By Patrick Lujan
Guam’s football community is getting a treat this next few weeks, that’s for sure.
With the island buzzing with Cleveland Browns players Zach Banner and Larry Ogunjobi offering a free coaches clinic and players camp, a Division III college coach will be here as well to see Guam’s high school talents first hand.
Div III football coach Mike Conway
Mike Conway is the head coach for North Park University in Chicago, the same school that accepted former Guam High standout Jujuan King.
“This visit is five years in the making,” said coordinator and Guam High head coach Jacob Dowdell. “It is the culmination of a lot of people here on Guam and in Chicago and Hawaii. Most notably from Hawaii, coach Chad Ikei of Ikei Sports.
“Ikei and I have been working together to put Guam football on the map legitimately. There has always been great football talent here on Guam. The unfortunate part is that that talent was never given an opportunity to be seen outside of the 671 area code. Coach Ikei opened his college football showcase summer camps in Hawaii to the kids of Guam. And that is how our relationship started we hit it off and connected on all levels. His wife is from Guam so he has another strong connection to Guam.”
Guam High’s Lewis Harris was the first recruit from Guam to attend one of the camps held in Hawaii and was the first football athlete to sign a letter of intent to play college football with Pima College of Arizona a few years back. He was followed by Trip Chauret who went on to sign as a first D1 college football player from Guam via Guam High, according to Dowdell. He played at Jacksonville University through the camps in Hawaii.
The recruiters and coaches from North Park University took notice of Jujuan King as well as several other athletes from Guam.
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(AP/Carlos Osorio)
