By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
Everything came full circle for Sterling Weatherford on Wednesday.
The 2017 Hamilton Heights graduate is also one of the newest members of the Indianapolis Colts. Weatherford is participating with the team at Colts Camp, which is currently taking place at Grand Park. On Wednesday, Weatherford got a chance to see some of his fans, as team moms from the Hamilton Heights Youth Football League took some of the young Huskies to Grand Park for the camp.
“It was awesome,” said Weatherford. “It reminded me of when I was a kid and I came up to the training camp with my family.”
Weatherford said that 10 to 15 years ago, he was one of those kids, standing in their shoes. Now, he’s on the field.
“It’s hard to dream that big when you’re a kid, but for that dream to come true, it’s just super special and unbelievable,” said Weatherford.
Sterling Weatherford talks with Maddox Clingler, the son of Ryan Clingler,
Weatherford’s middle school football coach. Pictured at left is Smith Renbarger, another HHYFL player. (Photo provided)
The trip was organized by four of the HHYFL’s team moms: Stacia Renbarger, Susan Baber, Yumi Whitaker and Julia Schlater. In addition to getting to watch the camp and meet Weatherford, the kids got have a little tailgate party and eat beforehand.
“They had a blast,” said Renbarger. “They had such a good time supporting him. It’s really good for them to watch and see how the hard work they’re putting in today could lead to something like that, even though we’re from a small school.”
Weatherford played college football at Miami University of Ohio and got quite a bit of attention as he progressed through school. He signed with the Colts at the end of the NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent, and is playing as a linebacker.
“It’s awesome,” said Weatherford. It means something to him to represent the city he grew up in.
“We have a great group of guys in the linebacker room that definitely have been very helpful, as you could imagine. Just giving advice and really just showing how to play the right way.”
Kase Powell and Zac Hibst were all smiles at the Colts Camp on Wednesday. (Photo provided)
Weatherford was told by his fiancée Lydia Landwehr, also a 2017 Hamilton Heights graduate, about the planned trip.
“I knew that after practice, I would see a couple kids, but they definitely showed out,” said Weatherford.
“At Hamilton Heights, we have a very strong football program and a very strong youth football program,” said Renbarger. “The league is a very-tight knit group. Our sixth grade has done very well. These boys have followed Sterling’s story, and I used to teach Lydia dance, so I know her very well.”
The HHYFL moms invited some of the members of the third and fourth grade teams, the entire sixth-grade team and a few of the flag football team members to the trip to Grand Park to see Weatherford.
“He seemed like he was really thrilled,” said Renbarger. “He took pictures and gave hugs to the little ones. Signed the footballs and jerseys. Everybody was just really happy to see him, and he was really happy to see the boys, too.”
The HHYFL players got their picture taken with some of the Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders. (Photo provided)
“Every single one of those kids, I saw myself in,” said Weatherford. He said that seeing the young Huskies brought everything full circle, and he also understands that those players are looking up to him. He said he recognizes “that it’s my responsibility to be that role model for those kids, and just lead them in the right direction” in how he acts, speaks and lives.
And while he is a role model to the young Huskies, Weatherford is finding role models on his new team.
“We got an awesome linebacker group, a bunch of amazing guys to look up to,” said Weatherford. “They definitely are helping us rookies figure out what it means to be in the NFL. They show us how to play, how to react, how to respond. They’re our role models.”
“People are always just trying to give back, pay it forward to the rookie classes coming in,” said Weatherford. “It’s a special bond.”