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Male Athlete of the Year: Jeron Gouveia-Winslow
Many adjectives have been used to describe the outstanding play of recent Stone Bridge High School graduate Jeron Gouveia-Winslow on the football field.
Leader. Winner. Great instincts. Versatile. Ferocious competitor. The list goes on and on.
Revered Bulldog coach Mickey Thompson offered Gouveia-Winslow the best compliment of all when he called him “the best player in Loudoun County history” during a college signing ceremony held for the Virginia Tech signee Feb. 9 in the Stone Bridge library.
“Halfway through his sophomore season, you could see there was something special,” Thompson said in a recent interview. “I was amazed at how he adapted to the varsity game. I don't think you will see many players with his talent and instincts.”
Gouveia-Winslow, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound running back and safety who will play the latter at Virginia Tech, earned numerous postseason honors after helping Stone Bridge win the Virginia Division 5 championship last fall. The state title was the first for Stone Bridge and only the second for a Loudoun County school – Park View won it all in 1988.
“Any athlete can be a good football player and make plays. I think for me it's more mental. I know the safety position well and I know the game well,” Gouveia-Winslow said.
“I think me being in the right spot all the time makes me look like a great athlete, but I don't have the fastest speed and I'm not the strongest guy. But I think I have great awareness, that's my best quality.”
For his efforts this season and throughout his varsity career, Gouveia-Winslow is our 2007-08 Male Athlete of the Year.
“Growing up, I was a top dog in my leagues. I always dreamed of playing in the NFL and going up all the way,” Gouveia-Winslow said. “I think I really started thinking about [playing Division I football] after my sophomore season. I started as a sophomore and we went to states. I made first-team All-State as a sophomore.
“I was like, 'Man, I'm just a scrawny little kid.' I'm not much bigger now, but I never thought of myself as one of the best players in the state at that age,” Gouveia-Winslow continued. “I guess everyone else did. So I was thinking I have a really good opportunity to fulfill my dream.”
Gouveia-Winslow's biological father is former National Football League player Kurt Gouveia, who played for three NFL teams from 1987 through 1999, including two stints with the Washington Redskins.
Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, who recently began hyphenating his name to include his step-family, said his parents divorced when he was young and that his older brother Landon was his biggest influence.
Landon was also a standout running back and safety at Stone Bridge before graduating in 2004.
“Landon was really my inspiration, just living in his shadow growing up. He's always been my father figure really,” Jeron said. “He started playing football, and I wanted to be like him all I could, so I started playing football. That's really how it started for me.”
Jeron's stepbrothers Stephen and Andrew Winslow also played football at Stone Bridge prior to his emergence. His cousin Walter Gouveia played football at Broad Run.
Jeron Gouveia-Winslow said knowing all the work the coaches and former players put into turning the eighth-year Bulldog program into a contender made winning that elusive first championship even more special.
“They helped build the program from scratch,” he said. “It was very emotional for me and still is. It's such a great feeling to know we did it.”
Now, it's on to college football for Gouveia-Winslow. He's excited to play in-state for the Hokies.
“I've always been a Virginia Tech fan growing up in this area my whole life. I have a lot of family ties too,” said Gouveia-Winslow, whose sister Ariel will be a junior at Virginia Tech this fall.
“I have so many friends down there and everyone up here are Tech fans. When I'm playing on that field, I know all my family and friends are going to be rooting for us and rooting for me. I think that's a pretty cool feeling.”
Gouveia-Winslow knows its going to take a lot of work to compete favorably at the high Division I level.
“First off, I want to go to Tech and work hard and train. I think developing is my first priority when I get there, then learning the system,” he said. “Then eventually starting and making a name for myself and doing big things. Hope to win some championships and see what happens from there.”
Stone Bridge will always hold a special place in Gouveia-Winslow's heart. He's built a strong bond with Thompson.
“I have a lot to be thankful for with him. Playing for him has been a great experience,” Gouveia-Winslow said. “He's a great coach. I'll be friends with him for a long time.”
And no need to worry, Bulldog fans. There is another Gouveia ready to contribute – Jeron's cousin Kyle Gouveia will be a sophomore this fall.
“Look out for him. He's going to be the best out of all of us,” Gouveia-Winslow said. “Growing up, he was the youngest and he played with all of us. I'm telling you, the kid is unreal.”
It takes one to know one.
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