Kevin Winegar returns to football after leukemia diagnosis

Nov. 7—Kevin Winegar said he was listening to Ray Lewis and motivational speeches by David Goggins before he ran out onto the field with his Eastmark teammates on Oct. 27.

He also put on his orange gloves. It was the fifth or sixth time he had ever worn them, but the first in a game setting. They are a bit different than Eastmark's teal, copper and black color scheme. But they represent leukemia, the dangerous form of cancer Winegar was cleared from on Oct. 16.

Friday marked the first time he suited up for the Firebirds since being diagnosed last December. He was emotional, he was excited, as well as his entire team and coaching staff. And he made the most of the opportunity.

It took just one play for Winegar to record his first tackle of the season. He finished with three overall in Eastmark's region clinching 44-20 win over Marcos de Niza.

"I'm happy for all of our players, that's the biggest thing," Eastmark coach Travis Dixon said. "Everything we do as coaches is for the kids. They believe in us. I'm happy for guys like Kevin, who was able to get in his first game tonight. We're just excited to enjoy the moment with all our seniors."

Winegar couldn't help but clench his fists and scream into the night sky when he made his first tackle. It was a blitz, dialed up by his coaches after Winegar told them he would capitalize on it.

He dropped Marcos de Niza running back Kenyan Brewer for a loss on the play.

"I was so pumped, I was so excited," Winegar said. "Right when he called that blitz, I was like, 'I'm going.' I got right through and got that tackle. It's an addiction. It's my addiction."

Winegar's addiction to football helped him stay positive throughout his diagnosis and chemotherapy treatments. Even at his weakest point physically, he remained strong mentally.

He was diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer in the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells, just weeks after he helped lead Eastmark to the 3A championship last December. Doctors said he had been playing with the disease in his body since at least October, when he began to feel sick and started losing weight.

But his strength and ability to bounce back and appear fine some days even stunned his father, Kevin, who is a physician.

The entire family was shocked by his diagnosis. Winegar thought, at that time, it would be the end of his football career. But about 10 months later he sat in a small room alongside his family and doctor. It was at that moment he received the news he had long been waiting for.

"It's always in the back of my mind, asking what I would do if I didn't clear," Winegar said. "When he told me I was cleared to play any sport I could, I was overjoyed. I felt like crying, I felt like yelling, but I had to keep it all in. It feels wonderful."

Through his battle, Winegar underwent several rounds of chemotherapy treatments that left him hospitalized at times. Now done with that treatment, he entered a maintenance phase, where he will take oral medication until April 2025. He will also receive a traditional chemo treatment every three months.

He was supported by the Eastmark community throughout his battle. He also made friends with Cardinals' linebacker Dennis Gardeck, who surprised him with Super Bowl tickets last February, walked with him to midfield at a game earlier this season and was in attendance for his return against Marcos de Niza. The two talk on a regular basis, and Gardeck even gifted Winegar his captain's patch from the Cardinals. Winegar had it sewed onto his jersey for senior night this past Friday.

"I try not to treat him as a famous person, because everyone treats him like that," Winegar said. "We talk all the time about football and how it's going between the Cardinals and us. It's what keeps me going. That's my ultimate goal right there, to be on the Cardinals football team."

Senior night has been a longtime coming for Winegar. But at one point, he thought he would have to celebrate it in a different way. But the thought of being able to suit up again after all he's been through is special, and he hopes to inspire other kids battling similar diseases.

Winegar said the night will be emotional for him, despite having more games to play in the playoffs.

To him, it means more than just finishing high school. He finished a fight for his life. From the highlights to the captain's patch to the bright orange gloves, he will never forget everything he has overcome.

"I feel like I can push the world," Winegar said. "I feel like I can beat anything and go through any obstacle, whether that's cancer or a broken hand."

Have an interesting story? Contact Zach Alvira at (480)898-5630 or zalvira@timespublications.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.