The eye black that had been so meticulously applied was now randomly streaked across his face as San Marino High School senior Thomas Ary went about the business of removing his football armor.
Steam emanated from his undershirt and the pungent aroma of…competition… wafted through the night air.
Though nearly 10 o’clock at night, the temperature at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights had yet to dip below 80º as Ary and his teammates prepared for the bus ride home after a hard-fought 42-28 loss to the 2017 CIF finalists.
For the entire 48 minutes, Ary had not left the field of play. The son of Cynthia and Vincent Ary plays on the Titans’ offensive and defensive lines and each of the special teams.
“This year as well as last year I never leave the field so at most home games, I don’t even know that we have Gatorade, or if we do, what flavor it is,” Ary joked.
A quick inventory of his assignments verifies his status as one of only two players who really never leave the field, junior Beau Hobbie the other.
The recent autumn weather has been a welcome relief.
“It’s a lot easier to play the entire game when it’s not as hot,” he said. “I don’t cramp and I don’t leave the field limping as often.”
Ary has been playing football for 11 years, including stints at the Gladiators youth program and as a member of Huntington Middle School’s flag football program.
“I enjoy football because it builds responsibility for the player and helps overcome your fear of contact,” Ary said. “Football also builds so much team spirit. You don’t play for yourself, but for your team.”
That quality is also apparent away from the arena, where Ary is a peer mentor for students who are learning to master the English language.
“I really enjoy helping them out,” he said. “It’s great to see them developing their English skills. I also try to get them to come to our football games.”
Ary is also involved in You g Life, the SMHS musical and will be receiving his Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
He has enjoyed the Titans’ success in 2017, which was temporarily sidetracked by a 42-37 loss to Monrovia in what amounted to the Rio Hondo League title game.
“I think things are going great, but I was very disappointed with the officiating in last week’s game,” Ary said. “I am very proud of how far we have come as a team, in how my teammates have developed and how I have developed, personally.”
He does miss his older brother and teammate Matthew, who is currently a freshman at the University of Arizona.
“Things tend to get quiet around the house when he isn’t here,” Thomas said. Younger sister Mary Jane apparently has big shoes to fill in the noise department. Head Coach Mike Hobbie appreciates Ary’s dedication.
“Thomas has been an iron man for us,” said Hobbie. “I don’t like guys to have to go both ways, but in some cases we have to. It takes a unique guy who can play every play on both sides of the ball, and Thomas is doing a very good job for us.”
Thomas is looking at TCU, Colorado, Chapman and Texas A&M once he graduates in 2018.
A recent development has allowed Thomas to taste the Gatorade, as he was removed from the kickoff team.
