recommended by his grandparents, he utilized the personal training program with SunUte Trainer Eliyah Lucero.
“I was giving him the option to make his own circuit training, teaching him how to develop his own workout programs,” Fitness Trainer, Eliyah Lucero said. “We worked together for three days out of the week, for about eight months starting in 2024–you could tell his confidence definitely grew, even in his personality.”
“His grandma and I have kept in touch since I have started working with him, she let me know that he has gone to many football camps like the Fort Lewis camp–he was 13, playing amongst 16-18 year old students–he got the ‘Most Improved Player’ at that camp, he even won a linemen challenge and bench pressed at 70 pounds, 30 times,” Lucero said. “I am very proud of him for the work that he’s put in, he’s doing a great job and it’s inspiring to see such a young kid work to reach his goals–Isaiah comes from a great family that supports him, and I am so proud of him.”
After working so hard in school, the gym, and on the field, Contreras went on to make A-team for Escalante Middle School and he also received multiple awards including; Team captain, A-Team Offensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player-Nike Contact Football Camp Fort Lewis College, and he made the Honor Roll.
Parents Ayla Olguin and Oscar Contreras are proud of their son for becoming a bright student and strong player, “When the team starts to get down, Isaiah brings them back together he is one of the team’s main captains,” Oscar Contreras said. “It’s been a lot of work helping him get to this point, his mom makes a lot of sacrifices to make sure that he is to every practice and game on time, but to see him excelling in football makes us so happy, it has been an awesome experience, and we are so proud of him.”
“We just went to his parent teacher conference and his teacher said that it is always a pleasure to have Isaiah in class, he is so polite, and he stays upbeat, helping people to feel happy and stay positive–our son is a great role model,” Olguin said. “We want him to keep being positive, keep growing, and keep working hard, he is a good influence for his brothers and sisters and we’re so proud of him.”
Isaiah Contreras shared that he is happy and proud to see the strength progress and is grateful for the success he has earned. Most of all he is thankful for the unwavering support from coaches, trainers, teachers, and his family.
“I am thankful for my parents and their dedication they put towards me; they have helped me get so far in my football career,” Isaiah Contreras said. “I am also thankful for my coaches and my family they’ve always pushed me when I thought I didn’t have any more energy left in me, my coaches always told me to get one more extra rep in and that has definitely paid off.”