WHO IS ASH FOOTBALL?

by : Emma B.

When defining a particular subject, one may use words. When defining the meaning of Trojan Football, coaches would use Chris Gray as their primary description.

Senior running back, Chris Gray, embodies the ASH football program entirely. When Gray walked into football workouts three years ago, he may have been overlooked because he was not as advanced as the other players; however, he entered the program with integrity and the intentions of becoming a player that was never overlooked or forgotten.

“The ASH football program is a direct reflection of the school’s culture,” Josh Mercer, Defensive Pass Game Coordinator, said. The football team is centered around victories both on and off the field.

ASH football players are held to the standard of striving to be the best versions of themselves. The program is disciplined around a driving principle from Focus 3 Leadership Academy: “Leaders create culture. Culture drives behavior. Behavior produces results.”

Gray shows up for practice everyday, ready to give everything he has. He always “goes the extra mile”, no matter what the circumstances may be.

Along with Gray’s leadership, his selflessness is equally notable. “What the other players do not see is him cleaning up the locker room after everyone has left so the team does not have to run the next afternoon. A player that was competing with him for his position made a serious offense by leaving a jersey on his pads. Chris picked it up, and put it in the wash,” Mercer explained. Gray picks up any weight that is not being carried by his fellow teammates. Defensive Coordinator, DeWayne Severio said it best, “Chris Gray is ASH Football because of his work ethic and commitment to our shared mindset.”

Class of 2019 graduate, Jack G., embodied the same morals and set the tone for the type of leadership that Gray carries out today. “My motivation came from Jack. I decided that when he graduated, I would pick up where he left off in leading the football team,” Gray said.

Not only does Gray have an impact on his coaches; he is a role model for his teammates.

“Chris has the motivation that will get the team going everyday. He is someone that I look up to for his leadership. The team would not be the same without him,” Juneau said. Senior linebacker Jermaine McNeal has played with Gray over the course of their high school careers. “He works hard everyday and has a positive attitude on and off the field. When someone is down, he is sure to pick them up,” McNeal said.

Players such as Gray remind fellow players, coaches and even fans that football is more than a game; that one of its central purposes is to foster growth in people.