Carmel High School football players team up to help neighbors in need

0
Junior Mark Stickford cleans and trims branches. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
Junior Mark Stickford cleans and trims branches. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)

By Mark Ambrogi

A swarm of Carmel High School football players and coaches recently descended on two properties in Noblesville.

Seven football coaches and 67 seniors and juniors dedicated a day to a Habitat for Humanity of Hamilton County project July 23. They helped with landscaping, staining a fence, building drainage trenches and other needed improvements at two properties in downtown Noblesville.

“We’re trying to drive home the point that there are a lot of things that are bigger than us,” said John Hebert, a long-time assistant who became CHS head football coach when Kevin Wright took another job earlier this year. “We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to play football. If we put our energies toward any kind of endeavor we can make a big impact. I think part of it is living by what you say you stand for. We stand for each other and looking out for one another. This is a great way to do it and helps some folks out at the same time.”

Senior linebacker Noah Burks, who has committed to play for Wisconsin in 2016, said even though it is hard work the players were having a good time together. Burks was working on building a deep trench around one house.

“It’s a great team bonding exercise as long as we are helping people out in the community,” Burks said. “We all have final goal of making these persons’ lives better. Just knowing we’re going to do that is enough motivation for us.”

Senior offensive tackle Jack Lorson has done some work like this on his grandfather’s farm in Kansas.

“It’s probably a lot of work that a lot of these guys haven’t done in their lives,” Lorson said. “It’s tough and dirty work, building a trench. We’re getting to know guys better than we normally would on a football field or a film room. We’re not under pressure (from coaches) so guys are looser.”

Junior Mark Stickford was moving logs, clearing up the property and helping to landscape.

“It’s better than practice because we’re helping out people,” Stickford said.


Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Share.

Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact