Crenshaw senior defensive back Jonah Edmond rises up to a challenge, whether it is solving math equations or solving the offensive schemes of opponents. With a GPA of 3.5, he had the highest GPA on the football team.
During the 2018 football season, Edmond was awarded by the Great American Rivalry Series for his academic prowess. The organization presented him with the award minutes before the Cougars battled the Dorsey Dons.
“My dad called me the day of the game and was like ‘they’re presenting you with something,’” Edmond said. “I forgot all about it on the bus ride because I was so focused on just trying to beat Dorsey… It was cool.”
Math is Edmond’s area of expertise, he was able to take Algebra I in the seventh grade, which ultimately allowed him to take AP Calculus by the 11th grade.
“I’m pretty good with numbers, you got to learn how to count your money some way,” he said. “I’m going to college to major in mechanical engineering, so you need math for sure.”
As a senior, Edmond is taking college courses through the Upward Bound Program. College courses he has took include sign language and astronomy.
“When [the teacher] was taking role, she would spell your last or first name out and you would have to sign back to say you’re here,” Edmond said. “Whatever we would say, we would just have to sign, the class would be very quiet.”
Edmond is looking at San Jose State, San Diego State or UC Irvine to attend after he graduates. He noted how he is not concerned about getting an athletic scholarship.
Along with football and math, Edmond enjoys to dance. He is a praise dancer at Full Gospel Baptist Church.
“We have a celebration every year and we invite different churches that have different dance groups and we just celebrate the year of dancing,” Edmond said. “We do it every year.”
Edmond has been on the Crenshaw Varsity football team for two and a half years, helping them reach the division IV state championship in 2017. He considered that season a “good learning experience.”
“It was a lot of talent on the team, I had to guard a lot of them,” Edmond said. “It was a special team, It was a nice run.”
In his formative years, Edmond’s father encouraged him to get into sports. Edmond played Pop Warner football. At a young age, he knew that he wanted to attend Crenshaw. The highlights of his football career were the state championship game and his first varsity game.
“I got moved up my 10th grade year and had to start, I had to start at safety,” Edmond said. “I made some mistakes of course … but I did pretty good, solid overall.”
