Alex Bautista, pictured at rear right with brother Romeo, sister Eileen and mother Virgincita, died earlier this year from brain cancer.
By Ken Weingartner
A group of football players gathered in the weight room at Ewing High School on a late August morning.
Some were working out, others talking and joking while waiting their turn on the equipment. Hanging on a wall above them is a sign. It says, simply, “Bautista 78.”
The sign is a tribute to Alex Bautista, a former Ewing football player and captain who passed away in March due to brain tumors and cancer. He was 22.
Drew Besler, who is in his 13th year teaching at the school and fourth as the football program’s head coach, put the sign in the weight room because he could think of no more fitting place.
Bautista, who played on the offensive line, was a dedicated presence in the room, even when workouts were not mandatory. It also was where his engaging personality was on full display.
“I’ll always remember Alex Bautista in this weight room,” Besler said. “Not only was he working out and doing everything possible to get himself ready for the season, he would be joking around between sets. Kind of teasing his friends and just hanging out. You were always smiling around the kid; you were always laughing around the kid.”
Bautista’s sister Eileen agreed the sign in the weight room was a fitting tribute to her brother and his love of football and devotion to the sport.
“I think he would be really proud,” she said. “He worked so hard. He would be up early, even on the summer days, working out and getting ready for football. For him to be remembered in that way, that he was determined and he was strong and never gave up, I think that’s a good way.”
In addition to the sign, the Blue Devils have dedicated this season to Bautista.
“I want to make sure this program honors a former captain and former anchor of our offensive line, but more importantly I want to make sure the community understands what type of kid he was and the legacy he left here and how many lives he touched in such a short period of time,” Besler said. “He was 22 years old and had his whole life in front of him. It’s an unfortunate reminder that our time on this planet is short. But if you want to talk about a kid that made the most of his 22 years on this earth, it was Alex Bautista. You want to do your best to be the best version of yourself every day, and Alex Bautista embodied that.”
Bautista’s older brother Romeo said the family is grateful the school is keeping Alex’s memory alive.
“We’re really touched,” he said. “Alex was a great kid. He had a big personality and he loved life. He cared about all his friends. He wanted to make sure everybody felt welcomed. He would go out of his way to do anything for anybody. He was always there for me whenever I needed something. He was so caring. He was very mature for his age, very genuine. I’m glad they are remembering him for the great person he was. His spirit will live long through them.”
Bautista graduated from Ewing in 2011. He was a successful student and was elected Homecoming King. And he was, in Besler’s words, “timeless.”
“What I mean by that is everyone would have loved him in 2003 when I arrived here and everyone would love him now in 2015,” Besler said. “He was one of those kids who could mix with anybody and was friends with everyone. Everyone loved Alex. Everyone wanted to be around him.”
Eileen Bautista said the love for Alex was on display as her brother battled his illness, and that love is still felt to this day.
“He had so many people coming to visit him, in and out,” she said. “There were so many people at his viewing and funeral. It was really nice to see all the kids gather round for him. It really showed how much people thought of him. Even now, I see kids commenting that they miss him and remember him. It’s good to know that he’s not forgotten.
“He was always himself,” she added. “He wasn’t a follower, he was a leader, but he was very humble. He was always giving and would help people. He never once complained when he was sick. Even though he knew he was really sick toward the end he took it with a smile. He fought to the end and he never was scared. He really pushes us to be strong.”
Although the current Blue Devils never got to play alongside Bautista, he made a lasting impression on the group. Bautista visited the team prior to a game last fall and discussed what it meant to be a Blue Devil, what could be learned about life through football, and handling adversity.
“He really touched me,” Ewing senior Cameron Potts said. “He was a leader in the program. He’s a role model for all of us. He had a whole lot more life to live and he should have had a lot longer. There’s no way he should have been taken from us that early. Being able to dedicate the season to him means a lot to us.”
Ewing hopes to make it a memorable season. The Blue Devils, who open their campaign Sept. 11 at home against Lawrence, return just more than a handful of starters from last year’s 4-6 squad, but possess a number of weapons at the skill positions.
Nearly all of the Blue Devils’ returnees can be found on the offensive side, led by junior quarterback Edamiyon Doggett. Last season, Doggett threw for 556 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 232 yards and a score.
Dazmir Harper, a senior, led the team in rushing last year with 763 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Juwan McKinney, another senior, is the top returning receiver, having hauled in seven passes last season for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Kyrie Turner, Jimar Mims, Ri’quan Smalley and Aldo Uz are expected to contribute to Ewing’s up-tempo attack as receivers.
Paving the way for that attack will be an offensive line led by Josh Hughes, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound senior who is garnering plenty of attention from college recruiters. Other linemen include Phil Hall, Charles Heading, Jeff Joseph, Oneil Nelson and Cesar Valdivieso.
“I expect us to do well,” Hughes said. “We have a very tight-knit group. The team is well-rounded and everybody seems to be on pace for a good season. Everybody knows the expectations and what the next step is. We’re just getting things done. It’s pretty much the same offense as we had last year. That helps a lot. I know what I have to do to take care of my spot and I know what they’re going to be doing behind me. I know that I can trust them and they can trust me.”
Turner is the only returning starter on the defense.
“We have a lot of different guys playing some different positions on that side of the ball,” Besler said. “At this point we just have to see how we respond. It will be a challenge, but I think these kids have the right mentality and mindset for the approach they need to take to be successful.”
Fred Argant, a senior who plays linebacker and running back, believes the Blue Devils’ preseason work and preparation will lead to success for the defense.
“That’s why you work hard in the offseason,” Argant said. “If you’re strong and physical, you can move some people. You can hold your blocks, you can make tackles. You have to stay physical. We’re focusing on tackling and wrapping up. We’re making sure we communicate. We just want to stay working.”
On special teams, sophomore Matt Hunkele takes over as the team’s kicker and punter.
“He’s already doing well,” Besler said. “We’re very fortunate. A good kicker can change the course of games. Special teams wise, we have a lot of athletes so we have an opportunity to break plays. I tell the kids all the time that high school football is all big plays and field position.”
Ewing is aiming for a return to the state playoffs after missing the postseason last year. The Blue Devils visited the playoffs in 2013, when they finished with a 5-5 record.
Most importantly, the players and coaches want to do their best to honor Bautista.
“I’m putting it all out there for him,” lineman Hughes said. “It means a lot. It’s representing something for him and his family, and that means a lot to us.”
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