'Heart Of A Giant' Nomination Given To Hackettstown High School Athlete

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Anthony Edwards has been recognized for his perseverance in recovering from a complex sports injury, as well as his positive attitude on the field at Hackettstown High School.

He is one of the nominees chosen for the sixth week in the 2021 Heart of a Giant Award, a special award from the New York Giants and Hospital for Special Surgery to recognize high school players from the tri-state area, picked by their coaches for “commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication,” according to the organization.

He was nominated for how he pushed through recovery after breaking his elbow during his freshman football season. After surgery, Edwards faced an infection that resulted in 10 more surgeries and hospitalizations for over 33 days, the organization stated. He persevered through occupational therapy, in spite of the odds the surgeons suggested he might face for both football and baseball. Seven months post-surgery, he threw a baseball again and played starting safety during his sophomore year. Though he later injured the ligaments in his elbow, he diligently worked again on his recovery to play his junior year.

“Throughout both of these situations,” they wrote, “Anthony focused on everything the doctors and therapists told him to do.”

“He willed himself back through recovery and to get back on the field,” they also said about Edwards. “He always has a positive attitude. “He is so grateful to be out on the field and help the team in whatever role is necessary.”

Winners are eventually chosen for a grand prize, based on a video they submit answering "why they have the Heart of a Giant."

Finalists will earn $1,000 for their high school and the grand prize winner's high school will be given $4,000 more.

For more about the program, click here.

Every week, six finalists will be picked, plus five who are "wild card finalists," with 11 weekly.
To view all of the finalists and cast a vote, click here.

In addition to Edwards, the other week six nominees are:

• Freddy Castillo, Newark Vocational, Newark
• Darico Castillo, Midland Park High School, Midland Park
• Rory DeSiervo, Elmwood Park Memorial High School, Elmwood Park
• Connor Finan, Rutherford High School, Rutherford
• Sidney Hamburger, Cresskill High School, Cresskill
• Terrence McCollum, Snyder High School, Jersey City
• Brandt Morgan, Jericho High School, Jericho, New York
• Ethan O’Brien, Hand High School, Madison, Connecticut
• Jack Romano, Bernards High School, Bernardsville

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.