PASCO, Wash. -- This week's academic all-star is disciplined. Chiawana senior C.J. Edrington stands out at very the top of his class. He says athletics and his family's military background help him exceed.
"Great opportunity here and we wrestle really hard. We put our core mottos with our teamwork, integrity and excellence. We put that first and then everything else falls into place," Edrington said.
The family patriotic background stems from his grandfather, who spent 37 years in the Air Force. He grew up in a family with great respect for the military.
"My grandpa was buried just this past year in Arlington National Cemetery. So that was really special to be able to see that," Edrington said.
Edrington wants to take his 4.0 GPA and leadership as National Honor Society class president to West Point or Navy. He says he likes their engineering programs.
Chiawana wrestling coach Jack Anderson gave praise to Edrington's work ethic. "He does everything. So this is a kid who's probably one of the most special kids I've coached in his ability to balance academics with athletics," Anderson said.
Last weekend Edrington interviewed with Rep. Doc Hastings's committee as a way to help get into the military.
"That went really well. And I've already been. And that's the next step and hopefully I can get the nomination from him and then the academy itself has to accept me," Edrington said.
