WEST PALM BEACH – Being a successful quarterback is more than just putting up big numbers on the field.
It’s about commanding and earning the respect of your coaches and teammates alike. It’s about displaying a level of maturity that others could emulate.
It’s about being the first one at a location and the last one to leave there. It’s about showing respect to every single person, regardless of their position or situation.
It’s about staying true to yourself and to the art of continuous improvement, above all else.
Wade Gill fits the quarterback description perfectly, and it served him quite well this past season at Berean Christian.
For starters, Gill led the Bulldogs to the Sunshine State Athletic Confefence semifinals and a win improvement from one to four games.
From the surface, it may not be much. But any kind of increase is a boost for Berean Christian, which improved from 1-7 in 2018 to 4-5 in 2019.
“I would say we vastly improved from where we started,” Gill said. “We have the set the foundation for the younger guys.”
The 6-1, 200-lb. quarterback ended his senior year with 1,586 passing yards and 20 total touchdowns. As a result of this and more, Gill was selected to play in last month’s Palm Beach County High School All-Star Game.
Held on Dec. 14, 2019 at Jupiter High School, Gill was one of three senior quarterbacks chosen to play for the American team. Gill’s teammate, athlete Caleb Goertzen, was also selected.
Gill completed a pass to Goertzen, which was his only reception of the all-star game.
“He’s really improved this year,” Goertzen said of Gill. “I’m glad to have had him as my quarterback.”
Gill spoke on his all-star game experience.
“It was great to compete with the best athletes around,” Gill said. “I enjoyed my fellowship with the other athletes.”
Berean Christian head coach Mario Jackson spoke on Gill’s level of commitment to the game and how much he improved across the board.
“Wade really accepted his role as the go-to guy,” Jackson said. “We had several conversations about commanding your team, gaining your teammates trust and respect, and being a general. That he did. Wade lead his team to a phenomenal year. Having his teammates be accountable to him, it forced him to grow up and be even more accountable to them.”
With Gill’s high school football career now finished, the focus now is for him to find a college football home. He currently has one offer from Buena Vista University and has also been in talks with Bethel University.
Gill spoke on why he feels it’s taken some time for his recruiting process to take off.
“I think it’s possibly because I didn’t have the year I had this year like other years,” Gill said. “But I know whoever takes a chance on me will get a good quarterback.”
Expect Gill to make his final decision sometime between now and May, the month he’ll be an official graduate of Berean Christian School.
We’ll be closely following Gill’s recruiting process over the next several weeks ahead and longer, if necessary.
PHOTO CREDITS: Jordan Peterkin (Media J)
