Heading into the school year, Sedona Red Rock High School senior German Turincio knew that he wanted his final year of high school to be as good as it could be.
With that in mind and with the coaxing of some friends on the team, Turincio decided to return to the sport of football. Looking back on it now, Turincio is happy that he reached that decision.
“It was my last year so I was thinking about what I could do to make it the best,” Turincio said. “My teammates — especially Tama Scharnhorst and Lee Loughnane — definitely helped me out in that. They were the two that really got me to play again and I’m really happy that they did that.”
Playing football for SRRHS was not entirely foreign to Turincio. He played for the Scorpions for part of his freshman year, but did not return to the gridiron as a sophomore or junior.
As a senior, Turincio got into five games. He recorded seven tackles and forced a fumble. But more than what happened on the field, the trips to the games are what Turincio remembers from his time playing football.
“Away games were the best thing ever,” he said. “Part of it was getting to leave school early but the other half was enjoying the ride, hanging out with friends or teammates. Win or lose, being with your teammates
made it better. We all kind of supported each other no matter what.”
When high school is over, Turincio is planning on attending Yavapai College in Prescott and joining the Auto Body and Paint program.
“I got into art in sophomore year.” Turincio said. “I love art. Painting helps me relax and focus. And cars, my whole family have been car people and truck people. Being around them kind of made me happy. Now that I have my own car [a 1998 Acura Integra], it’s my turn to do what I want with it and explore.”
Like other students around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted Turincio to being an online student. He acknowledged that doing online courses makes it easy to get distracted but also said he’s still trying his hardest to work through everything.
As an outgoing senior, Turincio hopes that younger high school students — as well as those about to become high school students — not only work hard to stay on track academically but also take time to enjoy it, realizing that high school is a fleeting experience.
“To the other people, other kids going into high school, make sure you stay on track and enjoy it,” he said. “There are only four years and the four years for me have gone by too fast.”
