Sports

from SanTan Sun News August 14, 2022

by Times Media Group

Faith

Alex McLaughlin following family’s athletic path

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Sports Editor

Competing at a high level in athletics has always been a part of Alex McLaughlin’s destiny.

His mother, Ann, was a track athlete in college while his dad, Matt, played baseball. His oldest brother, J.D., made a name for himself at Hamilton playing baseball and is now in the Detroit Tigers farm system. His other older brother, Trenton, is currently a sophomore at Northern Arizona University playing basketball.

Both J.D. and Trenton told their younger brother growing up that he would have to follow in their path as athletes. While McLaughlin said there was pressure initially, it quickly became his goal, too.

Now as he enters his senior season as an outside linebacker at Hamilton, he’s on the right path to follow in the footsteps of his family members before him as a Division I college athlete.

“In my younger days my brothers – because they were older than me – they were already committed to their schools and knew what they were doing, there was some pressure for me to go (Division I),” McLaughlin said. “I wouldn’t say there’s pressure anymore. I’m getting past it now.”

McLaughlin grew up playing several sports, but football and baseball stuck. He continued to play both through his sophomore year at Hamilton. But during his junior year, he made the difficult decision to give up baseball and focus on track in the spring.

Part of that decision was influenced by his sophomore season, when he was brought up to the varsity level. Hamilton head coach Mike Zdebski, along with defensive coordinator Tim Dougherty, told McLaughlin that he had the ability to become a standout linebacker for the Huskies moving forward.

So, when offers started to roll in as a junior, McLaughlin gave up baseball to focus on the weight room. He also joined the track team to improve his speed. “I knew track was going to get me better for my college sport, which is football,” McLaughlin said. “Having this off-season of lifting and getting my speed up, it helped me get a lot of attention. Not playing baseball and being able to lift right before track practice has helped me put on a lot more size and speed.” McLaughlin immediately started to make a name for himself at the varsity level as a junior. He was part of a Hamilton defense that was one for the top units in the state, and which helped the Huskies gain national attention with wins over Bishop Gorman in dramatic fashion and rival Chandler. He was third on the team with 80 total tackles, including eight for a loss. He proved his ability to stop the run while also being able to go out in coverage on opposing wideouts.

His skill has helped him gain attention from colleges. As it stands, his top

Left: Hamilton senior linebacker Alex McLaughlin has big shoes to fill with both parents competing as college athletes, an older brother in the minors and another playing Division I basketball. But he’s carved his own path in football with multiple Division I offers. Right: Hamilton coach Mike Zdebski said McLaughlin’s growth accelerated when he began to run track. Not only was he able to show college coaches his physical development, but also his speed that was verified by impressive track times this past spring. (Dave Minton/Staff)

See MCLAUGHLIN on page 33

A’Mauri Washington at home with the Wolves

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Sports Editor

A’Mauri Washington can’t help but smile and laugh when he thinks about his first workout as a member of the Chandler Wolves football team heading into his junior season last year.

Between the heat, the weight training program and field work, Washington was forced into his back in what head coach Rick Garretson described as a “cockroach position.” Washington was gassed. He said it was the first time he had ever had a workout and practice with the intensity level that high.

The over high temperatures didn’t help, either.

“I remember just laying on my back and I was like, ‘I need some water,’ this is killing me,” Washington said. “There was so much going on I didn’t think I could make it through it. But I made it through.”

Garretson and assistant coach Collin Bottrill saw potential in Washington the first day he stepped foot on Chandler’s campus. And for good reason.

Washington is a staggering 6-foot-4 defensive lineman with a long wingspan and quickness off the ball despite his 295-pound frame. But those skills didn’t show right away, it took a new level

ahead of his junior season. “As far as his conditioning, his strength, his speed, he admits that at his old school in Detroit they didn’t work very hard on that stuff during the week,” said Bottrill, who has frequent conversations with Washington about Michigan being a native himself. “They didn’t do conditioning like we do or lift weights like we do. He had to get acclimated to that. It was really hard for him in the beginning. “He told us that was the hardest he’s ever worked after a spring skills workout.” Washington played at Oak Park High School in Detroit his first two years of high school. He came out to Arizona to visit his mom in February 2021, right after his sophomore year. At the time, she had recently moved to the Valley. He initially only planned to stay for a short period of time. But he never left. Left: Chandler senior defensive lineman A’Mauri Washington has become at home in the program since transferring from Detroit before his junior season. He’s also become one Knowing he had to make a decision as to where to attend and continue of the most sought-after recruits with offers to several schools across the country. (Dave his football career, Washington chose Minton/Staff) Right: Chandler coach Rick Garretson said Washington’s progression from the Chandler. At the time, the Wolves were first day he arrived on campus has been something to see. He wasn’t able to finish a work- already a powerhouse nationally that out in the early stages of last year. Now, he’s leading them. (File Photo) was getting ready to defend its fifth

MCLAUGHLIN from page 32

seven schools include Arizona, Colorado, Washington State, Ohio, Montana State, Air Force and Northern Arizona.

