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Saguaro’s DeChesaro gets top honor at NFF awards

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Progress Sports Editor

Thomas DeChesaro has always taken pride in proving his doubters wrong.

He did it for years on the Saguaro football team, constantly referred to as “undersized” and overlooked by big-name colleges that �locked to Sabercat games and practices. He didn’t sulk, though. He used that as motivation.

He became an anchor on the Saguaro defense from the safety position. For three years he poured his blood, sweat and tears into a team he loved and played hard for a coaching staff he admired. It was all worth it in the end when Saguaro won the Open Division State Championship last fall over Chandler.

He added more to his legacy April 23 when he received the highest honor from the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter at its 41st annual Scholar Athlete Luncheon as he was named the Scholar Athlete of the Year.

“There’s a lot of really good, smart athletic guys here,” DeChesaro said. “It’s really cool to all come together for one big event like this to honor our achievements.”

Not only was he awarded for his accolades on the �ield, but he was also acknowledged for his success off it. DeChesaro boasts a 4.5 GPA. He was named First-Team All-State, All-Conference and All-Region during his senior season.

But despite the awards, he remained overlooked by schools. Then Lake Forest came calling. DeChesaro committed and signed with the Foresters, a Division III program just north of Chicago.

He is excited for the opportunity to play at Illinois.

“I can’t wait to go show more people that counted me out for college what I’m capable of,” DeChesaro said. “I want to dominate like I did in high school. I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Saguaro linebacker Miles Crutchley was also in attendance for the luncheon, which honored 23 high school athletes and three college players. Crutchley was the recipient of the Bob and Janet Casciola Family Scholarship after capping off his career with All-Academic honors for his 4.7 GPA. Duke Frye of Notre Dame Prep received the Tom Wheatley Memorial Scholarship at the luncheon. He currently has a 4.22 GPA. Other athletes from across the East Valley were honored at the luncheon. Bryce Chen was honored with the Core Construction

Award for his time on the �ield and in the classroom at Arizona College Prep. He was one of the seniors that helped build the program into what it is today, a 4A Conference team that recently held its �irst-ever true home game at its new campus.

Nason Coleman, a standout tight end for Chandler who battled through an ACL tear that left him sidelined his junior season, was in attendance for the event. Coleman will continue his career at BYU in the fall.

Dawson Hubbard, one of the top defensive linemen in the state at Hamilton who helped bring the Huskies to national prominence this past season, was also honored and will attend Butler University.

Seton Catholic senior Mattias Benally received the Native American Award from the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter on Saturday while other East Valley honorees included Red Mountain senior Ryan Grossklaus and Mesa senior Joshua Irish.

“It always feels good to be respected by the people you go against, by the people you work with every day and people that are in the same �ield as you,” Brophy senior and Ahwatukee resident Adonis Watt said. “It’s a steppingstone for something bigger. I’m enjoying the process and happy to be here.”

Watt was honored with the Shaw Courage Award at the NFF Valley of the Sun Scholar Athlete Luncheon.

He captured the hearts of the high school football community when he made his varsity debut in 2019 for Brophy. A sophomore at the time, he lined up at running back against Alhambra High School and plunged into the end zone from a yard out. Like DeChesaro, Crutchley, Frye and the other athletes honored by the NFF, he leaves high school with a legacy of being the best version of himself both on and off the �ield. “When you �ind something you love, stick with it as long as you can or until you don’t love it anymore, until the wheels fall off,” Watt said. “That’s what I’m doing and what I’m going to continue to do.

“Everyone has their own battles. Mine just happens to be my vision. That’s how I look at it.”

Saguaro senior safety Thomas DeChesaro was named the Scholar Athlete of the Year by the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter. He received a commemorative trophy from luncheon emcee Brad Cesmat on Saturday, April 23 at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler. (Dave Minton/Progress Staff) The NFF honored 23 high school and three college athletes Saturday during the 41st annual Scholar Athlete Luncheon. It also honored three “Distinguished Arizonans,” which included AIA Executive Director David Hines, Arizona State’s Mark Brand and quarterback guru Dan Manucci. (Dave Minton/Progress Staff)