SPORTS WRAP
STORY & PHOTOS BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
A former Orange High School all-state player came back home to host his annual football camp.
The 4th annual Ambitious Youth Camp was held at Central Playground by former player Jamar Summers, where over 100 kids took part. The kids ranged from youth to high school and came from all over the tri-state area. Former NFL all pro Marshawn Lynch came out.
Summers, who played at Orange High and is a 2013 graduate, went on to play for the University of Connecticut. Other former OHS players came out to help in the camp, including former NY Giants DT Jason Alford, who got a sack on Tom Brady in Big Blue’s Super Bowl XLII win. Alford was a big player out of Orange and played at Penn State.
Another attendee at the camp was Kareem Walker, who is a running back on the St. Louis Battlehawks and played in the XFL.
Summers, who currently plays for the Arlington Renegades, said, “It’s an honor to host the camp. It’s all about ‘each one, teach one.’ This is where it started for me.”
This year’s camp featured skills and drills led by former high school players. NyQuee Hawkins, who played at Orange as an all-state player, helped the participants in the drills. There was a ladder drill, a bag drill and a catch drill. There were organized teams for 7 on 7 games. The event’s participants had lunch and received awards.
Orange resident and parent Akia Hector said her son took part in this camp and that it was a good thing for the entire community to get perspective from an upcoming football player. Jax Jenkins, who plays youth football out of The Bronx, said he is always looking forward to this event.
