As his teammates can count on him to make big plays, his classmates count on him for assistance in math. Inglewood High School Junior Orion Peters helped the Sentinels football team to a 10-1 overall record and a 5-0 record in the Pioneer League. Peters recently committed to Washington State University.
Peters played wide receiver and corner back during the 2019 season, contributing with 50 catches, 1479 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns. On defense, he made 36 total tackles including 22 solo hits.
In each of the 13 games that Peters played, he made plays that resulted in large advances, ending the season with 29.6 yards per catch. His biggest gain happened during the playoffs when he completed a 95-yard passing play.
“At the beginning of that game, I had a hip injury, but I played through it,” Peters said. “What was going through my head was that I just got to beat the defender. Once I defeat him, I know I can stick the ball and I know I’ll get it in the endzone.”
There were only three games where Peters did not score a touchdown, one of them being when the Sentinels battled the North Torrance Saxons. This was the most challenging game for Peters; to persevere, he focused on making a big play.
“I started off kind of shaky … I had to make a play,” he said. “So, once I was able to make that screen and take it for a big amount of yardage, I was back.”
For Peters, the obligations of being a student athlete can be a struggle and a blessing.
“It gives me time to focus,” Peters said. “Football is what brings peace, football is what calms me down and that’s another reason why I can do it.”
Peters takes all honors classes with his favorite subject being math. He understands the subject so much that he is a resource to his classmates.
“A lot of people would come to me for me to help them and I’ll help them,” he said. “I think it’s pretty good to know that I’m one of the people that are good at math.”
Serene by nature, Peters observes the people around him so he can stay away from the wrong crowd. The upside of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic is students must take more initiative in learning, but the downside is not being able to see teachers in person, according to Peters.
To stay in shape, Peters does different workouts that include abdominal work and pushups.
“I don’t have the heaviest dumbbells, but what I do with the dumbbells is I up the reps, the amount of reps I do instead of lifting heavy,” he said.
When he goes to college, Peters desires to major in computer science. Growing up, Peters played baseball, basketball and track and field. He played flag football prior to competing in tackle football.
“Football wasn’t the best at first,” Peters said. “But I think it became more likeable for me and it became a love for me to keep playing.”
