The opportunity to play at the next level is a dream constantly pursued by high school athletes not just in Texas, but across the country. For four Chapin Huskies, Friday marked the next step in their athletic and academic careers as each of them signed scholarships to play college football.
Wide receiver Peyton Held signed with Oklahoma Baptist University, linebacker Evan “Drake” Garner signed with Indiana Wesleyan University and receiver Ryan Wilson and cornerback Deaumonje (DJ) Banks both signed with Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.
“These four young men are very deserving of the opportunities they’ve earned,” said head coach Rene Hernandez, “They’ve been a big part of our program for the last three to four years.”
The Chapin Huskies were one of El Paso’s best teams in 2016 on the field, starting the season 8-0 and advancing to the area round in the Class 5A Division I playoffs. In the program’s brief history, the Huskies have become a playoff regular as 2016 marked their 14th consecutive postseason trip.
However, Friday was about celebrating those accomplishments, particularly for Held, who showed a lot of emotion as he spoke during Friday’s ceremony.
“It’s really a special moment,” Held said following the ceremony, “It was emotional but football means everything to me and I’m really excited for the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Two of Held’s high school teammates, Wilson and Banks, will be heading to Southwestern University just outside of Austin. According to Banks, going to college together past high school wasn’t part of the original plan. Now, both players are ready to get to campus and start on this next journey.
“Ryan and I drove down together last month with my dad,” Banks said, “Once we saw the school and the facilities, we really liked what they had to offer because we wanted to make it feel like home to us.”
“It’s going to be great,” Wilson said on playing with DJ, “We’re starting over but I’ll have someone else to do it with and we’re just excited to go out there and represent Chapin in a good way.”
As for Garner, his path will be new in two ways. He will move up to play college football at the next level and he will be a part of Indiana Wesleyan’s first signing class as they start their program in 2018.
“It’s an incredible honor to be a part of that first class,” Garner said after the ceremony, “To be a part of that first class means a lot.”
As the four players get set to move on from high school and on to the next chapter of their lives, Hernandez sees the four players as part of a special group that continued the legacy of success at Chapin.
“They’ve done everything we’ve asked of them and more,” Hernandez said, “I believe they’ll make the most of their opportunities.”
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