Growing up in Westlake Village, California, I found my path to football through Friday night lights at Westlake High School. Watching those championship games as an eight-year-old sparked something in me that would shape my future. Though I tried my hand at basketball, track, and volleyball, football was always my true calling.

I was raised primarily by my single mom, with my dad living in Vegas but still present in my life. Along with my older brother (who definitely toughened me up through our share of scuffles), we made it work.

The support I received along the way has been incredible – from family and coaches to teammates and their parents. They've all contributed to my journey, both financially and emotionally.

My path to USD came unexpectedly during the challenging COVID recruiting year. Though I knew little about the school initially - the beautiful campus, nearby beach, and incredibly welcoming community (so nice I thought they might be fake at first!) made it feel like home.

This season has been my best at USD, and I'm not done pushing for more. Breaking a thousand receiving yards, hitting double-digit touchdowns, and closing out with two final wins – these goals keep me grinding despite the usual bumps and bruises.

To young players dreaming of playing college ball: nothing worth having comes easy. You have to earn every opportunity but don't let anyone tell you your dreams are out of reach. If there's a will, there's a way. Looking back at my journey from those Friday nights in Westlake to playing in one of the most beautiful cities in the country, I couldn't be more grateful. The support system I've had – from my family to the USD community – has been everything.

Lastly, I want to give a special thank you to those who have donated to the football program through the Olé Foundation. You have contributed greatly to our success by helping with everything from tuition and living expenses to equipment needs.

Your support ensures we can focus on what matters most: representing USD at our absolute best!

Best,

Ja’Seem Reed

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GREAT PRICES, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

The University of San Diego Baseball program scored a major victory off the diamond as the first-ever San Diego Sandbagger Alumni Golf Tournament raised over $50,000 for Torero student-athletes. Hosted at the prestigious Fairbanks Ranch Country Club on November 4th, the event drew an impressive field of 152 golfers, including numerous USD Baseball alumni and former MLB players.

FRCC member and devoted USD Baseball supporter John Gentillon organized the successful tournament, which featured a special ceremonial opening. In a touching moment, longtime USD Baseball head coach John Cunningham was honored with the ceremonial first tee shot, which he graciously passed to former player and MLB veteran Kevin Herde.

"We already knew that our baseball program has great players, coaches, and alums and this event only further reinforced that truth," said JT Rogan, Executive Director of the Olé Foundation and key event organizer. "What the event also achieved is the ability to make us immediately competitive in the transfer portal era where holding on to our most important assets, our great Torero players, is crucial."

The tournament's overwhelming success has already secured its future, with plans announced for a second edition to be held at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club next November.

The tournament's tremendous success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of sponsors and donors who have championed the Olé Foundation since its early stages.

Your incredible generosity enables the foundation to provide crucial support not only to the baseball program but to all Torero athletics.

We are deeply grateful for your continued support and engagement with USD Athletics. Your generosity and dedication to following our Toreros' journey makes a lasting impact on our student-athletes and programs. Thank you for being an integral part of our success story!

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We recently caught up with USD alumnus Patrick Zimmer, who shared fond memories of his time as a student-athlete at USD. Originally from Germany, Patrick had an incredible experience as a Torero, balancing his studies, soccer career, and various entrepreneurial ventures.

"Being a student-athlete, being part of an incredible team and community, flying to games all across the country, living by the beach in one of the most beautiful cities in the world - it was truly a blessing and life-changing experience that shaped my character and mindset," Patrick reflected.

One of his favorite memories was the 1-0 win over the #1 ranked UCLA team, where Patrick scored the game-winning goal in front of a packed Torero Stadium. He credits his time at USD with building critical skills like time management, discipline, and resilience that prepared him for his subsequent career.

After graduating, Patrick worked in branding roles in San Diego and Berlin before starting his own agency, MINDROOM. He's now based in Frankfurt, Germany, but continues to stay connected to USD through old friends and social media.

Patrick shared two book recommendations that have been impactful for him: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The Second Mountain by David Brooks.

Patrick's advice to current student-athletes is to make the most of the unique opportunities at USD. "Enjoy every second! It's the time of your life. Appreciate what you have, be grateful and make the best of your time at USD. It goes by in the blink of an eye but the memories, experiences, friendships and connections stay for a lifetime."

We're grateful to Patrick for sharing his inspirational story, and we wish him all the best in his continued endeavors.

WHERE TOREROS OWN THEIR FUTURE…

And a special congratulations to Coach Cindy Fisher on 400 wins! 👏

That’s All For Now!

We hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter! You can follow us on @olefoundation on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Please help us in continuing to spread the word, and thank you for supporting the Olé Foundation!

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