CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cameron Tripp is known for his battles quarterbacking Piedmont on the football field. However, it's one fight that the Harvard-bound signal caller faced early in life that may have dimmed his hopes of playing under the bright lights on Friday nights.
"I have a nice little scar here on my stomach, and that's just part of my story I think," says Tripp.
That story began when Tripp was born 5-6 weeks prematurely, staying in a neo-natal unit for 10 days before heading home with his parents, Dennis and Melanie. He wore a heart monitor for four months before he had to face another tough opponent at a very early age -- emergency surgery for pyloric stenosis, a condition that affects three out of every 1,000 babies in the United States.
"You know, when my parents were told that my future wouldn't be so bright and they were told, you know, I wouldn't be successful, I wouldn't be academically gifted, and for all of this to kind of come together, it's awesome," says Tripp.
Not only has Tripp excelled as a dual-sport athlete for Piedmont, he hit the books hard too, graduating third in his class with a 4.69 GPA.
"My parents have always pushed me harder in the classroom than on any football field or any basketball court," he says.
One constant reminder which motivates the 6 foot 6 inch quarterback that the sky is the limit is the scar on his stomach from surgery when he was just six weeks old.
"You can always strive, you can always strive and that's what I think that scar reminds me to do, to keep pushing because I wasn't supposed to be here," says Tripp.
Tripp will begin summer camp with Harvard football this weekend. The Crimson were a perfect 10-0 last season capturing the Ivy League title.
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