Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

From the Press Box:

Silverado’s Wadsworth defines determination

Ray Brewer

Ray Brewer

Expanded coverage

Michael Wadsworth begged his parents to let him play football.

Growing up in Provo, Utah, Wadsworth dreamed of scoring touchdowns for the local high school and, eventually, BYU.

But Wadsworth, now a senior at Silverado High, was undersized and his parents, who feared their son would be injured, ignored his pleas to play youth football each fall.

Finally, when Wadsworth entered seventh grade, his parents caved in and let him join the town's junior high team. Despite competing in the lightweight division — the smallest weight limit of three classifications — Wadsworth was the league's top player and would routinely score four touchdowns each game.

Barely 100 pounds as a seventh grader, Wadsworth displayed the athleticism that has made him a star at Silverado the past two years. A certain excitement ripples through the stadium each time Wadsworth touches the ball, and regardless of his small stature, he finds ways to compete.

That is something fans at the University of Hawaii will soon learn. Wadsworth, a safety and kick returner, is one of four players with ties to Henderson who are expected to sign letters of intent on Feb. 4.

Not many players Wadsworth's size — he was 5-foot-9, 120 pounds as a freshman — go on to play in college.

But, then again, not many have the drive of Wadsworth.

"He has such a passion for football," said Patti Wadsworth, his mother. "It's just unbelievable to watch him play, knowing that is my son out there doing so well. At first, I was nervous because he was so small, but he knew the game so well and was always one of the fastest. Nobody could catch him."

Wadsworth — who thanks to natural growth and his dedication to weight training is now 6-foot-1, 190 pounds — made a name for himself as one of Nevada's top players as a junior in 2007. He had eight kickoff or punt returns for touchdowns to help Silverado win the Southeast Division title.

"I always thought I would grow, but I wasn't sure when it would happen," Wadsworth said. "When you are smaller, you definitely have to find a way around the bigger kids. I learned how to maneuver. I just like trying to make something out of nothing."

Following a breakout season in 2007, just when Wadsworth was receiving considerable interest from colleges, he found himself again pleading with his parents to play football. His dad's three-year commitment as a missionary leader with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ended, and the Wadsworth family — Michael has 10 siblings — was set to move back to Provo.

Michael did not want to bail on teammates in their quest for a state title and argued that relocating would hurt his chances of playing Division I football. He convinced his parents to let him stay, moved in with family friends and had a stellar year. He was named first-team All-Sunrise Region.

"There were definitely some late night talks before they finally let me stay," he said.

With the scholarship to Hawaii set, it was agreed Wadsworth would move back to Provo after the season. But he convinced his parents to let him stay the remainder of the year because he has some unfinished business.

Hit with injuries, Silverado struggled last fall and did not make the playoffs. Wadsworth hopes to make up for that disappointment with the basketball team, on which he is a top defender for a squad near the top of the Southeast standings.

That kind of dedication is what makes Wadsworth a steal for Hawaii. With the Skyhawks depleted at several positions in football, Wadsworth played virtually every spot on the field trying to salvage the season.

"Let's put it this way, I have never coached a more complete player who did everything for the team," Silverado football coach Andy Ostolaza said. "From the kick returning to playing multiple spots on each side of the ball, I haven't had a kid do so many different things. And, as a student, how can you beat a 4.0 guy?"

Sports Editor Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy