ROCKPORT — A student-athlete award for football players at Camden Hills Regional High School that began in 2019 now has some hardware to support the meaning behind it.

A quietly arranged gathering took place May 31 on the school grounds to recognize four now-former football players that have received the honor of receiving the annual Stalcup Award.

Previously, a symbol of the award that was initiated by former head coach Jeremy Marks did not exist until this offseason when head coach Chris Christie and athletic director Jeff Hart assured its place among the many trophies and plaques that adorn the Camden Hills athletic halls.

The award itself is in the name of the late Archie Stalcup, who coached the Windjammers during the 2016 season, his lone season at the program’s helm, as the program rebounded from its 2015 hardship of canceling most its slate of scheduled games amid injuries and a shortage of experienced players.

Prior to his time at the Rockport-based high school, Stalcup was best known for a 50-plus year coaching career in football and wrestling primarily in his native New Jersey.

Stalcup’s widow Nancy states ironically, “Looking back through the years I realized that his first coaching job was at Cherry Hill High School in NJ and his last at Camden Hills High School. Both are CHHS!!”

Nancy Stalcup was unable to be present on the day of the ceremony but wanted her late husband’s career and his longtime gift to those he coached to be remembered in the following manner: “Of all the things I could say about Coach and football it would probably come down to exactly what you have inscribed on your award (Respect, Commitment, Team, Hard Work). Those were the words he instilled in his players. The game of football is like the game of life. Learn to respect one another, work as a team to reach your goal and one more that I would add. Not only work as a team but be self motivated.”

Camden Hills will begin its official preparations for 2022 season beginning July 5 when summer conditioning camp commences. The team welcomes current and incoming students of the school to attend camp whether they have experience or want to learn more about the program and the sport of football.