San Gorgonio football program’s Aden “A-Dog” Pawlowicz exemplifies character, perseverance and reliability – San Bernardino Sun

Outside the spartan locker room, Aden “A-Dog” Pawlowicz toils. The red-haired teenager sets up the blocking dummies, places the linemen’s slide and arranges the transitions that the players negotiate.

“A-Dog is what we call him,” San Gorgonio coach Chris Chaddick said. “He’s great. He does everything for us. He loves the game and is a team manager. He comes to practice 35 minutes early, sets up the field and does everything we need.”

A-Dog, 18, suffers from mild forms of epilepsy and autism. Epilepsy is a neurological disease. Autism affects the way you socialize with and perceive others – although it’s barely noticeable in A-Dog.

He also suffers from ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – which affects his behavior and functioning. But A-Dog’s parents, Lauren and Adam, taught him to never give up. So he doesn’t have that. Late last month, he traveled to the Grand Hotel in Long Beach to accept the CIF-Southern Section Champions for Character Award.

“I was shocked,” A-Dog said. “I got the letter and said to my mother, ‘I think I’m in trouble.’ Then we read it and found out I was nominated. I am the second student in the school’s history to receive it. It was beautiful. I met the inspector and a girl who wrestles. It showed me how hard other students work.”

A-Dog is also an Eagle Scout and his main project is planting bougainvillea at the San Bernardino Elks Lodge. No doubt done with his usual zeal.

“THIS IS OUR MAN, THE A-DOG”

A-Dog leads a visitor into the Spartan locker room where the players are doing study hall.

“This is where the magic happens,” A-Dog says, pointing to banners and awards from championship seasons.

“There is the best defensive coordinator a team can have, coach (Andy) Martinez. Coach Chaddick is good at recruiting and getting hungry people.”

A-Dog’s middle name is James, but “Hyperbole” is more appropriate. The young man tends to exaggerate. Coach Ryan Whittemore is “the best JV coach ever,” says A-Dog. Denise Robertson is “the best athletic trainer in the Inland Empire.”

“He’s really important,” Spartan receiver Kaleb Taylor said of A-Dog. “He puts all our equipment on the field and, as a ball boy, brings the ball to the referee. That’s our guy, the A-Dog, man.”

PERSONALITY PLUS

Due to several illnesses, A-Dog cannot play soccer. So he strolls across the field in a Spartan T-shirt and black shorts, chats with players, discusses technique with coaches and teaches the players.

“That’s what they do,” A-Dog says to the weather. “You put your left foot down and boom!”

The A-Dog extends his right foot and sends an imaginary punt worthy of NFL Hall of Famer Ray Guy skyward.

“When I first met him and his mom, I had a rough day,” Spartan assistant coach Jim Mokerski said. “He says, ‘I’m the A-Dog and I’ll help you with anything you need.’ I thought, ‘It’s great not to have to do this all alone.’ Then I met his mom and she said, ‘I’m A-Dog’s mom and please let us know what you need.’ They just are good people.”

The marriage between A-Dog and Spartan Football was not a match made in heaven, but was arranged by teacher Anselmo Garcia. It was Garcia who suggested A-Dog volunteer to be the team manager. The rest is history.

AN “INTANGIBLE”

In the middle of practice, the lights at Phil Haley Stadium come to life and athletic director Matt Maeda walks in. It was Maeda who nominated A-Dog for the Champions of Character Award.

“It is a crucial element,” says Maeda. “It is something intangible. Coaches feel it when he’s not there. Even the night before I found out he won the award, it was 35 degrees outside and I was in my office looking at the field and he was getting things ready. Nobody but him is around. I said to myself, ‘Man, I really hope he wins the award.'”

And he did. Undoubtedly well deserved.