Avon Track & Football Star, Isaac Guerendo, is Chasing Down His Dreams

Writer  /  Melissa Gibson
Photographer  /  Jennifer Guerendo

Jennifer Guerendo recalls even as a toddler, it was clear, her son Isaac had special talent.

“I noticed right away with basketball and football. He’s never not had the ability and now, he’s just doing phenomenal things,” she says.

Those phenomenal feats include what Avon track coach, Zach Toothman says makes Guerendo one of Avon’s “all-time greats.”

“Isaac has currently won four school records from last year’s performances – the long jump (State Champion, 24’5 ½”), the 100 meters, 200 meters and is a part of our school record for the 4x100m relay, which owns the fifth fastest time in Indiana history,” Toothman says.

Isaac is a once in a generation type of athlete. Most people know him as an incredible football player, which he is, but his track and field accolades are even better.”

Guerendo attended Avon through middle school and as a freshman at Cascade, he was involved in football and track at the varsity level, slowly building his confidence.

Soon, the decision was made to move back to Avon as a junior, and it was then, he started catching the attention of fans, coaches and recruiters.

Over the past year, the Avon High School football and track star has been causing a stir with his record-breaking stats.

“Over my 23-year coaching career at Avon, I’ve had many athletically gifted jumpers, but none compare to the ability of Isaac,” says Avon’s long-jump coach, Rick Finchum. “His scoring results at the 2017 Indiana State Track Meet Finals were the best of any athlete, culminating with winning the long jump and only being 2.5 inches off the state meet record. He had all of these accomplishments and was only a junior.”

Not only is he breaking records in track, its football that has the colleges knocking on his door.

In fact, Guerendo boasts an average 31.4 yards per catch, 1,258 for the 2017 season and 19 touchdowns.

He was named Indiana Mr. Football Wide Receiver and was included in All State Top 50, All Conference, All County and Indy Super Team.

The 17-year-old senior signed a full-ride scholarship for football with Big Ten Champions, University of Wisconsin on Dec. 20 amid multiple offers and also plans to join the track team.

Jennifer says they spent time visiting many schools and the entire family fell in love with the Wisconsin campus.

“It’s a beautiful campus,” she says. “I just loved the quality and character of their athletes. They have a 98 percent graduation rate, and I just feel really comfortable with him being there. The Wisconsin games are full of energy and they have great fans. He already has a lot of them following him. It’s just an all around good school.”

For now, Guerendo is focusing on finishing his senior year and continuing to improve upon an already impressive record.

“I’m really trying to beat Indiana’s State record on long jump, which is 25’ 1”, he says. “That is the farthest jump by a high schooler in Indiana.”

One thing is for sure, the sky is the limit for the senior as many watch for what he does next.

“It feels nice to be honored and noticed for your accomplishments,” Guerendo says. “My next step is to play football in college, graduate and if playing pro is an option, then I’d like to do so, but if not, I will pursue whatever career I decide.”

Perhaps more importantly, friends and family say it’s his personality that makes him shine.

“We are most proud of how caring he is toward others,” Jennifer says. “He has a lot of special gifts and talents, yet he’s so humble. He’s always been a super loyal friend with good morals. He’s mature for his age and thoughtful.”

That maturity and determination seem to be what Guerendo has used to become Avon’s football and track star.

“My thing would be to stick with it,” Guerendo says. “Some younger athletes think they don’t like something and quit, but if you stick with it, then it all works out in the end.”

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