What does it mean to be a captain?

A captain is a leader, a role model, a person to look up to. Every year, after the football season ends, junior players vote on players they want to represent them for their senior year. After the 2023 season, the players selected Cameron James, George Guidugli, Brayden Boeing, Maddox Arnold, and Cooper Sandhas.

They are the leaders of the Elder football team. Many have watched them on Friday nights, but what are they like underneath the helmet and pads?

#62 Cameron James

Cameron James is a offensive lineman from Our Lady of Lourdes.

When I asked him how long he had been playing football he said he had been playing for as long as he could remember.

“It feels like I was born with pads on,” James says. “I know it wasn’t from birth, but definitely in first grade.” What his time at Elder been like? “I know that everyone says it, but the time really has just flown by. I still remember driving to school with my dad the day of freshman orientation.”

When asked about what he enjoys doing outside of football James gave me a couple of different answers. “Movies, TV series, concerts, food, being from a family where football is such a big thing, it may seem to some like it is all I do. However I’m into so much more than just football.”

Cameron told me his favorite was Avengers: Endgame. The Office is his favorite TV series of all time. His favorite musical artist currently is Zach Bryan with his favorite song being “Traveling Man” off of the Quiet, Heavy Dreams EP.

When asked about his favorite food James went into deep thought, “That’s a tough one,” he says, “Right now probably Jersey Mikes. I get it before every football game and it fuels me throughout the whole season.

I get myself a giant grilled number seven on rosemary parmesan bread with mayo, bacon, pickles, lettuce, salt, pepper, and a pink lemonade.” This meal is how James grew to an astounding 6′-3″, 250 pounds.

#23 George Guidugli

Another captain hailing from Our Lady of Lourdes is George Guidugli.

Guidugli is playing inside linebacker this year after playing outside linebacker last year. I asked George when he started playing football, and just like Cameron, George told me he has been playing for as long as he can remember.

“Around second grade for the Lourdes Tigers, Bandit ball, man, great times.” I asked George what his favorite memory is from his time playing at Elder, and he told me that it definitely has to be the game against St. Xavier from 2023. He told me that going into a tough environment like that and coming out with a win is unbeatable.

Outside of football he loves the great sport of golf, “getting to go outside, be with some pals, it’s so calming.” I asked George what the best round of golf he ever shot was and he told me he once shot a 79 at Western Hills Country Club.

What are his plans for after high school? “I have had a couple of schools reach out to me for an opportunity to play football, but if that doesn’t end up working out I would like to study business or finance at school that is pretty local, Ohio State, UC, Miami, UK, somewhere around there.”

#18 Brayden Boeing

Brayden Boeing is a tight end from St. Ignatius. Brayden started his playing career at St. John’s for the Blue Jays in the third grade. Brayden told me his favorite memory came from the St. Xavier game last year as well. “Scoring my first varsity touchdown in a big game like that, wow, there was nothing like that feeling.”

What does he enjoy doing outside of football? “Hanging out with friends, hunting, fishing, I really love getting out into nature and relaxing.”

I asked Brayden what his plans for after high school were and he told me he is going to Miami University to play football. “Luckily, I have been given the opportunity to play football in college and I am super excited.”

#22 Maddox Arnold

Maddox Arnold is a linebacker from Our Lady of Victory. Maddox told me he has been playing football since the first grade. “My family has always been in football, so it was only natural that I started playing as soon as possible.”

Maddox told me that his favorite memory from playing at Elder was his from his freshman year, “I was blessed to have the opportunity to be playing on the varsity team as a freshman, so my favorite memory would definitely be the game against Moeller. Being involved in such a competitive, high scoring game was incredible. Especially since I was just a freshman, I am very thankful for getting to experience that game at such a young age.”

When I asked Maddox about what he liked doing outside of football he told he loves getting to hangout with friends and enjoys a round of golf from time to time. After his high school career is over Maddox will be attending the University of Toledo and playing football there.

#29 Cooper Sandhas

Cooper Sandhas is a safety from Our Lady of the Visitation.

Coop told me that he started playing in the first grade, and he loved the sport since the first time he put his helmet on. When I asked Cooper about his favorite memory, he told me something similar to Brayden and George. “Definitely beating St. X at St. X junior year. That was the closest game I have ever been a part of and I don’t think I’ll ever experience something like that ever again.”

Another response similar to George came when asked about what Cooper enjoys doing outside of football. “I absolutely love golfing. There is something about being out on the links with some friends that just makes me feel good. I also love baseball. I always have and I probably always will.”

I asked Cooper what his plans were for after his high school career and he told me he is going to Miami University to play baseball.

Although they are hard-nosed, tough individuals on the gridiron, these captains are some of the kindest humans you can possibly meet. You can find them on Friday nights leading the Elder Panthers in the heart of Price Hill, The Pit.