Signing Day spotlight:  Meet El Segundo football player Elijah Hale

Meet Elijah Hale, El Segundo High athlete,and football commit to Ave Maria University. Although he was born and raised in
El Segundo, if you asked people about Elijah Hale, no one would know who he is-
that is because everyone knows him as “Midgee.”
As an infant his parents thought he looked like a little guy, so they
fondly called him Midgee. When he entered kindergarten and people asked him his
real name, he said “Midgee,” so, meet Midgee Hale, football player and football
commit to Ave Maria University.

Midgee, who plays cornerback, has been
playing football for 11 years, having grown up with El Segundo youth
football.  At ESHS he has been a three-year
starter on Varsity; a two-time All-League selection (All Pioneer League-junior
year, All Ocean-Senior year); All-CIF; team captain and he played in the Lions
All-Star Game.

Hale’s best memory of high
school football was “beating Oak Park in the semifinals to advance to the CIF
championship for the first time in El Segundo high school history.”  Head football Coach Steve Shevlin tells me of
Hale “Midgee is all fire and intensity and has a willingness to never back
down, this was infectious for the entire team. He played with a chip on his
shoulder that earned everyone’s respect from the coaches, his teammates, and
opponents. Midgee would do whatever it takes to help his team win.” 

Hale’s path to signing as a college football commit is a particularly
touching one. He was born with a hole in his heart, and it has been a concern
with playing sports his entire life, requiring yearly monitoring by the doctor
he has seen since he was an infant.  But
between the amazing care of the doctors at Children’s Hospital, and Hale’s
sheer determination, he was cleared to play college football (a little bird
told me he has an amazing mom supporting him all the way).  Hale tells me of this opportunity that “I’ve
thought of this day since I was a little kid.
I’m proud that my determination, hard work, and ability to discount the
naysayers allowed me to get to this point. I’m also proud of my team who has
done remarkable things these past two years who have helped me get where I am
today.”  Hale would like to thank his
coaches, those from when he was a little guy playing, youth Coach Mike Wagner
and Coach Johnny Brasher, and his ESHS Coaches, Shevlin and
Dan Heck (Defensive Coordinator).

Hale will be playing next year for the Ave Maria
Gyrenes,  who play in the NAIA Sun
Conference.  It is a 1,300 student, private,
Catholic university, with a liberal arts college curriculum.  Hale tells me that he “chose this school
because it offered me the best opportunity to play competitive football with
good academics. “ He plans to study global affairs and international
business, and want to go to law school after college and become a lawyer.  

So, I want to say congratulations to El Segundo Eagle,
Midgee Hale; we look forward to watching you soar!

 —Cece Jane