I am writing this letter of recommendation concerning Calob Leindecker’s nomination for the High School Rudy Award. Let me start by saying that this is not just another thoughtless recommendation letter. Calob’s story is very dear to my heart. I have taught Calob in Sports Medicine, and I have coached him for the past three years. More importantly, I have assisted him in his recovery and rehabilitation since his injury. My duties here as a teacher/coach, certified athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist have allowed me the honor of working with him in all the above mentioned capacities.

Even though Calob’s accident was tragic I do reference it as being an honor from my perspective to assist him in his recovery. It is not often that the teacher or mentor can learn so much from the student. Not the type of learning that you get off of a chalk board but life lessons. I have found myself marveling in admiration as I watch Calob’s character display exceptional qualities as he presses on in his journey. In those moments I can’t help but think that if all people, people who have it much better than him, would have that type of character how much better our society would be. I can honestly say that since his injury he has never once asked for pity or used his situation for an excuse. To the contrary he has used it for motivation; motivation that he will make it back playing on the football field.

As a sophomore Calob started at cornerback on the state championship football team. In the state championship game he was very instrumental in the victory intercepting a pass and making many key stops along the way. Six months later the accident happened. For most people, much less a 16 year old, this would have been the event that began a downward spiral of self pity and excuses. Not Calob, he immediately set a goal for himself; get back on the field.

To say that his recovery did not have a few bumps in the road would be an understatement. If the injury alone was not enough, he had to fight through many skin breakdowns on his stump and many adjustments to his prosthetic which did nothing more than push his goal farther and farther back. Calob was not to be denied in achieving his goal; he pressed on and fought through all the breakdowns and adjustments. His accident was very tragic, but the way he has handled it is nothing short of a life changing experience for everyone who has come into contact with him along the way.

For our 2008 football season our team honored him with a design of the superman emblem with the number 2 inside of it, his jersey number, instead of the letter S. Inside the number 2 was his last name inscribed. On top of the emblem, was the saying, “Nothing For Granted”.

In the start of the 2009 season Calob achieved his goal in the first game of the season. After the second touchdown of the game Calob Leindecker jogged out on the field and held for the extra point. For most average people that would be enough, but not for Calob. He is still working towards his goal of getting on the field for an offensive or defensive play and I will be right there with him trying to help him achieve it.

For me personally I have one adjective that keeps coming to mind whenever I think of him, and that is Courage. I can say without hesitation that Calob Leindecker is very deserving of many awards and he would be a very respectable representative of the High School Rudy Award. Sincerely, Jay Mayet

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