Cardinal Gibbons Senior Quarterback Blake Thompson just returned from the Holy Land,where he walked where Jesus walked
jdiblasi@digitalsports.com
(See Video Interview here)
Cardinal Gibbons
senior Blake Thompson just returned from a four week tour of Israel, a spiritually rewarding experience which he believes will help him grow as a person and as an athlete.
The opportunity came with Thompson's selection into the Elijah Cummings Youth Program, sponsored by the Baltimore Congressman.
Earlier in the year, Thompson was interviewed by the congressman and other
ECYP board members and was chosen along with 11 other students to
tour Israel, where he interacted with students from Ethiopia, Brazil,
Russia, Katzenstan, the Ukrane and China.
"I feel like I've grown as a person," said the Thompson, who carries a
3.5 grade point average at Gibbons, and stars on both the football and baseball teams for the Crusaders. "To be on the same ground, and
pray where Jesus prayed was a special moment."
Blake said he was surprised to learn that the students form the other
countries could speak at least four languages.
"We played some
football, soccer, basketball and went bowling," he said. "But just interacting
with people from other countries was a tremendous learning experience."
All of us had to make a presentation about our cultures, so I talked
about football," said Thompson, who will soon enter football training camp under new (and former) Gibbons Head Coach, Scott Ripley, who returns the program he once led to a MIAA B Conference title. Last
season, Thompson passed for 1,847 yards for the Crusader, rushed for 467 more and tossed 19 touchdown passes.
"Blake has all the tools," said Ripley. "He's a natural
athlete and a great leader."