Where Are They Now – Jake Ballesteros

LHES wrestler Jake Ballesteros fulfilled his longtime dream of wrestling at the collegiate level. He received a scholarship to wrestle at Otero Junior College and moved to Southeast Colorado after graduating from LHES in 2018. An injury left him unable to wrestle in his second year, but he stayed busy with friends he made from wrestling and with classes like geology and astronomy. Jake finished his associate’s degree in science this past May on a high note, achieving high grades and landing on the college’s President’s Honor List.

Despite his injury, Jake was able to stay active and enjoyed getting to know Colorado better by exploring the mountains and hiking trails. Colorado has a lot to offer with beautiful terrain and outdoor activities, but Jake says there’s a lot that keeps him connected to Lanai, including his family and younger sister. He always looks forward to visiting home during the holidays.

“I miss the food, the warm weather, my family and being outdoors year-round. There are mountains out here, but they’re a few hours away,” explained Jake. “It also takes time to get used to the cold.”

After graduation, Jake returned home to warmer weather and recently started a job at Sensei Farms as an operations associate. He is happy to be home during these times of uncertainty but is still contemplating pursing his four-year degree in business administration or entrepreneurship in the future.

Congratulations and good luck, Jake!

“Where are they now?” features alumni from Lanai High and Elementary School to see what they’ve been up to since graduation.