WEST PALM BEACH – It’s been a memorable senior season for Caleb Goertzen.

The Berean Christian 2020 athlete galvanized his team through his combination of on/off-field leadership, attention to detail, and heart. It led to an inspiring run to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoffs and semifinal berth (4-5 final record; doesn’t include the kickoff classic).

Simply put, Goertzen is that kind of player who will put literally everything into himself, his teammates, his coaches, and the game. It showed in the kickoff classic game against Village Academy, a 32-20 comeback win that ended with his buzzer-beating fumble recovery for a touchdown.

“It was the last play of the game to win the game,” Goertzen said. “Their quarterback took the snap and threw it to the wideout who was running a slant or hitch. Our cornerback had a grip on him and stripped the ball, and then I returned it for the score.”

Including the kickoff classic win over Village Academy, Goertzen would go on to have a stellar season on both defense and offense. Let’s show you how he got it done.

In nine official games played – plus the kickoff classic – Goertzen finished his senior season with 31 tackles (2 TFL), one interception, three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown. On the offensive side of the ball, he registered 35 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns from senior quarterback Wade Gill.

“As a team, we executed much better on offense than recent years,” Goertzen said. “Almost everyone had over double the stats they had last year just because they put in the work and fought for each other. Personally though, I made myself accountable to have a better season by never taking days off and always being focused, which in turn resulted in multiplying my stats almost five times from the previous season.”

Berean Christian head coach Mario Jackson touched on Goertzen’s breakthrough season.

“Caleb had an unbelievable season, however I wasn’t surprised,” Jackson said. “He proved his leadership qualities day in and day out by doing the little things well like paying attention to detail, sacrificing summer vacation to be at conditioning, running routes on air, catching balls after practice. He separates himself from others because his accomplishments are never about him. His concern is bettering the team and those around him spiritually, emotionally, and physically. To find those qualities in a young is rare.”

As a result of Goertzen’s senior season, he was selected to play in the Palm Beach County High School All-Star Game. It took place last month (Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019) at Jupiter High School in Jupiter (Fla.).

Playing for the American team, he caught a pass from Gill in the all-star showcase.

“It was pretty special to me, even though I got one target,” Goertzen said. “I caught it and made the most of every opportunity. Wade threw it to me at the beginning of the game. He’s really improved this year, and I’m glad to have had him as my quarterback.”

Now that Goertzen’s high school football career is officially over, he’s focusing on his transition to college. While the Semper Fidelis All-American doesn’t currently have any offers on hand, he’s confident that the final outcome will be a favorable one.

We’ll be closely following his college recruiting process from now until his decision is made.

PHOTO CREDITS: Jordan Peterkin (Media J)