For the first time in Culver City High School‘s illustrious athletic history the school is sending a student athlete to the United States Military Academy West Point. Seth Shigg is on his way to the nation’s oldest Military Academy this summer to become an Army Officer and football player that will also run track. The Army is a special place and Shigg is a special talent on and off the field.
“I kind of realized I wanted to go to West Point at the same time I transferred to Culver City last summer,” said Shigg in a telephone interview last Tuesday. “I started to get more offers from other schools to play football and run track but the coaches at West Ponit continued to show interest in me. They recruited me in the middle of my junior year, and they kept talking to me and we were able to build a relationship. Throughout my senior year at Culver City the West Point coaches continued to show that they were still interested in me as a student and football player and they are also giving me an opportunity to run track.”
Most gifted athletes knew at an early age that they had talent and Shigg is no exception. He says that he knew he had athletic talent when he was five and six years old. At the age of eight he played Pop Warner football for the Inglewood Jets and ran track for the L.A. Jets. “That’s when I told my dad that I wanted to lock in on both sports and make a name for myself,” said Shigg.
Shigg gives a lot of credit to his parents, father Seth Shigg Sr. and mother, Maisha Blow for making him the person he is today. He said his parents gave him a very balanced childhood. “Although they were not together as I got older, they did a very good job of parenting. My mom is really into academics because she is a teacher. She made sure I was doing what I needed to do inside the classroom and my dad was always my energy in terms of making sure I was able to show people what I could do on the football field and on the track.”
What he could do in football and track was remarkable. “Seth had an awesome senior year,” said his Culver City football and track coach Jahmal Wright. “To have a quarterback run for over 1,100 yards and throw for almost 3,000 yards and score 50 touchdowns running and passing is amazing. He provided an element to our offense that we have never had before. It was such a pleasure to have him be a part of our program. To have a quarterback graduate and go to West Point is such an honor and we are excited for Seth’s collegiate future.”
Although he was a great high school football player who was an All-CIF quarterback, he was just as spectacular on the track even though injuries prevented him from reaching his full track potential this past season. He helped Culver City‘s 4X400 meter relay team run some of the fastest times in the nation when he was healthy. “He was our missing piece,” said Wright. “Whenever you have an athlete that can run 47 in the 400 meters, 21.5 in the 200 meters and 10.7 in the 100 meters that’s extremely special. He did a great job for us. He really left his mark at Culver City.”
Co-head track and field coach LaShinda Demus was also very instrumental in his success on the track, but coach Wright and Shigg developed a special relationship through football and track. “I just want to thank coach Wright for providing me the opportunity and trusting me and sticking with me in both sports. I credit a lot of my success to him because we spent a lot of time together on and off the field making sure I was prepared not only physically but mentally. I appreciate what he did for me as a role model and a coach.”
Shigg knows West Point won’t be easy. “My goal is to keep me head down and work hard. My ultimate goal at West Point will be to infuse my personality in the program and make the program better. I want to represent West Point in a good way. I want to be a symbol for other kids that are in the same position as me. I want kids to know that West Point is a place where they can really showcase their talents. I really want to put West Point on the map for kids all over.”