AJ Segura: one of the best PVHS athletes plays his last season

AJ Segura has been a mainstay on the football and baseball teams for the past four years. Spring season baseball is it for Segura at Pahrump Valley High School, for he graduates at the end of the year.

He has played football, basketball and baseball and his favorite sport is still football. Trojans football coach Joe Clayton has said in the past that Segura was one of the best athletes in the school.

“Part of me wishes I had tried wrestling my freshmen year because they get a lot of work done and it’s pretty cool they are so prideful. They work so hard. I think that was a little regret but at the same time I did basketball,” he said.

Segura talked about his football career at Pahrump and the possibilities that he will play college football.

“I am either going to walk on to the University of Nevada Reno or if that does not work out, then the University of Nevada Las Vegas is a possibility and Dixie State. I want to aim high. I am definitely aiming more for slot receiver. Defense was fun but it hurts. It hurts a lot. I think defensive back is one of the hardest positions in the game because of the high speed receivers you have to cover. I would be more comfortable running routs and trusting my hands. Wherever they want me to play in college I would be happy,” he explained.

If he wasn’t to make any of the teams he was asked if he would turn to baseball, a sport he started late in his life but excels at. Last year he led the team in hitting along with Dylan Ault.

“That would be an option too just because I want to play sports as long as I can and if that is what I have to do, but football is my love and passion,” he said.

Trojans Coach Brian Hayes believes Segura has the talent to compete at the college level in baseball.

“As far as baseball goes, AJ is a college level kid,” Hayes said. “Defensively, he could step in to a college program and do well. He covers ground, is a good athlete, and has a strong arm. Offensively, his approach is good, he just needs refining of some mechanics. His offense would improve as he gets more and more reps. As a college athlete, he would get those reps in fall and winter ball.”

During his senior year, AJ was moved from quarterback to running back and slot receiver. He said this move didn’t upset him too much and actually opened more doors than it closed.

“Of course it is going to bother you a bit because I did play quarterback for so long, but at the end of the day I just thought about it. It’s my senior year and these are my teammates. It’s going to benefit my team,” he said.

When it was all said and done, Segura actually played more football as a senior.

“I was wide receiver, I did punt and kick return and I played defensive back,” Segura said. “When I was quarterback it limited me to quarterback. I did look at that in a better light because I got to play more football. It was one of the best years of football. It was fun knowing that going into each game that we had a chance to compete and win that game if we did everything we needed to. When you are a senior and don’t take anything for granted, the biggest thing I have learned is someone is always going to be better than you.”