Scholarship Is The ONLY Option by Lauren Beasley
“Scholarship is your only option if you want to attend college.”
Those are the words that Williams College freshman linebacker Chris LeFlore will always remember.
Why? Because he was told that at the age of five by his mother and let’s just say LeFlore didn’t waste any time wondering if his mother was bluffing or not.
LeFlore attended Detroit Country Day High School and he says it was always the best fit for him.
“Detroit Country Day is the best place for a student athlete to me.” LeFlore said. “It has great facilities, coaches, teachers and all around great tradition. Most importantly they taught me how to manage my time between school and sports.”
Strong statement by LeFlore but I can’t say he was wrong and he certainly held his own while at Detroit Country Day. He participated in multiple curricular activities including three sports and was able to maintain a 3.11 grade point average while taking AP/Honor classes and scored a 31 on the ACT.
“Detroit Country Day is academically rigorous.” LeFlore replied. “However if you put in the work and find structure in your schedule there is no reason you can’t be successful.”
Successful is right, not only was LeFlore successful in the classroom but also in sports.
“I played football, basketball and I also did track and field.” LeFlore said.” I enjoyed every sport that I played but football was and still is my passion.”
While at Detroit Country Day, Leflore played multiple positions on the gridiron, he played defensive end, linebacker and tight end.
“I guess you can say I was athlete or even utility man.” LeFlore replied. “I played my part and did what I could to help the team. One of the good things about playing multiple positions was that I learned more about the game than the average player. I played multiple positions so I learn so much more about the game from different perspectives which made me better.”
Detroit Country Day is known for having a good and impressive football program and depending on your role and skill set it can be hard to get noticed and recruited but LeFlore said that wasn’t a problem for him.
“My coaches did a great job of looking out for me and my teammates when it came to recruiting.” LeFlore said. “My team and I while we compete to start and get recruited we were a brotherhood.”
When it came to LeFlore’s recruiting he was recruited mostly by Division 2 and Division 3 schools, such as Amherst College, Williams College, Kalamazoo College and a couple schools in the GLIAC conference.
Close to end of his senior year, LeFlore choose to attend Williams College on an academic scholarship and still play football.
While LeFlore is happy with his college choice, he says it wasn’t easy a decision to make.
“It wasn’t an easy decision.” LeFlore said. “I originally was ready to commit to Amherst College but towards the end I discovered they didn’t seem as interested as before and with Williams College they were very interested, showed me a lot of love and respect on my visit and while staying in contact with me and offered me a lot academically so I went with Williams College.
LeFlore certainly doesn’t regret his decision.
“I love my school.” LeFlore said. “There is great history and tradition here, the faculty is amazing and my teammates and coaches are great as well.
Now while LeFlore started off strong in the classroom, he faced adversity on the field. He started the season of with a concussion and unfortunately wasn’t able to get on the field until late in the season.
“Yes I started the season off with a concussion.” LeFlore replied. “It was brutal mainly because when you’re unable to be on the field your forced to play catch up once you get back on the field.”
Williams College Football team also struggled this season; they had one of their worst seasons in last decade going 4-4 this season.
However, Williams College football team isn’t is afraid of adversity and neither is Chris LeFlore, after all he is used to fighting and earning what he wants.
Going into his sophomore season, LeFlore has plenty of goals on his list that he plans to accomplish.
“My first goal is to continue to do well academically.” LeFlore said. “Then when it comes to the gridiron, I plan to work hard and do my part for my team but I also plan to compete for a starting position at linebacker.”
Over the years LeFlore has worked hard and he says he thanks his mother for driving him and encouraging him to work hard and for telling him that “a scholarship was his only option.”
“Yes I love my mom and my family for all they have done for me.” LeFlore replied. “I also have to thank my coaches and teammates for all they have done.”
I have no doubt that LeFlore will continue to be successful at Williams College on and off the field as well as after graduation.
LeFlore left this statement for others to take in and consider…
“Football is a tool; I used it to help get me where I wanted to be but my academics were always the most important thing to me and they still are. Remember there is more than one road to get where you want to be. For me earning an academic scholarship and playing football was my way. For you it may be different, you just have to be willing to work hard and do what you need to do to get where you want to go.”
