I trained Alex in the summer of 2024 heading into his 8th grade year. Truthfully, being from Old Orchard Beach, I was intimidated at first to train a quarterback from Thornton Academy—one of the most respected and largest programs in the state.

Then I met him.

At 12 years old, he gave a stern handshake. Direct eye contact. No messing around. Serious about doing whatever it took to get better. For Alex, playing quarterback wasn’t just a position. It was a calling. He loves the craft. Needs it like he needs to breathe. Obsessed in the right way. Thinking about it constantly. Studying it. living it. I recognized that instantly—because I’ve felt it.

He trained with intensity. Overtime, difficult drills started to look routine. He processed fast. Led naturally. And carried himself like someone who already believed he belonged. Going into the season, there was no doubt in his mind. He won the starting job. The team went undefeated and he won the state championship. Alex threw dozens of touchdowns with only three interceptions.

As a freshman, he was called up to play JV—something freshman rarely do at Thornton Academy, a program that regularly carries over 90 high school players. He’s currently finishing basketball season, continuing to compete at a high level.

But what stands out most isn’t just the wins. It’s the standard.

Leadership. Obsession with improvement. Respect for the craft. He was ready. And he proved it.