Vinny Villanova sat in a chair inside a jubilant locker room and held an inflatable blue dolphin that, for most of this Friday night in late October, got tossed around in a student section buzzing with energy.

Navarre Raider players, smiling and overwhelmed with joy, took turns hoisting the trophy that comes with winning the Beach Bowl and then gathered to sing the fight song, erupting in cheers afterwards.

For 15 years Sadie Struck was a gymnast, twisting and turning in a gym rather than splashing into a pool.

The wear and tear of the sport drove the Navarre Raider in a different direction.

It’s November of 2022 and Navarre Raider Mason Baker has just had surgery to repair a massive tear in the meniscus of his left leg.

Football has been taken from him because of the injury, and as much physical pain as there is from the injury, the toll it’s all taken on him mentally is just as, if not more brutal.