Wise words by Chris LeFlore.
Those are the words that Williams College freshman linebacker Chris LeFlore will always remember.
Why? Because he was told that at the age of five by his mother and let’s just say LeFlore didn’t waste any time wondering if his mother was bluffing or not.
LeFlore attended Detroit Country Day High School and he says it was always the best fit for him.
“Detroit Country Day is the best place for a student athlete to me.” LeFlore said. “It has great facilities, coaches, teachers and all around great tradition. Most importantly they taught me how to manage my time between school and sports.”
Strong statement by LeFlore but I can’t say he was wrong and he certainly held his own while at Detroit Country Day. He participated in multiple curricular activities including three sports and was able to maintain a 3.11 grade point average while taking AP/Honor classes and scored a 31 on the ACT.
“Detroit Country Day is academically rigorous.” LeFlore replied. “However if you put in the work and find structure in your schedule there is no reason you can’t be successful.”
Successful is right, not only was LeFlore successful in the classroom but also in sports.
“I played football, basketball and I also did track and field.” LeFlore said.” I enjoyed every sport that I played but football was and still is my passion.”
While at Detroit Country Day, Leflore played multiple positions on the gridiron, he played defensive end, linebacker and tight end.
“I guess you can say I was athlete or even utility man.” LeFlore replied. “I played my part and did what I could to help the team. One of the good things about playing multiple positions was that I learned more about the game than the average player. I played multiple positions so I learn so much more about the game from different perspectives which made me better.”
Detroit Country Day is known for having a good and impressive football program and depending on your role and skill set it can be hard to get noticed and recruited but LeFlore said that wasn’t a problem for him.
“My coaches did a great job of looking out for me and my teammates when it came to recruiting.” LeFlore said. “My team and I while we compete to start and get recruited we were a brotherhood.”
When it came to LeFlore’s recruiting he was recruited mostly by Division 2 and Division 3 schools, such as Amherst College, Williams College, Kalamazoo College and a couple schools in the GLIAC conference.
Close to end of his senior year, LeFlore choose to attend Williams College on an academic scholarship and still play football.
While LeFlore is happy with his college choice, he says it wasn’t easy a decision to make.
“It wasn’t an easy decision.” LeFlore said. “I originally was ready to commit to Amherst College but towards the end I discovered they didn’t seem as interested as before and with Williams College they were very interested, showed me a lot of love and respect on my visit and while staying in contact with me and offered me a lot academically so I went with Williams College.
LeFlore certainly doesn’t regret his decision.
“I love my school.” LeFlore said. “There is great history and tradition here, the faculty is amazing and my teammates and coaches are great as well.
Now while LeFlore started off strong in the classroom, he faced adversity on the field. He started the season of with a concussion and unfortunately wasn’t able to get on the field until late in the season.
“Yes I started the season off with a concussion.” LeFlore replied. “It was brutal mainly because when you’re unable to be on the field your forced to play catch up once you get back on the field.”
Williams College Football team also struggled this season; they had one of their worst seasons in last decade going 4-4 this season.
However, Williams College football team isn’t is afraid of adversity and neither is Chris LeFlore, after all he is used to fighting and earning what he wants.
Going into his sophomore season, LeFlore has plenty of goals on his list that he plans to accomplish.
“My first goal is to continue to do well academically.” LeFlore said. “Then when it comes to the gridiron, I plan to work hard and do my part for my team but I also plan to compete for a starting position at linebacker.”
Over the years LeFlore has worked hard and he says he thanks his mother for driving him and encouraging him to work hard and for telling him that “a scholarship was his only option.”
“Yes I love my mom and my family for all they have done for me.” LeFlore replied. “I also have to thank my coaches and teammates for all they have done.”
I have no doubt that LeFlore will continue to be successful at Williams College on and off the field as well as after graduation.
LeFlore left this statement for others to take in and consider…
“Football is a tool; I used it to help get me where I wanted to be but my academics were always the most important thing to me and they still are. Remember there is more than one road to get where you want to be. For me earning an academic scholarship and playing football was my way. For you it may be different, you just have to be willing to work hard and do what you need to do to get where you want to go.”
Wise words by Chris LeFlore.