Trystan Ford cuts an imposing figure while playing football for CMS last year. (Photos courtesy Lisa Ford)
Ford and teacher/mentor Terry Welch.
Hello, and goodbye.
Just as he’s about to make the jump to playing high school football, Trystan Ford is hitting the road.
He and his family are moving from Coupeville to Wisconsin, and the former CMS gridiron star, who rings in at 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds as an incoming freshman, will suit up for the Southern Door Eagles this fall.
During his time at CMS, Ford played football and was a thrower for the Wolf track team, while his parents, Bryan (football) and Lisa (cheer), coached.
He plans to stay with both sports in Wisconsin, and may add golf to his repertoire.
Gridiron life, though, is the life for him.
“I like the leadership I have learned, the grit, grind, when I think I have no more I dig deeper and find it,” Ford said. “Nobody and I mean nobody touches my quarterback!”
He enjoys “the commitment, the bonds, the learning, the teaching, the push to do better and of course the payout,” and is more likely to inspire by his play than by screaming at people.
“I’m a quiet leader I have been told,” Ford said. “I take my assignments seriously and I’m a team player, a friend and a student.”
As he moves forward into high school life, he wants to continue to get bigger for football, while also striking a nice balance in life.
“I could work on my strength,” Ford said. “Maybe be less shy, and learn to be serious when needed and a goof when needed.”
A big fan of bands like Metallica, AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Queen, he enjoys the Transformers and Marvel super hero movies and turns to Battlestar Galactica on TV.
In class, he “loves science, computers and math!” and hails CMS teacher Terry Welch for being an inspiration in his life.
“Ms. Welch is my favorite teacher. She truly cares about what happens in my life,” Ford said. “She mentored me through middle school, and even though I won’t be at CHS, Ms. Welch will always mentor me no matter where I am.
“I want to create a fusion reactor and make it more affordable so everyone can afford to run cars on clean energy,” he added. “When I accept the big science prize I want her to be there, as she is who mentored me as my best teacher!”
While he’ll be in a different part of the country from his favorite teacher, Ford has a strong support crew in his family, one he appreciates on a daily basis.
“My mom, she’s always there for me, she knows when I’m slacking and pulls me aside for a “get it together, settle down and play buddy”,” Ford said. “My dad, he teaches me so much.
“Strength, leadership, integrity; if I’m doing it right he’s my number one fan; if I’m doing it wrong, he’s my number one coach, if I’m not giving my full potential, he’s my number one butt kicker.
“I love my mom and dad, they guide me in all I do.”
That carries through to when they practice tough love, as well.
At one point Ford had a C in science and got a warning from the school.
His mom gave him three days to bring it up, and when he didn’t, she let him dress for his next game, then informed the lineman he’d be sitting for the first quarter.
“I learned to never let my team down, my coaches down, my mom and dad down and most of all it killed me not getting in there,” Ford said. “In the second quarter through the end, I was on fire!
“I learned our family motto that day,” he added. “God first, family second, school, then sports. If I stick to that order I can do anything.”
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