Catalina football, soccer and track • sophomore • 5-8
● The lowdown: Eichberger's talent graces the playing fields year-round for the Trojans. First, he suited for the football squad as a free safety and kick returner. For the first four games of the 2005 season, Eichberger started on the junior varsity team. But he played well enough to move up to the varsity level. He currently is playing left midfield for the soccer team. And in the spring, he will change cleats and turf to sprint for the track team.
● Any preference? If Eichberger could only pursue one sport, his pick would be track. "I found my talent," he said. "So I am really looking forward to this year."
● Events: The 200-meter dash, the 400-meter run, the 4x400 relay and the 4x800 relay. In last year's 4A state finals, Eichberger nabbed an eighth-place finish in the 400.
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● Fast feat: Eichberger developed a fierce competitive taste for track during his eighth- grade year at Utterback Middle School. It was then that he broke a city record in the 400.
● Don't be fooled: Eichberger is of Mexican and American descent, and speaks fluent Spanish.
● Many places to call home: Before his family settled in Tucson, Eichberger first lived in his birthplace of Greenbrae, Calif. for three years. His next stop was Los Mochis, Sinaloa, where he lived for five years. It was in Sinaloa that he first began to play soccer with his cousins.
● Little James: While living in Los Mochis, Eichberger was given the nickname Jimito. Family members still call him that today.
● Make believe: On the playground, Eichberger attempted to duplicate the style of NFL great Jerry Rice.
● Real life Jerry Rice moment: In last year's football game against Nogales, Eichberger had a play specifically drawn for him. Normally a free safety, he switched to wide receiver and caught a 50-yard pass that put the team on the 1, and set up the game-winning touchdown. "Coach called it the James special," he said.
● Trading lives: Given the opportunity to switch lives with any person, Eichberger said he would trade places with Jeremy Wariner. In the 2004 Summer Olympics, Wariner took gold in the 400-meter run and the 4x400 men's relay. Eichberger lists Wariner as his favorite athlete.
● Classroom success: Eichberger admits to slacking off in the classroom in his freshmen year, but is working on improving his grades. "It was just because I was lazy," he said. "This year, I brought up my grades." He did it by taking four honors classes.
● High school goals: The one thing Eichberger would like to do before graduation is break a high school track record. "I would like to break the 400 state record," he said. That mark, 46.64 seconds, was set by Maryvale's Dwight Jones in 1977.
● He still has time: Eichberger is not due to attend college for some time, but he already is looking toward the future. "I am hoping to get a scholarship for track," he said. Ideally, he wants to earn a scholarship to the University of Southern California, but would not turn down the chance to run the 400 at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
● Coach-speak: "James is the kind of athlete who can play any sport he wants. He works tremendously hard and he is very gifted." — Catalina boys soccer coach Larry Ruhf
