ENGLISHTOWN, NJ- “If we desire to blossom like a rose in the garden, we must learn the art of adjusting with the thorns. Difficulties will make you shine.”

As the adage implies, life is about navigating its “thorny' aspects and challenges as part and parcel of what it takes to reap its bountiful rewards. Nothing has made those challenges more apparent to high school athletes than the abeyance of their chance to play sports this fall. The postponement of the fall season until March may become a de facto cancellation given the uncertainty that surrounds the COVID-19 pandemic. This added to last spring's school closures and the resulting elimination of the spring sports makes this even more dramatic, especially for the current senior class.

For football players like Tri-Valley's Keegan Streimer, the two-time Sullivan County Democrat Football Player of the Year, NYPHSAA's decision rendered in the interest of safety and caution meant that his last opportunity to guide his Bears back to their third consecutive Section 9 Eight- Man Football title game and to reclaim the trophy lost to Ellenville last season, became something that might never happen.

For Streimer, football is more than something he does. It quite literally defines him. After Cornwall's Aidan Semo made the leap to play for Rabun Gap in Georgia, Streimer's dad Charlie contacted long-time friend Jason Semo to source out possible alternatives for his son.

Semo recommended looking into Paramus Catholic as New Jersey was going ahead with its high school football season. Minisink Valley Quarterback Kai Colon moved there and is tearing it up as the starting QB. But that wouldn't work for the Streimers because there was no opportunities for a residential change for Keegan.

His dad's call to his cousin who lives in the Manalapan School district in Central New Jersey opened up a new avenue. Inquiries made to the Braves' Head Coach Dominick Lepore elicited a strong interest in Keegan. Transferring to Manalapan would require the signing of waivers and other paperwork and establishing a residence within the district.

Keegan could move in with his cousin to accomplish that but he labored over the decision for three weeks. It would be hard to leave his school, friends and team but the chance to play and continue to be on the active radar search of college teams made the choice seem impossible to resist, especially given the possibility that he might not get to play at all in his senior year at T-V.

Manalapan has gone to 100 percent remote learning but its sports programs are intact and ongoing. Once making the transfer and joining the team which carries nearly 100 players, he, like the others had to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine before practices began on September 11.

Practices every day from 2:30-6 p.m. manifested a very different experience from what he was used to, but he adjusted immediately to the legion of coaches heading up the various aspects of play, as well as to the structure and regimen of the practices themselves.

Initially, he found the other players to be a bit stand-offish, an attitude that changed dramatically after the first scrimmage against Jackson Memorial. Streimer was playing strong side outside linebacker and was instrumental in shutting down Division I Wake Forest bound Will Towns. He recorded a strip sack, made a bevy of key tackles and was impressive with his quick reflexes and hard-hitting stops.

“I've learned to deploy leverage to use players' weight against them,” says Streimer. He had already been working with Lamar McNight in North Jersey prior to his transfer. McNight, was a college standout and has served as the quarterback and defensive coach at Union City High School. He runs the Lamar McNight Quarterback Academy that Streimer has participated in.

Near the end of the scrimmage and just before he was to take some reps at quarterback, Streimer rolled his ankle and had to come out. Consequently he missed the first game against Freehold Borough, a game the Braves lost 14-12 as the opposing quarterback ran wild from an empty backfield, right at the side Streimer would have occupied. He hopes to play this weekend at an away game at Howell High School.

Meanwhile college coaches are showing even greater interest, particularly Ithaca whose coach has been Facetiming Keegan weekly. Also in the hunt are Wilkes University and Saint John Fisher.

Asked if he is still vying for the quarterback position as the Braves have two others besides him, he avers. “I'm an athlete. I just want to play and help my team anyway I can.”

That said, the coaches have designed an empty backfield Wildcat array for him and called it the Bears formation perhaps in deference to Streimer's beloved former team. Streimer exudes character, toughness and determination.

Tri-Valley Coach Greg Botsford is very supportive of the move even though his absence this spring will bring the Bears closer to the pack.

“He loves football. He's dedicated and talented. I'm happy for him.”

Streimer went from a big fish in a small pond, to a smaller fish in a big pond. But given his drive, skills and desire to play at the next level, his initially perceived “minnow” status is quickly morphing into the respect and deference rendered to a shark.