Saxton Sylvester has become known to his school and others in Coronado as the “Gentle Giant” for the heart and passion he regularly exudes.
His cultivated mindset has given him the drive to accomplish his goals.
Sylvester was a three-sport letterman athlete at Coronado High School, running track and captaining his football and rugby teams.
He did all this while maintaining a 4.33 grade point average.
“Heart is putting your heart into something, whether it’s school or whether it’s a sport, continuing to push yourself and continuing to do it even when you hate it,” said Sylvester.
Strict regimen helped academics
He believes that a strict regimen of school sponsored year-long sports kept his academic pursuits focused while keeping his body active.
Not only did I enjoy playing the sports, but it helped me stay disciplined in my schoolwork and college applications by having a strict schedule all year and not just during one season.”
-Saxton Sylvester.
“Not only did I enjoy playing the sports, but it helped me stay disciplined in my schoolwork and college applications by having a strict schedule all year and not just during one season,” said Sylvester.
Sylvester will attend The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) this fall and will play collegiate rugby. He also hopes to join the club track team. He also received a congressional nomination to the United States Air Force Academy.
Sylvester has received high praise from many of his coaches, including track coach Donna Yee.
“He is just absolutely amazing. He’s a leader. He’s kind; he’s friendly. He helps competitors as well,” said Yee.
As is the case when he preps for competition.
“He would talk to throwers from other schools. He’d ask them how they’re doing and what their techniques are. He makes friends wherever he goes,” said Yee. “It’s not an I’m going to use this against you kind of thing. It’s like, ‘We should all help each other because we’re all trying to be better.'”
Assistant track coach Scott Young believes Sylvester will lead others in every avenue of his life.
“Wherever he goes, he’s going to be leading somebody. He’s going to be a leader. He’s going to be a gentle giant in whatever he does, but that’s how he gets people invested,” said Young.
He is determined and will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives, coaches said.
Look no further than to his response to an ankle injury he suffered, putting him in doubt of competing in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals.
Sylvester ended up placing fourth in the boys discus, with a throw of 117 feet even. This was his second time qualifying for CIF (first time making the Final).
Young said Sylvester told him: “I don’t care if I have to get lifted into the ring and throw one time. I want to do it. I earned this spot, and I want to be there.”
Correction: The name of the track coach is Donna Yee. The name was misspelled in a previous edition.
