Brick Football Player Nominated For Heart Of A Giant Award

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township football player is among the nominees for the third week of voting for the 2018 USA Football Heart of a Giant Award.

John Beveridge, who plays right guard for the Brick Township Green Dragons, survived a benign cardiac tumor and open-heart surgery a year ago and has returned to the football field.

On Oct. 31, 2017, Beveridge lost consciousness at football practice. He was rushed to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where the doctors discovered he had papillary fibroelastoma on one of his heart valves. Beveridge underwent open heart surgery the next day and was not allowed to participate in any physical activity for eight weeks.

"After eight weeks of recovering, I was finally able to return to the gym to start training for the 2018 football season," Beveridge said in comments on the Heart of a Giant entry. "Knowing that I was going to eventually be able to return to playing football with my team helped me overcome the adversity during this frightening time of my life."

"If not for some luck and the amazing work by his doctors, John might not be here today," said Brick Coach Len Zdanowicz, who nominated Beveridge. "John and his family owe everything to the doctors at CHOP for their amazing work in saving John's beating Heart of a Giant." (You can vote for Beveridge here.)

Beveridge, who is a cadet with NJ 822 Air Force Junior ROTC, said he pushes himself hard to always improve the way he plays football, but he also puts in extra effort on his studies, staying after school weekly to make sure he understands everything in the classroom. He said he values the community service opportunities he's had both with the football team and with the local Veterans of Foreigm Wars post through his participation in JROTC.

The 2018 USA Football Heart of a Giant Award is presented by Hospital for Special Surgery and NY Giants, and each week 10 high school football players from the tri-state area are chosen; they have been nominated by their coaches for their commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication.

Voting for these nominees will be open for 25 days with final vote tally determining who will be named the group’s finalist. One grand prize winner will be selected based on video submissions stating why they have the Heart of a Giant and will be honored on the field during a New York Giants’ home game. All six finalists will receive $1,500 for their high school’s football program, with the winner’s school getting an additional $3,500.

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Photo provided by the Heart of a Giant program