Student goes into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame

Diamond Ranch High School senior Kyle Lengyel is an outstanding football and baseball player, so much so that he was nominated and has won a place in the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hall of Fame. During a banquet held recently in Pasadena, Kyle received the news that his name will be enshrined in South Bend, Indiana.  This honor is bestowed upon players who not only excel on the football field, but also in the classroom.

To qualify for this honor, football players are nominated by their coach and must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. In addition, Lengyel was recognized by two different chapters of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, the Pasadena Chapter and the San Gabriel Chapter.

Lengyel, whose 4.16 GPA has earned him a full-ride scholarship to the Air Force Academy, is one student who definitely deserves every honor he receives. "Kyle is one of the most humble and amazing  student athletes I have ever had the pleasure of working with," said Panthers head coach Roddy Layton.  Coach Layton has mentored Kyle and prepared him for the next level of football, and has been instrumental in Kyle's success and the numerous accolades that he has received throughout the year.

The National Football Foundation (NFF) currently has more than 10,000 members in 119 local chapters nationwide and recognizes the vital role amateur football plays in the development of the nation's youth and in the education process. The NFF seeks to honor those who have excelled both on and off the field and who demonstrate the Foundation's creed of scholarship, citizenship and athletic ability.

"As an Athletic Director, I have been extremely fortunate to watch Kyle Lengyel not only as an athlete but as a leader on the campus of Diamond Ranch.  He is one of the best role models for high school student-athletes," says Candace Cayer, Athletic Director for Diamond Ranch High School. "He is a fine young man who strives for excellence regardless of the obstacles before him.  I have been impressed with his accolades and character throughout the year. The success of DRHS Athletics is in part due to his determination and individual leadership."

During his four years at Diamond Ranch, Kyle and his family became good friends with fellow student-athlete Graham Vickers. Vickers will be attending the Naval Academy with his own full-ride football scholarship. The sense of community between these two families will live on long after these two seniors leave the campus in June. Their parents plan to continue to be involved with the high school's booster club, and the two families promise to get together to watch their sons play when the Air Force/Navy rivalry game rolls around.

Lengyel's other awards include: All Miramonte League 1st Team Defensive Player of the Year; All San Gabriel Valley 1st Team; All Inland Empire 1st Team; and All CIF 1st Team.  Kyle also won the distinguished All Miramonte 5 Award.  In addition he was chosen, for the second year in a row, as one of the National Red Zone players of the year.  Lengyel was honored earlier this month by the Foothill/Citrus Athletic Directors Association as its Scholar Athlete of the Year. 

And, as if all that weren't enough, he has been chosen to represent Diamond Ranch in the 16th Annual Inland Valley High School Baseball All-Star Game on June 8th, 6:30 pm, at Epicenter Stadium in Rancho Cucamonga.