Football is what keeps Mark Haro a student at Woodrow Wilson.
“It has really helped me stay in school,” says Haro, a linebacker on the football team. “My neighborhood has a lot of kids who have dropped out of school, and I might have been one of them.”
Haro’s love for the game is evident by the way he plays and practices. Woodrow Wilson coach Bruce Land says Haro rarely complains.
“He’s been real loyal to the program,” Land says. “Doesn’t do a lot of talking and has always been a real good citizen.”
When Haro does have a beef, Land says it is the kind a coach likes to hear.
“I took him out on the last kickoff return of a game recently because there was only a few minutes left, his shoulder was bothering him, and the game was lost,” Land says. “But he got all upset. He didn’t want to miss a chance to make a tackle.”
Land says Haro, a defensive captain in his third year as a starter, takes the same approach at practices. The attitude is one of the main reasons Haro is likely to be named all-district for the third consecutive year after the season is over.
“He loves to practice,” Land says. “I wish we had more that loved to practice like he does. He does get mad at practice when we don’t scrimmage and he can’t hit anybody.”
Haro says he probably wouldn’t be playing football except for the contact.
“I just like hitting; that is they way you play the game,” says Haro, who averages about 15 tackles a game. “I don’t like blocking.
“I don’t like coming out of the game any time. I just try to play smart and tough. Whenever I hit anybody, I feel good.”
Haro, who is 5-10 and weighs 187 pounds, says he uses his anticipation and quickness to make tackles instead of overpowering opponents.
“I have to work on my timing, try to avoid the lineman,” he says. “I’m not fast, but I get that quick jump. The offensive lineman, even on my own team during practice, hold me all the time.
“My practice jersey has a lot of holes up near the shoulder pads where the guys have grabbed me.”
Haro is hoping to finish the season strongly to attract the attention of college recruiters.
“I want to get a scholarship, and several colleges have shown some interest,” he says. “That would be very important to me.”
Haro has received letters from a number of colleges, ranging from traditional football powers like Southern California and University of Texas to smaller schools like Eastern New Mexico.
Haro is quick to admit that getting to continue to play football would be as important to him as the opportunities a college education would provide.
“If I didn’t like football so much, I don’t know if I would even be in school now,” Haro says.