“Once the college coaches saw the physical development and his speed, which was verifi ed with track, he showed he can play at that level,” Zdebski said. “Alex had the fi lm, he’s a playmaker but now he showed the track speed.”

McLaughlin is one of many names on a stout Hamilton defense. Chandler Davis has become one of the top defensive ends in the state. Taye Brown is a force at outside linebacker, someone Zdebski says dominates drills specifi cally meant to limit his ability to make a play during practice. He plays opposite of McLaughlin.

Hamilton also has a dynamic secondary led by state champion high jumper Rachana Man and standout free safety Genesis Smith.

McLaughlin said playing alongside those players, along with other standout defenders, makes his job easy and fun. He recognized how special they were last season. And even with holes to fi ll this year, he feels they can once again be dominant on that side of the ball.

Zdebski agrees.

“Alex and Taye on the edges are going to be really good for us,” Zdebski said. “I think Alex has shown he has the ability to play in coverage and play in space, which is really good.”

McLaughlin’s mission is simple: He aims to leave a lasting image on the school much like J.D. did during his time in high school.

But most importantly, he wants to bring a championship to Hamilton.

“All of us 23s, we’ve talked about it since our freshman year, that we are going to win it as seniors,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a big thing for us. This 23 class, we are so close together and we are all going to play together.”

WASHINGTON from page 32

straight state title. But Washington was oblivious to Chandler’s success in the past. He knew nothing about the program until he saw the state championship trophies on his fi rst day.

“I just kinda chose Chandler by random,” Washington said. “I didn’t know anything (about the team’s success). I just walked right into it.”

Getting adjusted to the intense workouts was a struggle for Washington at fi rst. But he never gave up.

Eventually, he started to improve. In the early stages of his Chandler career, simply fi nishing a practice was a daunting task. As he became accustomed to the way the program ran, the workouts and practices became easier. At the same time, he became dominant on the defensive line.

Washington helped lead Chandler back to the Open Division state championship game. He had 42 total tackles, 13 of which for a loss. He was fourth on the team with six sacks last year, often demanding double teams from opposing off ensive lines due to his power off the ball.

With a breakout season came national attention from major college football programs. He already held off ers from Northern Arizona and Arizona before his junior season. In late September, Wisconsin extended an off er. By mid-October, he had off ers from schools from all over the country, including Florida State, Michigan and Texas A&M.

Off ers from the likes of Oklahoma, LSU and Oregon followed, among several others. In July he announced LSU, Oregon and Oklahoma as his top three schools. Washington said he plans to commit on Sept. 6, a few days after the Wolves play their fi rst game in San Diego against Cathedral Catholic.

As it stands, he still doesn’t know where he plans to commit.

“It gives me enough time to sort of narrow everything down,” Washington said. “I’m very excited.”

Washington has become a leader for the Wolves now as he enters his senior season. Instead of lying on the ground during workouts, he is leading them. He’s also become the in-house DJ for the team, choosing music in the team’s weight room.

He’s become more than just another player in the Wolves’ program. He’s become family. Garretson will often give Washington a ride home after practices. Those car rides rarely involve football talk.

“We have a really nice relationship,” Garretson said. “We hardly ever talk football. We’ll talk about things like how to have a conversation with an adult or a recruiter. Just getting to know him, his mom, his family, it’s been a really cool thing. If kids need help, my staff helps and that includes me.”

Washington has some personal goals he aims to accomplish as a senior. He wants to lead the team in sacks on the fi eld while maintaining his 3.5 GPA off it.

He also aims to help lead Chandler to a state title. The Wolves were dethroned last year by Saguaro in his fi rst season with the team.

Washington said enrolling at Chandler has dramatically made a positive impact on his life. The team made him feel at home. The coaching staff became father fi gures to him. Now, he wants to repay them by helping them win a state title.

“Chandler brought me in as a family,” Washington said. “When I fi rst came, I didn’t know anybody and never really spoke but now when I walk around everyone is like, ‘Oh, big Mike!’

“We may not have got (a championship) last year, but I can’t go out empty handed.”