BAYOU CHAMPION

DALLAS — Call him Ca’lib The Champ.

That’s because Louisiana high school student athlete Ca’lib Watts has proven to be a champion in every stretch of the imagination, especially during what undoubtedly has been a remarkably memorable tenure for the 18-year-old senior at Lafayette Christian Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana.

“I am still in awe that God allowed this handsome, young man of mine to make me a mommy 18 years ago,” Shameka Sampson said of her son to kick off Making Headline News’ annual Salute To Graduate Tributes for 2019.

“To say that I am proud of him would be an understatement.”

To grasp a thorough concept of why Sampson essentially couldn’t offer enough superlatives when recalling the legacy her beloved son continues to create even at this stage in his young life, look no further than the flurry of accolades and achievements he’s garnered as he prepares to earn his diploma on May 17.

For starters, Watts boasts a cumulative grade point average of 3.4.

As if that isn’t enough to emerge as the center of conversation in the family, Watts helped propelled the Lafayette Christian football team to an impressive 14-0 record that was culminated with an LHSAA Division IV state championship, courtesy of a 56-7 rout of Ascension Catholic.

Not to be outdone, Watts is a member of LCA’s varsity track squad, which recently won the regionals, thus advancing to state championships at LSU, where he will compete as part of the Knights’ relay team.

While he is just days away from earning his diploma, Watts has already devised a strategic plan for life after high school.

According to his mother, Watts will attend Basic Training for the U.S. Army National Guard before enrolling in Spring 2020 at nearby McNeese University, where he plans to major in Pediatric Nursing.

Though Auburn, the University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M University- Commerce capped off Watts’ short list of colleges, Sampson admittedly was convinced all along that her son wanted to stay within close proximity of the family’s residence.

“(There were) a couple more colleges, but I believe they were a little too far away from his mom and sister,” Sampson jokingly said.

All things considered, Sampson doesn’t shy away from the notion that she’s overwhelmingly in awe of the favor God has bestowed upon the life of her son, whose best and brightest days are well ahead of him, she said.

“My son has inspired me to be a better me,” Sampson said. “He has never judged me for my shortcomings as a parent and he has told and showed me how much he admires me and how hard I’ve worked to take care of him and his younger sister.”

Once Watts enters the next chapter of his life, he will be missed considerably, his mother acknowledged.

“My daughter, Jaeda, will miss him a lot as well,” Sampson said. “Her ‘bubby,’ as she so fondly calls him, has looked up to him and trusted him to never lead her wrong. Ca’lib calls himself his ‘Sister’s Keeper.’”

As for going away in the coming months, that will certainly take some getting used to.

“Ca‘lib has never been away from me or his sister this long…ever…and it will definitely be a challenge, because I will be praying for him, wondering if he’s okay and if his superiors are treating him right, but I have to give him to God and have to let him become a man,” Sampson said.

Come May 17, chances are Sampson and the rest the family will be crying tears of joy when Watts’ name is called to receive his diploma.

“When I hear his name called on graduation night, I will feel like I’m in a dream,” Sampson said. “This time in his life has come way too fast for me and I will probably cry as I have been doing since the first day of his senior year, but they will be happy tears and maybe a few sad ones, too.”

Much to his delight, it has been one heckuva ride the past few years for Watts, whom Sampson said has held fast to a rare sense of integrity in ways many of his peers haven’t.

WELL ON HIS WAY 

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“I am proud of my son for keeping himself pure and in waiting for the young woman that God has for him,” Sampson said. “A lot of young men don’t make it to the age of 18 without several sexual partners or children, but I thank God that he listened to me and he and his girlfriend, Londyn, have made a pact between themselves and God to keep themselves pure, because God said so. There is no limit for him. The boundaries are limitless because he serves a limitless God.”

Talk about demonstrating the attributes of a true champion.

“The favor on his life comes not just from being who he is, but because of his obedience,” Sampson said. “And, as long as he honors the Lord, he will not fall, break, or bend.”

That’s because this Louisiana high school student athlete has proven to be a champion in every stretch of the imagination.

Big ups to Ca’lib The Champ.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Whether your child has already graduated or not, if you would like to pay homage to his/her accomplishments with a unique Salute To Graduates Tribute that will feature a story like the one above with multiple photos, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.

Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to andre@makingheadlinenews.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.