Anthony Haddad of Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary HS in SoCal, has been selected to represent the United States in the Down Under Tournament in Australia.
I had the pleasure a couple of weeks ago to speak with a Southern California student-athlete, who I thought epitomized what makes high school football great.
Anthony Haddad, who is finishing his senior year at Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Montebello, California, is a young man who has overcome what some would consider a lack of size — 5-8, 210 pounds — to play the game he loves at a very high level.
Anthony, who never put-on pads or a helmet until his freshman year and is a product of a middle school flag football program, had dreams of playing Division I football, but realized that his lack of height may be a drawback. However, it didn’t dampen his spirits for playing football at the next level.
Haddad, who played nose tackle and fullback, capped his senior season by being named Co-Defensive MVP in the South Catholic league with 14 sacks and 84 tackles. In addition to being first team all-league, Haddad was named first team all-area by the Whittier Daily News.
Haddad’s talent and drive to succeed caught the eye of the football coaches at Whittier College. Come this fall, Haddad will begin living-out his dream by playing college football for the Division III Whittier Poets.
Whittier has a great football tradition that includes Pro Football Hall of Fame coach George Allen and HOF hopeful Don Coryell. Allen coached Whitter to a 31-22-5 record from 1951-56. Coryell took-over in 1957 and in three seasons led the Poets to a 21-5-1 mark.
Haddad will play linebacker for the Poets, however, before that, Anthony is going to be representing the United States in the Down Under Sports Tournament on the Gold Coast of Australia at the end of June. Haddad was invited to be a member of America’s Pacific Conference football team.
Down Under Sports Tournaments was created by International Sports which provides a forum for athletes from other countries to compete head to head in the sport they love. The Down Under Sports Tournaments have included competition in football, cheerleading, basketball, volleyball, golf, cross-country, track and field, free style wrestling, and swimming. ISSI’s goal is to continue to provide athletes who excel in their sport the opportunity to experience the culture, beauty and grandeur of the land Down Under all within the framework of spirited and intense competition in many different sports.
It will cost Haddad, who is a National Honors Student, $6,000 to travel to Australia, so he’s currently trying to raise money through a GoFundMe.com fundraiser. His goal is to raise the money without the help of his family.
We believe in Anthony and want to help him, so that’s why we’re presenting his story to our High School Football America readership.
We thought the best way to engage our readers was by letting you read in Anthony’s own words, a little bit about what has driven him from the flag football field to college football.
You can read Anthony’s story below and if you can help, please go to www.gofundme.com/omh1e0
My Football Story
by Anthony Haddad
I’m excited to say that I am headed to Whittier College this fall on an academic and athletic scholarship for football and track and field. Wrestling has always been a favorite hobby of mine, so I plan on trying out for the wrestling team too.
My dream has always been to play college football, but there have many twists-and-turns on the road to that dream.
October 18, 2004 was a day that changed my life forever.
I have very fond memories of my childhood with my father, but on that fateful October day, my sister Nadia picked me up from karate practice and told me “Baba (my father) went to Heaven” — those words have stayed in my mind ever since and will forever.
I was just seven years old when my father passed away, so in many ways, I feel like I never had a father figure in my life. In many ways when my father died, I not only lost my father figure, but I also lost my mother figure, because my mom started working 15 hour shifts…7 days a week… 365 days a year. As a child I was very angry, and I didn’t understand life and how it functioned. It was at that point that I had to make the choice between being a mediocre child or being the best I could be.
Let me fast-forward to Junior High, which was an amazing experience for me — specifically 7th grade. I attended St. Thomas Aquinas elementary school. Within the catholic school system, students participated in a physical nationwide test, known as the President’s Test. This test consisted of a series of body weight exercises such as pull-ups, push-ups, etc. Not only did I pass the test, but my repetitions for each exercise surpassed each and every one of my classmates in my school and in my area. I also passed the test in 8th grade, placing within the top 10 percentile and I received a t-shirt from President Barrack Obama certifying my accomplishments.
During 8th grade, many of my classmates were skeptical and fearful of high school, but I felt the complete opposite. Fear has never been an issue for me, because I stare fear right in the face and overcome it. Plus, I was physically and mentally prepared. I ended 8th grade with an explosion of success, which is exactly how I spend every single day. I was named Student-Athlete of the Year. This award is given to one female and one male who excelled in both the classroom and on the field. From that moment on, I knew I was destined for greatness.
Time was moving fast and within the blink of an eye, I was starting my freshmen year at Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School. I lettered in football and was on the track and field varsity squad for all four years —I believe I was a leader throughout my time in high school.
It wasn’t without its challenges though when it came to our track and field team. We didn’t have a full coaching staff, plus we had limited funds and only a few students joined the team. But, I didn’t let that stop me, I participated in not one but two main events: shot put and discus.
Since we had so few coaches, I didn’t have an actual shot put coach, which was a real problem, since I really didn’t know about proper technique. My love for the shot put led me to searching for ways to become great in the sport. I turned to YouTube as my go-to source of information. I am proud to say, watching youtube.com propelled me from second place to first place. I worked on my diet and my skills, and today I hold two league titles, two CIF qualifications and I’m a state qualifier. My goal is to win another CIF section title and earn another state qualification.
When I’m not shot putting, I’m running 40-yard sprints for football and in the weight room to make me mentally and physically stronger than the day before.
My first three years of high school football were frustrating with very few wins. I had forgotten and longed for the feeling of winning like I experienced as Athlete of the Year in 8th grade. I promised myself that I was not going to end my senior year being remembered as part of another losing class. I was determined to end my high school sports experience with a bang…I wanted to be remembered as a member of the class that won a championship!
We did just that! We are the 2014 South Catholic League co-champs, ending with an 8-3 record. We made it to the first round of CIF playoffs. We lost that game, but we put our school back on the map because of our determination.
Not only did I have a successful season with my teammates, I was able to achieve some personal goals athletically and academically, including being inducted into the National Honors Society and also becoming part of the National Society of High School Scholars.
Another important part of my life is iving back — it’s part of my DNA. I have been blessed, by God, my entire life and want to pay that forward. I’ve dressed up as Santa Clause for a school fundraising event to distribute presents to less fortunate children and have distributed food at the food banks on Skid Row. Both experiences have had a positive and humbling impact on my life. I know how important giving back is, and we have generations ahead of us that we must set a foundation for.
My most valued accomplishment is being awarded the 2015 All State Honors for football and selected to compete in the 2015 Down Under Bowl. This is an exhibition bowl game held in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Athletes from every state are divided into the Pacific and Eastern conferences, playing each other for the bowl championship. I will be representing my school, community, city, state and country. My goal is to give back and bring the championship home to the Pacific. Not only do I want to play in this game, I want to excel and dominate the competition thus carrying on my genetic work habits that I have possessed my whole life.
This game is bigger than any other in my life. It’s an international opportunity to play football! The overall cost is $6,000.00, which includes airfare and lodging, which I’m determined to raise without my family’s help. I depart June 25th for my trip and come back July 5th! Believe it or not, football would ultimately be the very first reason I travel out of the United States and that makes me so happy because I will have been able to earn it!
If you are able to support me, we will be on this journey together. I will keep you updated with my practices, lunches, Down Under weather and much more through social media, specifically Instagram @anthony_tooswoll. The smallest donation is just as good as the largest, because both will take me to my goal which is bringing an international championship back home.
