|
Imperial High's Dexter Bell (right) shows his National Letter of Intent while Imperial head football coach Kerry Legarra looks on Wednesday in Imperial. (JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO / February 6, 2013) |
Editor's Note: This article has been corrected.
Eight Imperial Valley seniors will remember Wednesday as a marker in their lives, because it was on Wednesday that they all signed binding national letters of intent to play collegiate football.
Afterward they posed for photos with friends, family and coaches, grinning widely beneath stiff-billed school caps. It was a fitting culmination of all their hard work in academics and athletics alike.
Of this group, the only one to have earned a full-ride scholarship was Dexter Bell of Imperial High.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior had been on the fence, having to decide between the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of North Dakota.
Ultimately he went with the USNA, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering.
For Bell, whose grandfather served in the Navy, continuing his academic success is just as important as succeeding on the playing field.
“(I chose Navy) because of the long-term benefits,” he said. “When I graduate, I’ll already have a good-paying job waiting for me. The education I’ll receive there should set me up for life.”
BRAWLEY UNION HIGH
Abraham Lopez
The 17-year-old defensive tackle/inside linebacker earned a partial scholarship to play for the Mayville State University Comets of Mayville, N.D.
He is one of the four soon-to-be former Wildcats and two Tigers who will be attending the 825-student school.
Of this, Lopez said, “Brawley football makes us a family. Now, we all wanted to leave the Valley and play college football, so what better way is there to do it than together, in the same place?”
Lopez hopes to major in sports medicine and upon graduation, become a physical trainer.
Zakk Krigbaum
Krigbaum, 18, went both ways for the Wildcats as a strong safety and wide receiver, although he plans to focus more on the defensive side of the ball once at Mayville State.
He considers Wednesday both the end of a long journey and the start of something great — it was visible in his face as he set down his pen and deliberately, happily fitted the blue-and-white cap over his head.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to play football,” he stated. “It’s a dream come true and an honor to play for Mayville.”
He will major in sports management.
Miguel Moreno
At 5-foot-10 and 251-pound, Moreno, 17, should make an impression on whatever side of the line of scrimmage upon which he will eventually line up. As of Wednesday, he was undecided as to whether he would rather play offense or defense at Mayville State.
“I’ll play wherever they want me,” he said. He went on to add that he feels that Brawley’s football program, under coach John Self, has prepared him for whatever challenges may lie ahead of him.
“(The program) has taught me to always set goals for myself but more importantly, to always achieve them.”
Moreno has yet to choose a major.
Jared Mohamed
Mohamed, 17, racked up 49 total tackles, 23 of them solos, as an inside linebacker in his final season with the Wildcats, as well as 1,216 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns as a fullback. That means that if his defensive aspirations don’t pan out, he could just as easily take some handoffs at California Polytechnic State University.
Deciding on the move to San Luis Obispo was a cinch, he said, for a number of reasons. One would be the environment, which he described as “great. The whole town revolves around the college. Plus, there’s great weather.”
Another incentive was that he will be the fourth Mohamed to attend the university, being preceded by older brothers, Marty, Kyle and Dylan, with whom he would like to start his own business after earning his degree in business administration.
However, Jared wants to do more than simply continue the Cal Poly tradition that his brothers effectively started.
“I want to make a name for myself,” he stated, “and be recognized for who I am.”
Hunter Wharton
“It’s a great place,” he said of the city of Grand Forks, where UND is located. “There’s not much to do up there, so the community gets really involved in (local) sports
. I’m really excited to be a part of that.”
Wharton credits his success to the support of his family, the offseason workouts he received from local trainer Gerald Robinson, and the jockeying of recruiter Justin Hannon.
He plans on majoring in business management, with a minor in environmental geoscience.
IMPERIAL HIGH
Dexter Bell
“(Committing to Navy) means so much to me,” said Bell. “I never thought I’d get the opportunity to play Division 1 football.”
Bell, 17, admitted that leaving the strong support system of his mother and father, Rosa and Dexter Bell Sr., to relocate to Annapolis, Md., which is more than 2,600 miles east of the Imperial Valley, won’t be easy, but it “will be interesting to get to know people and meet new friends.”
Bell thanked Imperial football head coach Kerry Legarra, Justin Hannon, and most importantly, “God, because without Him, none of this would have happened.”
Manuel Silva
Although Mayville State only offered him a partial scholarship, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound 18-year-old running back/cornerback leapt at the opportunity.
“I’ll have the chance to play football in a good program,” he said, “but I’ll also receive good schooling while I’m up there.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he went on. “Not many people have this opportunity and I want to take advantage. I can’t explain how happy I am.”
Silva will major in psychology with the intention of finding a job with the government.
Christian Webster
Like Brawley’s Wharton, Webster, 18, was charmed by the city of Mayville as much as the university itself.
“I liked the environment,” he said. “It’s safe, close-knit, and just really reminds me of home. I’m just happy I made it here and I want to advise others to push hard to get here, too.”
On continuing his football career alongside his longtime teammate and friend Silva, Webster said, “(The transition) is going to be easier. Some students get homesick, but it’s going to be nice knowing somebody going in.”
Webster will major in biochemistry, with the expectation of becoming a science teacher.
Editor's Note: The article misidentified which school Hunter Wharton signed a letter of intent to go to. Wharton will head to the University of North Dakota in the fall.
To join the discussion and add your comments to this story, please click here to be directed to Facebook.
