Gaibriel De Guzman has no problem dealing with work in the classroom, as witnessed by a sparkling 4.03 grade-point average. But even big Gabe needed a break every now and then, and he knew right where to find it.
“Football is my personal getaway from all the stresses of class,” the Hamilton West senior said. “In football I am able to express myself and let all my emotions out. The hype felt during the games just lets me forget about everything that happens during class good or bad.”
Asked if the classroom had the same positive effect when it came to getting away from football, De Guzman couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m not so sure about the classroom relieving stress from football,” he said. “Especially on game days when I just want to get out on the field.”
From the looks of things, De Guzman doesn’t let any classroom stress bother him. He has maintained his GPA taking A level and honors-level classes all four years at West, and has thrived in Advanced Placement classes in European History, U.S. History and Biology. Couple that with being an All-Area lineman, and it is no surprise that De Guzman will be recognized on March 10 at the Princeton Hyatt, at the 51st Annual Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Dinner. De Guzman is the Hamilton honoree for the award.
It is a well deserved award for De Guzman, a two-year varsity performer who has missed out on a few things over the years in the name of academics and football.
“I’ve sacrificed a couple Sweet 16s and a couple nights going out with the guys here and there, but it’s all about the commitment to the sport,” De Guzman said. “My line coach (Mike Papero) told me that each team is as strong as their weakest link. Therefore, messing around before games would just mess up your focus and only hurt your teammates.
“Though the temptations may be there, my friends and girlfriend were very supportive of me during football season … because most of my friends played football with me.”
De Guzman has done more than just go to class and play football. He participates in Peer Leadership and achieved peer leader as a junior and senior. As a junior he put his style on display by volunteering for the fashion show, he is an honorary member of both the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. His contributions extend beyond the hallways of Hamilton, as Gabe was a volunteer for Relay for Life as a sophomore and junior, and has volunteered at the YMCA Sawmill with several other Hornet players to be a baseball buddy for special children in the Buddy Ball program.
“That was introduced to me by (West football coach Tom) Hoglen,” De Guzman said. “I’ve always wanted to work with kids with disabilities and experience it. “I actually enjoyed it because these kids were the happiest kids alive, the atmosphere was great, and everybody was clapping for each other. It is a truly mesmerizing and fun experience.”
In different kind of athletic endeavor, he has achieved second degree black belt status at Hamilton Martial Arts, where he also serves as an instructor.
“Martial arts gave me confidence within myself to go out for football in the first place,” De Guzman said. “I would have to thank Christopher Stinger, who owns Hamilton Martial Arts, because he’s trained me since I was about 7 years old. He gave me the self-esteem needed to go out and try football, and he having knowledge of football gave me some great pointers.
“During games, I believe the discipline I was taught in martial arts played a huge part helping me keep my poise in crunch time situations. Physically, martial arts gave me hand speed and great footwork which is crucial in the trenches.”
De Guzman’s achievements are impressive in the fact he does a little bit of everything. A lot of that attitude starts close to home.
“I can’t exactly pinpoint one person who’s inspired me to be well-rounded, but I would most likely have to say my father,” De Guzman said. “My father stressed that your education is the blueprint for the rest of your life, but also finding something that makes you stand out compared to the rest of the students who you are competing against in the world. (That something) turned out to be football.
“Through him always telling me this, he introduced me into the weight room in 8th grade. Though I hated it at first, I learned to love it now. It strengthened me both physically and mentally, therefore, when I first put on the pads. I fell in love with the sport.”
And he took his position as a varsity football player seriously, desiring to be a positive leader to others in the school.
“I believe it is key to be a role model to the younger athletes that will eventually take your place, not only showing them commitment to the sport, but in academics as well,” De Guzman said. “Coach Hoglen stresses that we are student-athletes, not athlete-students. Therefore, student comes first, and it is a priority that your academics come before your athletics because not everybody is naturally athletic. Therefore, having an educational background to fall back upon is important.”
And that attitude has landed him at Rutgers, where De Guzman wants to graduate with a degree in exercise science in hopes of being a physical therapist. His scholastic career is over, but he will always have special memories of his time at West. Especially the last game he ever played, which happened to be the Hornets’ Thanksgiving win at Steinert.
“I’ll never be able to forget the massive crowd, the fans cheering, and the emotions that were felt that day,” he said. “The emotion that arose from the tradition of the Thanksgiving Day game, and the fact it was my last game strapping up with my brothers, made it extra special to me.”
He has equally good memories in the classroom.
“I think being 14th out of about 307 students in the Class of 2013 is my proudest accomplishment,” he said. “I told my brother I would jokingly beat his class rank when I became a senior, and I actually did beat him. He was 16th in his class, therefore it made it just that much sweeter, but my brother and I have a great relationship still.”
Speaking of special relationships, De Guzman had one of his strongest with Papero, the coach at Hamilton known as “The Meatball Master.” But Papero does more than just provide a side dish for pasta.
“I would just like to thank all my coaches especially my line coach, Coach Papero, for pushing me and unlocking the potential I had within myself,” De Guzman said. “The coaches and the game of football have changed my life permanently and I can not thank them enough for the passion and dedication they showed my teammates and myself.”
Dedication and passion that De Guzman paid back in the same way.
Tickets for the March 10 dinner can be purchased by contacting Ron Hoehn at (609) 587-0806 or rhoehn@optonline.net.
The De Guzman family—Maria, Gabe, Garry and Gian—celebrated Gabe’s final season as a Hornet at Senior Day at Hamilton West.,
