For River Hill senior running back Michael Campanaro, football is a family affair.
His father, Attilio Campanaro, is an assistant coach, teammate Leron Eaddy is his adopted brother and his older brother, Nick, was one of the greatest running backs in the Clarksville school’s history.
“We play tennis and go bowling all the time as a team,” said Michael, who began playing when he was 5-years-old. “We’re all really close, we’re like a family.”
Campanaro, at 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds, has emerged as one of the area’s most talented players. He’ll attend Wake Forest next year on a scholarship. But right now, he’s focused on one goal: leading the Hawks to their second straight 2A title.
Michael, one of the team’s captains, views his teammates as an extended family, as he makes sure the team eats together several times each week.
“His personality brings the team chemistry together,” Attilio said.
But Michael’s biggest play for the Hawks happened off the field, when he urged his parents to adopt Eaddy, who had played on Campanaro’s club basketball team, coached by Attilio.
The Campanaros took legal guardianship of Eaddy in 2005 after he moved into the family’s Clarksville home in 2002, when Eaddy nearly burned his family’s home down because he left a pot of boiling water on the stove.
“He is like my brother,” said Eaddy, whose family lived in temporary housing while their home was repaired. “He’s open-minded, and he’s a funny dude.”
But Campanaro and Eaddy, who will play at Central Michigan next year, are making the most of their time together until heading their separate ways. Eaddy has been outstanding on defense for the Hawks, who were 3-0 entering this past Friday’s game at Mount Hebron (1-2). Campanaro, who also plays defensive back, rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries in a 55-0 victory over Centennial on Sept. 19.
“Michael’s a great all around person,” River Hill Coach Brian Van Deusen said. “He is a good student. He is taking some tough classes and does well there. He’s going to fit in pretty well [at Wake Forest]. He’s a hard worker. And it has definitely paid off for him.”
