Fairland’s Bostyn Stephens
By Bryce McKinnis
Bostyn Stephens’ football career hit a wall after his freshman year at Grove.
“I had lost all confidence, so I decided to stop playing,” Stephens said.
For a player that had loved the game since he started playing at 6 years old.
“The thing that motivated me to pursue football was my dad coaching me from sidelines and seeing how excited and proud he would be when I’d make a big play,” Stephens said. “When I came to Fairland my sophomore year and coach Laverty asked me to play, he showed me how much he believed in his players, including me. He is really a big reason I still play the game today.”
Now approaching his junior season, the speedy slot receiver and cornerback has rekindled his appreciation for the game. “Getting to play under the Friday night lights in front of a sold out crowd” not only appeals to him, it’s all he’s looked forward to this summer.
“Overcoming the lost passion was hard, because it was almost completely gone, to the point where I started giving away equipment, but when coach Laverty gave me the opportunity, and he actually believed in me and recognized the potential that I had, that immediately brought my spark back, and that’s when I realized I couldn’t stop loving this game,” Stephens said.
The Owls are eyeing a promising season after securing big wins over Porter, Afton and Summit Christian last year, narrowly missing a playoff bid. Regardless of the outcome, Stephens won’t take any of the Owls’ 10 games — or more — for granted.
“The thing I love most about the game of football is the bond that you can build with your brothers on the field,” Stephens said. “When someone makes an impact in the game, and you see all of your teammates share that moment of excitement, it is a special feeling. You don’t realize it in the moment, but later on, you’re going to learn that those bonds and those memories are what it’s all about.”
So, what does the future hold for Stephens and his obvious football talent? With two years left in his high school career, he already knows he’s not ready to hang up the cleats after graduation.
“I hope football can not only take me to a higher place in life but also bring me experiences that I’m going to need in the future,” Stephens said. “Obviously, my dream as a little kid, like everyone else, was to play professional sports. I’m not saying that I can’t make it to the next level, because I know you can do anything you set your mind to, but it’s going to take a lot of time, dedication and effort.”
