Gavin Provost is awarded Spirit of St. Paul Award for courage and commitment
Gavin Provost, center, is pictured with Patrick McCaskey,
co-owner of the Chicago Bears, left, and Dick Dornbos, who serves on Sports Faith International’s (SFI) advisory board. Provost received the Spirit of Saint Paul Award at Halas Hall on Feb. 21, and was inducted into the SFI High School Hall of Fame. (Photo by Karen Clifford)
By Karen Clifford (Today’s Catholic)
GRANGER—It’s not every day that a teenager from Granger, Ind., receives a phone call from Chicago Bears
co-owner Patrick McCaskey.
But for Gavin Provost, a senior at St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend and member of St. Pius X Parish in Granger, it is a call that will live in his memory forever.
McCaskey called Gavin to congratulate him on his selection as this year’s recipient of Sports Faith International’s Spirit of St. Paul Award. The award, given to a high school student, is based upon the 12 virtues of St. Paul and the attributes of courage and commitment.
According to its mission statement, Sports Faith International is “a media initiative working through the world of sports to positively change our culture.”
In addition, the organization “spotlights and encourages values, positive role models, and life-learning consistent with Judeo-Christian values and the teachings of the Christian/Catholic faith.”
St. Pius X parishioner Dick Dornbos says that Sports Faith International is a collaborative effort, which includes Chicago Bears co-owner Patrick McCaskey, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George, the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Athletes for Christ, Serra International USA Council Region 7, Relevant Radio, 5th Media and Sirango.
Thirteen Sports Faith International awards were presented on Feb. 21 in a ceremony at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill. Three professional athletes were inducted in the Sports Faith Hall of Fame as well as 10 High School Hall of Fame winners. Gavin was one of the 10 High School Hall of Fame winners.
Dornbos, a member of Sports Faith International’s advisory board, notes that the criterion for the High School Hall of Fame is excellence in athletics, academics, community service and Catholic faith. In addition, each nominee submitted a personal story of challenges encountered in athletics and their everyday lives.
“This is an opportunity for Catholic high school student-athletes to be recognized for achievements on and off the field or court, including community service,” Dornbos says, “and Gavin is an inspiration to all of us to always do our best.”
Gavin was born with spina bifida, which causes paralysis of the legs and other neurological challenges. He has had 11 surgeries and years of speech, occupational and physical therapy.
Despite his disability, Gavin does not consider himself different from any of his peers. He says, “If there is something that I want to do, I just do it.”
From an early age, swimming proved to an enjoyable activity.
“Ever since I was a young boy, I always loved the water, even swimming from one end of the bathtub to the other,” he recalls. “When I was 9 years old, my mom asked me if I wanted to join a local swim team, and I eagerly accepted the invitation.”
By the end of his first year with a local swim team, Gavin received the Most Inspirational Swimmer Award at the team banquet. He later joined another local swim team for about four years before becoming a part of the St. Joseph’s High School swim team.
For Gavin, the transition to a team that had 14- to 18-year-old able-bodied swimmers and intense swimming practices was daunting.
“I came very close to quitting my junior year because I was getting frustrated with myself,” he remembers.
With his parents’ and coach’s encouragement, Gavin decided not to worry about winning meets, and to focus on improving his personal best.
“So I started racing against myself,” Gavin says. “I am still not winning races, but my times have decreased and my technique has improved.”
Another team experience for Gavin at St. Joseph’s was being the manager of the football team. Football coach Kevin Downey invited Gavin to a parallel bar dip competition with the football team.
“It was then I realized my aptitude for dips, and I won the competition! I now hold the St. Joe all-time record for dips at 60, breaking my old record of 57,” he says.
Coach Downey credits Gavin’s attitude for his achievements.
“Gavin is not defined by his difficulties—he is defined by his successful attempts to encourage others around him by action as well as encouraging words. He is a leader of our school because of his relentless pursuit of excellence in celebrating life.”
Besides his passion for sports, Gavin credits his love of the Catholic faith as a major influence in his life. At the St. Pius X Easter Vigil in 2006, Gavin was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic faith.
St. Pius X pastor Father Bill Schooler recalls this important moment in Gavin’s faith journey.
“He was carried into the font, and then he used his swimming skills to navigate his way out once he passed through the waters of baptism.”
Gavin concludes that through athletics and faith, he does not worry about future challenges.
“My faith helps me persevere against any obstacles I may encounter due to my disability,” he says, “and athletics help me to be strong physically to meet and beat any of those obstacles I may encounter.”†
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