As Clearwater High School outside linebacker Curtis Campa heads into his senior season, he carries with him a love of the game, a sense of brotherhood and lessons he says will last long after the Friday night lights fade.
Campa, who will be a senior in the fall, said one of his biggest inspirations is former NFL star Ray Lewis. “Ray Lewis because he showed that when times get hard and to difficult you fight through it and you fight the the painful times,” Campa said. That mindset has shaped how he approaches both football and life.
His favorite part of playing for Clearwater is not just the competition, but the connection. “What I enjoy the most about being a member of the team is the friendships I’ve made over the years,” he said. He describes the Falcons as more than just teammates. “What do I love most about my team and teammates is that we are one big brotherhood,” Campa said.
On the field, Campa lines up at outside linebacker, a position that demands focus and toughness. “I play outside Linebacker and the most difficult thing about it is trying not to get blindsided by the pulling guard or tackle,” he said. One of the wildest plays he has witnessed came from a former teammate. “The craziest thing I’ve seen on the field was an old teammate Cooper Williams one handed Mossed a kid,” Campa said.
His favorite game memory came in a tight battle against a rival. “My favorite memory from a game is when we beat collegiate in a tight game,” he said.
Away from football, Campa said his favorite subject is history, and he still remembers a teacher who made an impact. “My favorite subject in school is history and my favorite teacher from any grade is my old Fifth grade teacher Mr.Janzing,” he said.
Campa spends his free time unwinding with friends and hobbies off the field. “What I like to do on my free time is Playing NBA 2k, Rainbow6siege, and fishing,” he said. He also enjoys helping in the community. “My friend Jace Wineger and I smoke meat and help out some events if needed,” Campa said.
Whether he is lifting in “My favorite place in Clearwater is the gym” or putting on his headphones before kickoff — “I think about all the things that irritated me over the last week or so and I but my headphones on and focus on the game” — Campa said he is focused on being a leader, a trait shaped by teammate Dalton Wulf, who “gave me guidance of being a leader and he made sure that everyone around him was getting better as the days came.”
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