For some kids, it’s a bike. Others, a drum set. But Jax Sharrock’s favorite Christmas present was the football helmet and shoulder pads he unwrapped in kindergarten. Jax spent every moment he wasn’t in school at Celina’s practices with his idols: his father, Josh, an assistant coach, and the varsity players.

He strapped on the pads, buckled the chinstrap and posed for his father. Now that he had the gear, could he stand on the sidelines during the games?

Josh wasn’t sure how it would go over. He’d been around plenty of kids who wouldn’t be cool with an elementary schooler running around them. Josh might not have been himself when he was a star player at Celina. But head coach Bill Elliott has been at Celina since Josh was in high school, and if he was ok with it, the players would be, too.

Now nine years old, Jax Sharrock is Celina’s youngest Bobcat.

“The players embraced it; it’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” Josh said. “They treat him like he’s on the team.”