Watching his mother beat breast cancer turned this football player’s life around

Thomas Chapman learned from his mother that no matter the challenge, fight it with all your might.

You just may win, like she did against breast cancer six years ago.

“My mother is one of my biggest role models,” the Colleyville Heritage senior defensive tackle/defensive end said. “She’s the most courageous person I’ve ever met.

“Cancer threw a challenge in her face and she beat it double.”

Chapman said his mom’s victory, obviously a life-changing moment for her, did the same for him.

“I didn’t always make the right decisions as a kid,” he said. “But I saw, through her, the difference fighting and refusing to quit can make. I saw life could have that kind of effect on people.”

Chapman certainly makes the right decisions on the field. In the Panthers’ 11-2 season that saw them advance to the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs, he had 39 tackles and led the team in sacks (5) and tackles for a loss (15). He surpassed his junior total of two sacks and six tackles for a loss.

“His leadership and toughness has a lot to do with that success, and his mother’s story, struggle, and victory is evident in his play every time he buckled them up for us,” Heritage head coach Joe Willis said.

Chapman said his mom’s battle with cancer isn’t the only time the disease has touched his life. His grandmother, a smoker, passed away from cancer when he was 10 years old. He also saw a classmate deal with it.

“We were very close,” Chapman said of his relationship with grandmother. “Also, a kid in my grade I’ve known since sixth grade, his sophomore year they found a brain tumor. He made a full recovery.”

Chapman takes great pride in being a captain on this season’s Panthers squad. He was voted the honor by his teammates.

“It’s a real honor. I got to see two good rounds of leaders before me and they had a great influence on me,” he said. “It’s a really big deal to me that our guys nominated Ke’von (Ahmad), Deuce (Nisbet), Dylan (Francis) and me.

“I had a defensive lineman named Trevor West and he took me under his wing. I realize how much these younger players are looking up to us and paying attention to all that we do.”

Just as Chapman has looked up to his family.

Chapman’s father served in the Air Force, as did his grandfather. His great grandfather was a prisoner of war who made it out alive and was a awarded a purple heart.

Their discipline has also played a role in his success. In fact, he plans on entering the military himself. He’s applying to the Naval Academy and West Point.

“I want to be a helicopter pilot. Serving my country is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.

“I’m also excited his commitment to serve our country when he graduates,” Willis said. “I believe it’s fitting that he’s taking on that challenge.”

And yes, he wants to play football, wherever he goes to college. He was named the MVP among tight ends at an Army football camp.

“I played tight end some last year, but all I did was block,” said Chapman, who is 6-2, 230 pounds. “Most of the colleges are looking at me for offense.

“But playing in college, that’s the dream, man. I know it would make my mom proud, and she showed me with the right attitude and spirit you can do anything.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Watching his mother beat breast cancer turned this football player’s life around."