Signing Day For Three 413 Stars
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — On Dec. 7th, Central High School celebrated its second straight Massachusetts football state championship, representing not only the high-water mark for head coach Valdamar Brower’s program, but the apex of any high school football program in Western Mass. history.
To Brower, though, the celebration at Gillette Stadium following the Eagles’ 38–13 victory over Duxbury didn’t matter as much as the one that took place Wednesday morning inside the school’s library, where three Central seniors signed National Letters of Intent.
Star receiver/returner and former quarterback Isaac Boston signed with Dartmouth while former quarterback/do-everything-athlete Mahari Miller signed with Columbia and linebacker Dante Bolden inked with Holy Cross.
“This is more important than winning,” Brower said. “This is the reason I’m here, to try to help everybody graduate high school and then have an opportunity to do something to further their education or a trade or whatever their passion is to make sure they can have a better life for themselves in the future.
“This is more important than winning, this is what it’s all about.”
Central principal Tad Tokarz told Boston, Miller, Bolden and their families that they deserve to be “extremely proud.”
“They not only have outstanding athletic abilities, but that is mirrored by their academic prowess,” he said. “I’ve been here over 18 years and never have I seen a group of individuals who have worked just as hard on the field as they do in the classrooms.”
Tokarz also recognized senior safety Trey Cavaan, who had scholarship opportunities, but has decided to do a post-grad year at Loomis Chaffee after missing the majority of the 2019 season with an injury.
“You take a look at the history of Central High School, specifically the history of Central Football, you have seen us grow incrementally,” Tokarz continued. “Undoubtedly, these four seniors will be looked upon as the standard for future student-athletes.”
Tokarz told the signees they’ve set an example for the players who will come behind them who will be sitting in their places in the years to come.
“What you have done over these last four years is far bigger than you as an individual,” said Tokarz. “It is not only something that has helped the school, it’s also helped the community. As a resident of the city of Springfield, I’m 100 percent grateful for all of your efforts and everything you’ve done for the youth of our city.”
Excel Sports Academy founder and Central assistant coach Tommy Guy also applauded the trio for the impacts they’ve made on and off the field.
“These three student-athletes who signed today have had a positive impact in so many ways,” said Guy. “It impacts each individual, family member, and all the underclassmen and young kids who look up to them. We are lucky to have role models like them in our hallways and in our city.”
Brower called the day “motivational.”
“It’s motivational for me, it’s motivational for all of the kids,” the coach said. “For them to share a locker room with these guys and play games with these guys and be students with these guys and eat lunch with them, they can all believe in themselves and reach their goals because they’ve seen it.
“People talk about inspiration, but with guys you put the helmet on who did it, it makes it real.”
During his time at Central, Miller played quarterback, wide receiver, running back, cornerback, safety, kicker and punter. Brower expects Miller to spend most of his time at defensive back in college.
“I think he dialed in there and he got better,” said Brower, who also pointed to Miller’s background as a state champion wrestler. “He may not be the biggest guy, but pound for pound, he’s one of the strongest guys or toughest guys in New England. Whatever he is, he’s an animal.
“I think those skills from wrestling are going to translate to defensive back. He’s so smart with film study and knowing what the other team is going to do.”
Miller said when he gets to Columbia, his goals will be the same as they’ve always been.
“On the field, dominate everybody in front of me,” he said. “In the classroom, do my best and remain on the top of the honor roll.”
Miller said he was drawn to Columbia’s location in New York City.
“It’s the best city in the world, where else would I be?” he laughed.
He embraced the role of being a leader the way he saw guys in front of him doing the same.
“Coming from where we come from, not everybody gets the opportunity to do something like this and we’re going to do this at some of the best schools in the country,” he said of himself and his teammates.
Miller also pointed to Excel Sports Academy for helping him “tremendously.”
“Just pushing me and driving me to go to the next level,” he said. “Steve Martin taking me to camps all over the Northeast. Christian Ferrara driving me in the weight room and on the field. Any workouts we ever did, he was just driving me to the next level.”
Boston had been dreaming about National Signing Day since he first saw it on TV as a third-grader.
“I always wanted it for myself and I finally got to get it,” he said.
Boston appreciated the staff at Dartmouth sticking with him the whole way.
“When I was a quarterback, they recruited me and wanted me,” he said. “When I switched to wide receiver, they still wanted me. They wanted me even more. They always showed me love and ultimately, they pulled me.”
He’ll come in as a slot receiver for the Big Green ready to do whatever it takes.
“Obviously, I’ve got to work to get into the rotation,” he said. “Hopefully, I can get on some special teams and even long-snap if I can. Really just play whatever they need me to play and be available for anything.
“I just want to be the best player I can be. I’ll play any role they need me to play. Eventually, hopefully I break some records and make it to The League.”
Brower is expecting “great things” from Boston.
“I think he’s in a great opportunity at Dartmouth,” the coach added. “Watching some of their games, they graduated a senior who had a skillset that is very similar. As a student, he’s going to be great. As a person, he’s going to be great. What Dartmouth is building football-wise is real impressive.”
Boston is another multiple-sport star, having been a standout for the Central baseball squad throughout his career at Central.
“His baseball skills make him very unique with catching the ball and locating the ball in the air and doing some things instinctively and athletically,” Brower said. “I think the baseball crossover is huge for his athleticism. He’s a special dude and he’s real bright.”
Boston has always seen himself as a leader.
“It means a lot to set an example for the younger kids to have them know that without grades, none of this is possible,” he said. “You’ve always got to work hard in the classroom. Everything else will follow as long as you’ve got good grades. Schools that you never even thought you could get will come talk to you just because of your grades.”
Boston also credited Excel Sports Academy with helping him after an elbow injury his freshman year along with the guys at Elite Nation Fitness, who joined his family for the ceremony.
“I did some work (with Excel) my freshman and sophomore year, especially after my Tommy John surgery,” he said. “I got in the weight room with Coach Chris a little bit. He got me back on a weight-lifting program.
“All of my life, I worked out at Elite Nation. Since I was about 10 or 11 years old, they helped me and molded me into the athlete I am today. I wouldn’t be the athlete that I am today without them.”
Bolden called Wednesday “a special day.”
“This is just a reflection of all the hard work I put in my whole life,” he continued. “To spend it with my teammates and coaches and family and everybody who supported me, it’s definitely a big day.”
He said he fell in love with Holy Cross the minute he stepped on the Worcester campus last spring.
“I’ve probably been on six unofficial visits and every time I went up there, it got better,” he said. “I love the vibe. I love the coaches. Everything about the school seems fitting to me.”
He’s excited for the opportunity to help the Crusaders on the field and Brower is confident the talented defender will do just that.
“Dante is going to be a big-time linebacker,” said Brower. “I hope he fits right in right away. I know the Patriot League doesn’t redshirt and he wouldn’t need to redshirt anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went in and competed for a starting job.
“He started for us as a freshman. We played him at outside linebacker, inside linebacker and special teams young and he was always ready to go. He played volleyball too, played basketball when he was younger, committed to the weight room, loves football. He’s got great hands. He’s going to be a guy. He looks huge too. I’m excited for Holy Cross and what they’re doing, the facilities they have and their coaching staff. Dante is going to do special things at Holy Cross too.”
Bolden couldn’t thank Excel Sports Academy enough for what they did for him both on the field and off.
“It’s big-time. I feel like without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. It’s deeper than football too because all of the coaches are more than football. I can come to them about anything. They help me in life.
“Without Excel, I don’t know where I’d be to be honest.”
