Editor’s Note: Hunter Hill, Angel Cardenas and Steve Duda are Kennedy High School Class of 2011 valedictorians.
By Vince Teresi
Hunter Hill
The “Men of Troy” fell in a brutal battle during the 2010 Kennedy High football season, but the scenario on the sidelines and after the game was a life-changing experience for the Trojan players and coaches.
Moreover, most Kennedy football fans were unaware of what was to leave an even more indelible memory than the loss of the state 2A semifinal playoff game against Gold Beach over that Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
That night Kennedy football lineman Hunter Hill met a new friend, Mintesnot, whom he befriended in a time of need. Certainly, the school’s athletic trainer Jeff Crapper will never forget it.
Jeff is the father of an adopted, Ethiopian son who was present in the bleachers. The Kennedy team suffered numerous injuries during the second half, and it was difficult for Jeff to watch the game.
But a glance at the bleachers was even more upsetting. His young son, Mintesnot, undergoing a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) attack, because his Trojan team was losing the game.
“I remember looking into the stands and seeing my son not only grieving the loss of the game, but also reliving his past trauma, abuse and neglect,” Jeff recalled.
He walked to the bleachers to console his son, but his message of comfort was cut short when he was called to the field for another player injury.
“I missed what happened in the last 30 seconds of the game,” he said.
That included what occurred off the football field.
Jeff had just set lineman Hunter Hill’s dislocated shoulder in place several minutes beforehand. But Hunter picked up Mintesnot over the handrail and took him out onto the field. Mintesnot joined him as they gave each football player on the opponent Gold Beach team a “high five” and then carried him over to the end zone to listen to Coach Randy Traeger’s post-game talk.
“I later heard that both Mintesnot and Hunter cried together in the end zone as they walked together to the locker room to meet up with me and Coach Traeger,” Jeff said.
Although some of Hunter’s tears may be that he had just played his last high school football game, most seem to have been for Mintesnot.
“The most remarkable aspect of the story is that Mintesnot never disassociated or ‘left’ his pain. Usually during his PTSD attacks, you can visually see him check out as a coping mechanism so he can escape his pain,” Jeff said.
But with the loving care of those around him, especially of Hunter and his father Rodney, Mintesnot was emotionally present during the entire grieving process.
“A selfless act by one of our athletes and the loving concern of our head coach had a significant impact in the life of my son that night. He saw firsthand how to exhibit honor in defeat and process his grief in a healthy manner,” Jeff said.
He also then realized that “sports were going to be the major mechanism that would help facilitate Mintesnot’s recovery in dealing with his grief and PTSD. I could not underestimate the power of a coach emulating a life of virtue in helping my son heal from his past scars and wounds.”
At the season’s award ceremony, Hunter Hill was given the Most Inspirational Player award. He accepted it, but then proceeded to give a short speech reciting back on one of the main themes that the coaches had been preaching to the players all season long: “That which is not given…is lost.”
He then chose to give his trophy to another senior player who pretty much sat on the bench his entire football career.
As he gave the trophy away, he talked about how the other player’s selflessness had been an inspiration to the whole team.
Derek Traeger gave his Most Valuable Player award to Mintesnot, who is reported to sleep with the trophy.
Hunter Hill will attend the University of Utah. Derek Trager will attend Willamette University in the fall. Both young men received scholarships.
Steve Duda
Kennedy High School valedictorian Steve Duda wears many hats including “Mr. JFK,” a National Merit Commended Student, vice-president of National Honor Society and activities coordinator. He plays trombone for the concert and jazz bands and was on the golf team that placed sixth in the state 3A/2A/1A tournament. As an FFA member, he won first place honors in the Knowledge Test competition.
Steve volunteers for the Wurstfest, Silverton Fine Arts Festival, and the Mount Angel Restore.
He will attend Oregon State University in the fall, majoring in chemistry.
Angel Cardenas
Being a valedictorian means “success” to Angel Cardenas.
He was student body president and a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Habitat for Humanity, and National Honor Society. He was on the varsity cross country, basketball, and golf teams. In golf, he placed 18th among 78 competitors at the state 3A/2A/1A meet.
He plans to attend University of Portland to major in Biology and minor in Spanish. He plans to become a pediatric dentist.
He has received many scholarships including “Junior First Citizen” by the Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce.
