Running Side By Side: The Arreola Way

Brothers Jack Arreola, ‘27, and Max Arreola, ‘29, went to state together in cross country, with high’s and lows throughout the season, them and their parents look back on the experience.

By: Fabian Anguiano

Going to state with your team is one thing; your little brother coming with you is another.

Jack Arreola, ‘27, says, “I think it was a really it was a different experience, but it was really cool, because I got to bond with him in a way through a sport that we both love, so it’s just something that we could both enjoy together.”

Jack’s favorite memory of the season was “our first race when we both won the separate race that we were in. We were both in different races, but it was really cool because we both won gold. So it was just a fun experience to share that together.”

Jack and Max supported each other throughout the season by constant motivation. Saying “I was just working on giving him tips that I learned from the past season so that he could carry that on in his season.”

Being on the same team can cause a sibling rivalry to brew, “I think just because of the age difference, too, I think I’m just better than him at running naturally, but I think he is faster than my freshman time.”

“So I think I’m a little jealous of that too, but it’s cool, because through that, we get to push each other more. And I just want to be faster than him, and he’s trying to catch up to me,” said Jack. “So it’s a really good, friendly rivalry. I guess you could say.”

The toughest race they went through was their last cross country race of this season, state.

Jack says “I think it was the biggest race that we had in the most competitive, so it was just really hectic, especially during the start, trying to navigate through all the running traffic.”

The advice Jack gave his younger brother was reminded Max that a good portion of a good runner is eating and running habits. Saying “just how to not only run during your race or during practice, but how to recover outside too.”

Having an older sibling in sports can help you navigate your way.

On what it was like being on varsity with his older brother, Max Arreola ‘29, reflects on his season being a freshman on varsity with his older brother. He said, “It was a really cool experience that not a lot of people have, and it was cool to just have someone to look up to.”

Every practice was a memory for Max, saying “I just remember every practice and hard workout, he would always be encouraging me and pushing me to stay up with the top group.”

“Going to state with my brother felt super cool, one, that we made state, and second, me and my brother being on varsity. It was just a really cool once-in-a-lifetime experience to have.” 

Being on varsity can bring siblings more together.

Max, says, “we kind of formed a bond of competing together and encouraging each other.”

Jack and Max’s father, David Arreola, says having both of his sons making state was, “super exciting. I think it’s just a unique experience that we have two brothers that are on the same team. And, we were just really excited for them.”

From his view, Mr. Arreola thinks running together has brought them together.

“I think there’s obviously tension that’s involved in that, right, because you’re competing, and there’s this level of competitiveness, but that always stretches us, I think, as individuals, but especially as siblings. I think it teaches us to be humble. You know, when we don’t do as well as we thought or we didn’t do as well as the other sibling, yeah, but it pushes us to be better overall.”

“When the boys don’t do well, like they don’t do well as far as the race, they’re not as successful, but they handle it in their attitude. They handle it well,” said Mr. Arreola. “They handle failure. Well, I guess I should say that’s probably my proudest moment.”

Jack and Max’s mother, Kelley Arreola, says watching her sons run together was “really fun to see them both choose it on their own.”

“I really feel like Jack chose it on his own at a young age, and it was really fun to see Max not just want to follow in his brother’s footsteps, but really love running himself also.” says Mrs. Arreola.

The culture of a team can act as a comfort blanket, Mrs. Arreola says “It was really fun to watch them both choose it, and I think also to watch the friendship of those seven boys on varsity. Those are some really quality boys that I’m grateful that my son’s got to spend time with.”

“I think they didn’t do as well as they hoped they would do at EYL. And my favorite memory was watching them as a team, say, you know, hey, we trained really hard. Not every race we’re going to get a PR. Let’s get back to it tomorrow and keep on working hard.” she says.

From Mrs. Arreola’s view, Jack and Max push each other no matter what. She says “I think Max really wants to outdo his brother as a freshman, like, Max wants to do better than Jack did as a freshman. And then I think Jack’s like, Oh, dang. I better up my game. So I think they, in a really healthy way, push each other.”

Already inseparable, she says, “Gosh, they share a room, they drive to school together every day, and drive home together every day. So they spend a lot of time.”

Max and Jack have an interesting tradition they do before every race, Mrs. Arreola says, “Our boys do this thing, where they like, cross their forearms in front of their chest, like, kind of like they’re hugging themselves. And it means four things.” 

“When they do that, it means that they’re saying, okay, I’m going to do these four things, I’m going to honor God, I’m going to be humble, and I’m going to work hard. And then they know that win or lose, we love them. And so they do that at the starting line before each race.” says Mrs. Arreola.

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