In the historic halls of O'Dea High School, Jacob Hirsh found more than just a place to study, he discovered a place for personal growth, resilience, and a sense of brotherhood.
His growth at O'Dea not only shaped his character but also gave a foundation for a great career in Division 1 baseball at the University of Washington and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Looking back on his time at O'Dea, Hirsh recalls the valuable lessons he learned on and off the field.
"Coaches like KP, Doyle, and Lara helped me keep my head on straight and helped me mature as a player and a person," he states.
It was through sports that Hirsh learned how to handle adversity, that helped him immeasurably in his future careers.
One of the key factors of his success was the brotherhood found at O'Dea.
The sense of unity he experienced at school and on the field became a huge part of his career, it’s one of the things he misses most. He learned how to be a part of a brotherhood and brought that into his future teams, helping him create his own successful college career.
His collegiate career at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley validates these principles. Hirsh not only excelled on the field but also wrote his name in the history books by contributing to the school's first-ever conference championship.
His triumphs were not just individual, they were won as a brotherhood, playing for one another rather for just themselves, just as he learned at O’Dea.
House games, like flag football as well as basketball, were more than just recreational activities for Hirsh, they were a way to create strong bonds as well as make great memories with classmates. These games brought out the competitive spirit, bringing students closer and building a sense of community. One of the truly unique experiences created by O’Dea.
Post-college, Hirsh made his way into the world of coaching, making a mark at Driveline Baseball.
Here, he passed on one of the lessons he learned at O'Dea, showing the importance of many different approaches to success.
"They helped me realize that coaches are always in your best interest, even though it sometimes may seem misinformed at the time. I learned to take a step back and see where they are coming from," he says.
He puts this mindset into practice on a daily basis while he helps coach several professional baseball players, big leaguers like JP Crawford included. He attributes his ability to analyze players to the past lessons that he learned during his career.
Hirsh's journey from O'Dea High School to Division 1 baseball is a testament to the great impact of a supportive brotherhood, the resilience created through adversity, and the several paths one can take to achieve greatness.
His story stands as an inspiration for upcoming athletes, reminding them that success is not a singular path, but a collective effort created by the lessons learned on the fields and in competition.
Comments