Like fireflies, the headlights started flickering on a couple at a time. First, slow. Then, faster. Before long, enough had gathered to pull dusk back toward day.
When you are trying to heave 12-pound spheres of metal — then safely measure how far they fly without being walloped by one — being able to see is a must.
During one memorable night of his Cardinal Ritter sports career, Cameron Clayborn opened eyes.
Athletes who go beyond maximizing their own individual success into helping get the best out of those around them can accurately be described as lights. Their glow seems contagious. We tend to feel warmer in their presence.
And while this description accurately fits Clayborn, who starred at football and track and field before his recent graduation with a 3.6 GPA, in this specific instance we are talking about light’s more literal definition.
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Present on a long list of examples why Clayborn was deemed the right call for this year’s top Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship winner was the story about how, after his own portion of a shot put competition had finished, he rescued his competitors from nightfall. He hurdled into action when a delayed meet last year led to a risky combination of darkening skies and heavy metal.
“It was a really good day, and people had worked hard,†Clayborn recalled by phone. “I just didn’t want people to lose their marks. I didn’t want it to go to waste.â€
“Although Cameron completed his throws and placed, he rallied the parents and other spectators, asking them to drive their cars near the field and shine their headlights so the other throwers and officials marking the throws could compete safely,†described Earnest Cheatham, the head throw coach at Cardinal Ritter, in his scholarship nomination of Clayborn that helped the Morehouse College bound freshman secure $10,000.
“I can go on and on and on and provide countless examples of his kindness, selflessness, compassion, class and sportsmanship,†Cheatham continued. “I really wish I would have captured all of these acts of kindness on video to share with you.â€
That video would show Clayborn dusting sand off opponents’ backs at track events; extending a forgiving hand to a football player from another team after Clayborn, the No. 23 football recruit in the Post-Dispatch Super 30, sustained a questionable hit; and even teaching someone from another school how to properly stretch out to relieve a painful cramp during a meet.
“One thing I’ve noted throughout all my years while engaging in sports at any level is that cheering on the opponent has never caused any negative outcomes, only a renewed sense of sportsmanship long after the competition has ended,†Clayborn wrote in his winning sportsmanship scholarship application.
It would be in the spirit of things, then, to mention Clayborn’s competition.
John Burroughs tennis player Sahana Madala (Johns Hopkins) and St. Dominic soccer player Delaney Poropat (Arkansas) will head to college each with $1,500 scholarships. Webster Groves discus thrower Sonora Haake (Missouri State) and Priory hockey captain Gariel Kraus (Miami University, Ohio) each received $1,000 scholarships. More than $220,000 in scholarships has now been awarded to 66 area college-bound graduates since the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Sports Commission’s young professionals group launched an effort in 2009 to bring attention and appreciation to sportsmanship shown across the area preps scene. Each class of scholarship recipients presents a needed reminder that we only need to look toward the fields and courts and rinks in and around ºüÀêÊÓƵ to be inspired by kids playing the right way.
As for Clayborn, he plans to continue playing football and participating in track and field in college, but he has bigger plans beyond sports, too.
He will be studying biology, chemistry and finance as he works toward his goal of starting his own surgery center as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
From brightening shot-put circles to smiles, he’s figured out how to use his light.
“What I’ve learned from these sports is discipline, teamwork and, just, kindness,†Clayborn said.