RUMFORD – Many adjectives and identifying words get attached to Caleb Gauvin’s name, but “bored” and “lazy” aren’t among them.
Forget smashing through stereotypes. The Mountain Valley senior football player sometimes shatters the apparent limitations of the 24-hour day.
It isn’t enough that Gauvin is captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams. President of the National Honor Society. Member of the student council. Volunteer coach with Area Youth Sports. Central figure in myriad charitable causes through school and church.
In case you wondered if Gauvin has time to squeeze in a few hours bagging groceries or making sandwiches, the answer is no.
He merely owns a business.
“I make car decals,” Gauvin said. “I started it sophomore year. My dad (Scott) wanted to do it for AYF, so I took it over. I’ve put some money in the college fund. It’s good savings. It’s pretty fun.”
If entrepreneurship takes a break for a few weeks, it’s because Gauvin wants to affix a different sort of label to his hometown. He wants it to be known as a football powerhouse again.
Gauvin was a freshman on a team that won nine games and lost in the Class B West final to eventual state champion Wells in 2011. It was Mountain Valley’s 17th appearance in the regional title game in 23 years.
The Falcons are 5-14 since, coming off the first back-to-back losing seasons in school history. He’s a senior on a team still dominated by sophomores and freshmen, but Gauvin can see glimmers of the greatness.
Led by Kyle Farrar’s 253 yards – most of it behind blocks by Gauvin at tight end – Mountain Valley evened its record with a convincing 38-6 victory over Lake Region a week ago.
Tougher tests lie ahead for the Falcons (1-1), perhaps none more challenging than Friday’s home game at Chet Bulger Field against one of the preseason favorites in Class C West, Spruce Mountain (2-0).
“It started out slow against Wells. We didn’t really know what we were getting into. We had a couple of guys who couldn’t play that were a key factor,” Gauvin said. “We need to get back to the postseason. We’ve got to get back to the playoffs and win some games.”
New head coach Steve LaPointe is no stranger to the good times (four Class B state titles) and tough times (1-7 in 2013) from his many seasons as a Falcons assistant.
LaPointe also inherited the job from Jim Aylward with no shortage of energy. Either way, though, Gauvin’s contagious enthusiasm would have provided it.
“He’s just a model citizen. He’s a great leader on this football team. Anytime I need to communicate with anybody, it’s Caleb,” LaPointe said. “He’s the kind of guy you see him and he just makes your day, because you always have a great experience being around him. He lifts people up. There’s not a negative bone in his body.”
That is significant, because Gauvin hasn’t enjoyed the golden spoils that seemingly became the birthright of Mountain Valley football seniors past.
Gauvin cracked the starting offense as a sophomore, making the transition from fullback to tight end. He became a defensive anchor at defensive end a year ago.
“We run his way most of the time. There are no secrets there,” LaPointe said. “And defensively it’s tough to run to his side.”
Even tougher this season, in light of Gauvin’s off-season commitment to weightlifting.
Yes, he squeezes that into his day, too, although Gauvin brushes away any compliments in that department.
“Honestly I wish I would have started earlier. It wasn’t until after last football season that I really started lifting hard,” Gauvin said. “It’s really going to help me in basketball this year. I really wish I had started freshman year and worked all the way through. That’s one thing I regret. I didn’t really like it. I thought it was boring.”
Gauvin preferred more stimulating matters, such as studying economics by picking a neighbor’s brain.
“He worked on Wall Street for 23 years, so he has a lot of connections,” Gauvin said.
Then he laughed. “No, I don’t have any free time.”
LaPointe noted that Gauvin came up only five pounds shy of his goal in the bench press after learning to like the drudgery of pumping iron.
Fellow captains Ian Austin and Dalton Milledge combine with Gauvin to give LaPointe splendid leadership in his rookie year at the helm.
“They’re just good young men with great leadership qualities,” LaPointe said. “Caleb is always asking me questions. He’ll even make a suggestion now and then, and if he makes a suggestion, I usually listen.”
Gauvin’s busy summer itinerary included a leadership conference at Duke University.
His plans for next year involve staying a little closer to home.
“I want to go to Boston, not sure where, and study economics,” Gauvin said.
And if you’re driving to work on Route 2 or 108 with one of Gauvin’s stickers in your window, only time will tell what excellence you’ve supported.
“He comes from a great family. He does everything the right way, and he does it with class,” LaPointe said. “He’s a pleasure. If things don’t go his way, he’ll never make an excuse. He’s accountable ’til the end. He’s going to be very successful in life.”
koakes@sunjournal.com
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- Caleb Gauvin is a two-way starter and one of the few seniors who have stuck it out through the toughest stretch in Mountain Valley’s proud football history. Said coach Steve LaPointe, “He is just a model citizen and athlete. His leadership is unquestioned.”
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