Williams Field is off to a 3-0 start to the 2026 football season following its 33-23 victory at Corona del Sol last Friday.  Many of the Black Hawks have also been making strides in another place where they keep records – their grades.

A check of the Sports360AZ All-Academic Team from last year will show that the Higley District school in Gilbert placed 33 student-athletes on the prestigious list.  That was more than half of the team’s 62-player roster!

Ten players had grade point averages of 4.0 or higher with another 23 carrying a 3.0 or better.  Several of those players are back and working to make the academic list again along with also making a return to the Open Division playoffs, where the Black Hawks reached the quarterfinals (for the first time) in 2025.

And it’s not just excellent students tucked onto the end of the bench.  It includes some of the team’s biggest playmakers on both sides of the ball.

John “Buddha” Booker is a 6-1, 185-pound senior receiver for WFHS.  He just had his career-best game in his third varsity season on Friday night at Corona: 8 catches, 247 yards, 3 touchdowns.  When he’s not putting those numbers up on Friday nights, it’s his 4.83 GPA that gets college attention.  Booker (pictured at the top of the article) has Ivy League offers from Brown, Cornell, and Penn.

“I maintain my grades by paying attention in class and keeping a to-do list of assignments,” Booker said in an e-mail interview.  “That helps me stay organized and use my time efficiently when I get home, so I can keep up with schoolwork while playing football.  My dad has always emphasized the importance of getting good grades.  He preached to me that they would take me far in life and pushed me to always strive for A’s.”

Since he began participating in flag football (age 8) at the Boys and Girls Club, he has had a love for the game.  It also gave him the opportunity to learn the fundamentals for the sport before moving on to tackle.

“My family, coaches, trainers, and teammates have all supported me throughout my football journey,” Booker said.  “My family has been there since day one to encourage me, while my coaches and trainers gave me the tools I need to develop as a player and a person.  My teammates push me to get better on the field, and sharing the work with them makes the experience special.”

Booker isn’t purely about catching touchdown passes.  There is more to the position than that.  Having role models at the highest level to watch gives perspective on all the areas to help his team.

“Being a Steelers fan, Hines Ward has been one of my biggest influences in football,” Booker said.  “I admire how he played with grit and 110% effort on every play, whether he was catching passes or blocking for his teammates.  That’s the kind of receiver I want to be.”

When his playing days are over, he has some high-level options for his career.

“I’m interested in pursuing medicine with the end goal of becoming an anesthesiologist,” Booker said.  “An alternate choice for me would be engineering, either mechanical or aerospace.  I’m still exploring different fields and trying to see what’s right for me.

Another scholar baller for the Black Hawks is the guy that gets the football out to Booker, quarterback Dom Barjona.  The 5-10, 170-pound senior signal caller took over as the starter midway through his sophomore year.  Barjona was running at a 74% completion rate through the first two games.  That number – 74% – is never seen on any of Barjona’s classrooms assignments.  He maintains a 4.50 GPA at Williams Field and has Division II offers from Colorado Mesa and Western New Mexico.

“I balance athletics and academics by making sure I handle my responsibilities in school while still giving my all to football,” Barjona said in an e-mail interview.  “It can be difficult sometimes with practices and games, but I know my grades are just as important as how I perform on the field.  I normally get my homework and studying done after practice or whenever I have free time during the school day.  I try not to wait until the last minute because football can take up a lot of my time.  I’ve learned that managing my time is important if I want to be successful in both.”

He also credits his father for leading him on the right path.

“He has always pushed me to take school seriously and reminds me that being a student comes before being an athlete,” Barjona said.  “I also give credit to God because my faith helps keep me grounded and reminds me to keep working even when things get difficult.”

Barjona also first started out with flag football around the age of eight.  That began the fostering of his love for the game.  As he got older, football became a much bigger part of his life.

“My dad taught me a lot of what I know about sports,” Barjona said.  “He has been there throughout my journey, teaching me about the game, but also about working hard, staying disciplined, and being a good person outside of sports.  A lot of the mindset I have today comes from the things he has taught me.”

Barjona hopes to get the opportunity to continue his playing career somewhere next fall and is leaning to majoring in business.

Williams Field QB Dom Barjona


Almasi “MJ” Glenn got involved in sports early in life, playing basketball at just five years old and tackle football a year later.  Trying out many different sports (a good thing), Glenn also played soccer and baseball while growing up.  He has always been competitive, but football became the sport he really wanted to pursue.  The 6-3, 210-pound linebacker has an 81-inch wingspan to help break up passes and make tackles.  Another impressive number is his 4.33 GPA.  Back in June, Glenn committed to Yale University.

“I really started learning how to balance athletics and academics my freshman year,” Glenn said in an e-mail interview.  “As football and school became more demanding, I learned how to manage my time and stay disciplined.  That balance has helped prepare me for the next level.”

Glenn’s influences also come from family, and it was during the interview that I found out one of his “brothers” on the Black Hawks team is actually a little more than that.

“My biggest influences have been my dad and my older brother, who is our quarterback at Williams Field (Barjona),” Glenn said.  “My dad played safety in college and both of them have taught me a lot about football, hard work, and discipline.  They’ve always pushed me to become better on and off the field.

Williams Field LB MJ Glenn

Glenn is not only following along the path of his father in playing defense at college, but also in the field of study he pursued.

“I plan to major in mechanical engineering, which is also what my father studied,” Glenn said.  “I’ve always been interested in how things work and solving problems.  I’m excited to challenge myself academically while continuing my football career at Yale.”

Excellent students preparing for their fourth straight road game for Williams Field (what an odd schedule) this Friday at Red Mountain (2-1).  And with plans beyond however far their senior years take them on the field.

Reach Chris Eaton at gridironarizona@yahoo.com or DM at @gridironarizona with story ideas.

The post Williams Field players getting job done on gridiron and in classroom first appeared on Sports360AZ.





Source link

Post Views: 8