Taking the Final Step: Trey Sharp’s Story and the Finale of the Hudson Varsity Football Season

By: Kai Kurokawa

Used with permission/K.M. Klemencic

This photo was taken as Trey Sharp went into the end zone to regain the lead, and ultimately win the game against Warren G. Harding with a score of 24 - 21. Sharp had a great game, having four receptions for eighty seven yards and a touchdown, which would prove to be one of the most memorable moments of his high school football career.

One more step. Senior wide receiver Trey Sharp lines up on the line of scrimmage with four minutes to go in the game, Hudson down 17 - 21. A touchdown would give Hudson all the momentum they would need to seal the game. The ball snaps, as the ball floats in the air for what seemed like forever. The ball falls into the hands of Sharp as he takes the ball untouched into the end zone. The crowd erupts in cheer, the band blasts the school fight song —the sound echoing off the stadium bleachers and the town. Touchdown Hudson; they had survived against Warren G. Harding high school in the playoffs and could advance to the semi-finals. For the city of Hudson, it was an exciting moment and a moment of celebration. For Trey Sharp, however, it was something more than that; it was proof that he could overcome his adversities, and more importantly, showcase to the world what one person can be capable of, regardless of where you start.

Trey Sharp is a senior at Hudson High School. He plays both offensive and defensive snaps on the football team, playing wide receiver and cornerback respectively. According to MaxPreps, Sharp recorded a staggering thirty one receptions with over four hundred passing yards and three touchdowns with eleven games played on offense this season, while simultaneously recording two interceptions on defense. Hudson went 9 - 3 throughout the season and made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Suburban - National league, losing to Walsh Jesuit High School 35 - 14. But all of these accomplishments came with lots of challenges. “We lost five starters”, says Sharp. Early on the season, Hudson had an injury riddled series of games, which challenged their depth in positional players and forced players to think optimistically. “In the game, I get into that mode [of leadership], and I turn into a great leader”, Sharp states, “I need to be a leader.” Instead of letting these struggles affect Sharp in a negative manner, they instead made him mentally stronger and more mature; he was forced into a situation where he needed to be a leader on the team. Sharp elaborates, “I used to be a headcase freshman, sophomore, junior year.” These hardships throughout the season helped Sharp find maturity both with sportsmanship and his overall character. But this wasn’t the only challenge Sharp faced in high school. On November 17th in 2020, Rose M. Sharp —mother of Trey Sharp— tragically passed away at the age of 58.

“My mom was my best friend in life, someone I could tell anything to. She would always be at my football games and never miss a game. She was the light of my life. I will remember that for the rest of my life”, states Sharp, who was going through an extremely hard time at this time of his life with both the coronavirus in full effect and now the loss of his mother. “She was always telling me, ‘I can do this’”, replies Sharp, “even when I thought I couldn’t.” She even influenced Sharp to start a musical career, where he has released one mixtape so far on Soundcloud, titled “100 ON MY NECK” —garnering just under nine hundred listens. “I’ve always liked music. As a family, we would always do ‘acting stuff’ in the living room; put on special clothes, and be with the family”, recalls Sharp. “It was something almost too special.”

For Sharp, he was able to handle these hardships by leaning on his friends he had made in football. “Football was like a getaway for me. I started training really hard. I was getting better grades in school; when I was occupied, I could stop thinking about the bad times, I would think about the good times”, Sharp describes. One of the closest friends that he had made in high school was Hudson High School graduate of 2023, Gio DePompei. “They were my best friends. Gio was there for me when my mom passed away; He understands, he’s a great guy.” Sharp was able to get the help and support system he needed by utilizing the genuine connections he had created from football.

Although it has been more than three years since the passing of Sharp’s mother, he says he has learned a remarkable lesson from all of the struggles he has faced and has found something even more important from it. When asked how he was able to overcome most of his challenges, while he mentioned his friends, he also mentions, “Finding God. Sticking with the plan He has for me. You just have to believe, you know?”

With all of the hardships Sharp has faced throughout his life, he wanted to share something to the readers of this article that could hopefully inspire someone out there in a similar situation to where he was, and help them overcome their problems and struggles. “Nothing’s too far away. It’s always a step away. Even if you don’t think it’s a step away, once you start leading in the right direction, you’re gonna want to keep going in that step everyday.” says Sharp. “Day in and day out. You gain more with every little step you take. Once you add all those little steps up, it becomes one big step, and you’re right there.” So what’s stopping you from taking that step? Believe in yourself, believe in what you stand for, and go for it. Take that step.