Joliet “Baby J” Moya is an all-around athlete and youngster on the Tigers. Read about her love for her brother Jeremias and the struggles of finding passion again after losing him.
I started playing sports at the ripe old age of three, and I never went without being on a team of some sort since then. Basketball was my sport of choice, and I played for 17 years competitively year round. My family and I revolved our lives around it for years.
Specifically, my younger brother Jeremias and I shared our love for the game–he went to every game I had. After he passed away from an inoperable brain stem tumor my junior year of high school, my love for the game faded. I found it hard to enjoy playing basketball.
I graduated from high school, and pursued a career in barbering; unfortunately the college I attended didn’t have a sports team. So, it seemed like I wouldn’t be on a team again.
“I felt going from basketball to a full-tackle sport seemed impossible … it was too different.”
Then, within a year of graduating, I found Sara Rohner and all of the other wonderful ladies on the footy team. I was a bit unsure of trying this new sport out.
Not only was I the youngest (hence the nickname Baby J), but I hadn’t been involved in sports recently. I felt going from basketball to a full-tackle sport seemed impossible … it was too different.
Turns out, joining this club was the best choice I could have made. Not only is Australian football a way to keep in great shape, but the atmosphere of the game is unmatched by any other sport I have played. Whether a rookie or a vet, there is no judgment of players. There is always room for everyone to contribute, develop skills, and enjoy the game.
Since I met Ms. Presidente Rohner and the Assistant Principal Dr. Jenn Elliott, they’ve always been supportive on and off the field. The players on this team only put out positive vibes, and every time we play it’s all smiles.
“I never thought I’d belong to a team again, and here we all are teaming it out.”
Finding a team where it was okay to be both a stand-up comedian and an athlete was hard, but the Tigers let me be the best of both worlds. I never thought I’d belong to a team again, and here we all are teaming it out.
The game, alone, is great. I get to mix my basketball knowledge in there, with some good cardio, and full contact without my height limiting me. Plus my aggression is an asset. I get to bring my skill, enjoy the sport, and I’m part of a positive community. What’s not to love?
Centennial Tigers Australian Rules Football Club 