The Chandler 2020 class was a historic one. They were the first in school history to win four straight state titles and the first program to go a perfect 13-0.
Wednesday provided a chance for the Wolves to look back and set a standard for the future. On the stage were the following seniors
- Jay McUen – Dixie State
- Malik Reed – Wisconsin (signed in December)
- Gunner Maldonado – Northwestern (signed in December)
- Dae Dae Hunter – Hawaii (signed in December)
- Tate Romney – BYU
- Nehemiah Magalei – NAU
- Riley Barton – Colorado School of Mines
Romney will join his two older brothers as members of the Cougar football team. Since he is going on a two-year LDS mission after high school, he is unsure if he will be able to play with them while they’re still in the program. He’s hoping to use these two years to grow literally and figuratively.
“Hopefully I grow a couple inches,” Romney joked. “I’ll be working out. It will be hard to work out, but I’ll try my best to do that. I’ll be able to mature a lot hopefully, and that will come in handy for college football.”
Magalei was one of the top offensive linemen in the state and anchored a stout line that paved the way for 3,800 rushing yards in 2019. While he is very skilled on offensive, it sounds like he’ll be utilized on the defensive side of the ball for the Lumberjacks.
“I think it will be pretty easy because I played defense growing up and then I played both ways my freshman year,” Magalei said. “I think it will be pretty easy and they think I can make an impact on the defensive side of the ball, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
Chandler has transformed its football program into one of the country’s elite, and this senior group brought the standard to new heights.
“They’re very special, their work ethic and leadership qualities that were employed this year,” Garretson said. “Being able to go undefeated, be the first senior-led team at Chandler to go 13-0 and obviously to win an Open Division Championship. I think all teams go as the senior class goes and we’re just lucky to have this group go with us in (2019).”
