At 8-years-old, Liam Simckes, junior at CHS, did not feel the rush of excitement as he chased after the opposing team’s flags. He dreaded the idea of having to go back to practice every week. As he raced across the flag football field, Simckes thought that football was not the sport for him.

“I actually despised the sport and never touched it again,” Simckes said.

It was a huge relief for him when his parents told him to stop playing because he would get a concussion or get injured.

However, after moving to the Clayton School District in his freshman year, Simckes was willing to try it out again.

“A lot of my friends played on the team and encouraged me to join. Also, I knew playing football would help me get bigger physically,” Simckes said.

After joining the team his sophomore year, an unlikely passion for the sport was born. In particular, Simckes found a very valuable aspect in football.
“I really like the importance of the team in football and the importance of a single person. As in, there’s a really nice community. But, in a game, you can have a significant individual impact and doing your play properly,” Simckes said.

As a starter and rising leader, Simckes has grown in his short, yet fruitful time on the team.

“Football has made me a lot more disciplined. I had really poor grades freshman year. My parents told me that in order to play football, I had to fix my grades. So in that sense, it made me more disciplined because I have to work out everyday, practice, and get my homework done,” Simckes said. “It brought a large sense of community and an aspect of leadership to my life.”
But even beyond his growing skill and leadership on the football team, Simckes has shown this same intensity in a different sport during the spring: track and field.

“I heard about track, and I heard about throwing. I also heard about the technique, skill, and strength that you need,” Simckes said. “I also heard that football players had success in it so I thought it could be a good way to increase my strength and do well.”

Also joining the track and field team his sophomore year, Simckes has felt very natural while competing in events like the javelin throw discus and shot put.
“I just care that I beat my personal record each time I go to my meet. I hold the school record for the furthest javelin throw. I hope that I can break records for shot put and discus as well.”

With all of his hard work on the field, Simckes has matched this enthusiasm for the classroom. Through his dedication for both athletics and academics, he hopes to continue both activities in the future.

As a result of his dedication and skill in football, Simckes is being scouted by top schools athletically and academically including Harvard University, Yale University and Wesleyan University.

Simckes is grateful for the football coaching staff who has helped make his game known to these top schools.

“The football coach has been really good about putting stuff in databases for me. And it’s helping me get noticed,” Simckes said.

Overall, Simckes is appreciative for the doors that sports have opened up for him.

“Sports has given me the discipline and has forced me to make myself a more well-rounded person. I also enjoy being physically healthy and in shape and want to continue that for the rest of my life.”