Athlete of the Week - Shadow Ridge Football's Kaleb Keao

Athlete of the Week – Shadow Ridge Football’s Kaleb Keao

Stepping into a varsity starting quarterback role is a challenge for any player. Doing it as a sophomore, with the responsibility of leading more than 50 teammates, brings a different level of pressure. Shadow Ridge High School quarterback Kaleb Keao, a 2029 graduate, embraced the opportunity, learning what it takes to lead a varsity football team while continuing to grow as a player and a person. At 6-foot-4, Keao brings size, physicality, and a strong throwing arm to the Mustangs offense. His first season as Shadow Ridge’s varsity starter has been a learning experience filled with challenges, growth, and moments he will remember long after the final whistle.

“I’m not going to lie, I was nervous,” Keao said. “Being a sophomore and stepping into the starting varsity quarterback position was a big responsibility. I knew I had some big shoes to fill, and I felt like I had a lot to prove, not just to my coaches and teammates, but to myself.”

Rather than letting the pressure define him, Keao focused on preparing for the opportunity. His summer consisted of workouts with teammates, countless hours in the weight room, and film study to better understand defenses and improve his decision-making. He knew being a quarterback required more than a strong arm. It meant earning the trust of his teammates and becoming someone they could depend on when the game was on the line.

His favorite memory of the season came during his first varsity home game, when he ran out of the Mustang tunnel as the starting quarterback for the first time.

“All those long summer workouts, the days in the weight room, and the preparation finally felt like they had paid off,” Keao said. “Being under those Friday night lights, representing Shadow Ridge, and having my teammates beside me was a pretty special feeling.”

The transition has not always been easy. Keao credits head coach Lewis with pushing him to meet high expectations every day, even when the lessons came through mistakes and tough moments. Throughout the season, he has learned to move forward after difficult plays, take accountability, and become more confident in his role.

Leadership has been one of his biggest areas of growth. As a sophomore surrounded by older players with more varsity experience, Keao understood that being named the starting quarterback did not automatically earn him respect. He had to build that trust.

“I’m not the loudest or flashiest quarterback, and that’s just not my personality,” Keao said. “I try to let my work ethic, physicality, and decision-making speak for themselves.”

Keao also credits his upperclassmen teammates for helping him adjust to varsity football. Their guidance has shown him what it means to represent Shadow Ridge, and he hopes to provide that same support to younger players in the years ahead. For Keao, leadership comes down to respect, accountability, and making sure teammates know they can count on him.

Keao’s story is about more than football. It is also about family, sacrifice, and the journey that brought him to Las Vegas. Born and raised in Hawaii until he was 5, Keao moved to Las Vegas after his mother received a job opportunity at Nellis Air Force Base. His parents left behind family, friends, and the only home they had known to provide new opportunities for Keao and his sister.

Although he has spent the past 11 years in Las Vegas, Kaleb’s Hawaiian roots remain central to his identity.

“Hawaii will always be at the core of who I am, but Las Vegas has definitely helped define the person I am becoming,” Keao said.

Las Vegas is where he grew up, discovered his passion for sports, and began chasing a dream he has carried for as long as he can remember. As he has gotten older, he has also developed a deeper appreciation for what his parents gave up to make that journey possible. He sees his progress not as an individual accomplishment, but as the result of the people who have supported him along the way.

One of those people is his grandfather, Papa Pat, who has been a constant presence throughout Keao’s athletic career. A longtime high school football coach, Papa Pat has shared his love of the game with Keao since he was young. The two regularly talk football, and after games, Papa Pat breaks down film to help Keao recognize what he did well and where he can improve. He has followed Keao through football and baseball, watching games from afar, traveling to tournaments and attending college football camps alongside him. For Keao, that relationship represents more than football knowledge. It is an example of dedication, commitment, and showing up for the people who matter.

His extended family, youth coaches, and current teammates have also played important roles in his development. He specifically recognizes youth football coaches Ben Boykin and Craig Magee for believing in him from an early age, along with his Vegas Strong travel baseball coaches Joe Parra, Mike Parker, and James Agee. Each has contributed to the player he is becoming.

Looking ahead, Keao wants to continue developing as a quarterback while helping Shadow Ridge build on the foundation established by the players who came before him. With two more years of high school football ahead, he knows there is still plenty of room to improve. He wants to become a more complete athlete, particularly by improving his speed and agility, while continuing to develop his leadership and understanding of the game. More importantly, he wants to help create a program that future Mustangs can be proud to represent. Keao points to the team’s brotherhood and community support as major sources of motivation. He believes the culture extends beyond football and reflects the time and effort players have invested in building something together.

“I want to continue being part of that culture and help leave the program better than I found it,” Keao said.

That same mindset carries into his life away from the field. Keao works to balance academics, football, family, and friends, recognizing that being a student-athlete means taking care of responsibilities in the classroom while still enjoying life outside the game. His parents have always emphasized that balance, reminding him that football is important, but so is growing up and appreciating the experiences that come with being a teenager. As he continues his high school career, Keao remains motivated by the chance to improve, represent his family, and become someone younger players can look up to. He also understands that his journey is far from finished.

“I’m only a sophomore, so I know I have a lot of work ahead of me,” Keao said. “But that’s what makes it exciting. I still have two more years to grow, compete, and help take this program to the next level.”

For Keao, the opportunity to be recognized as Athlete of the Week is meaningful, but he knows the work does not stop here. He gives thanks to God and credits his family, coaches, teammates, and extended support system for helping him reach this point. Above all, he hopes to honor the sacrifices his parents made by making the most of every opportunity. He may be growing into his role as Shadow Ridge’s quarterback, but the values guiding him were established long before he stepped onto the varsity field. He is a young athlete learning to lead, a student balancing the demands of football and school, and a kid from Hawaii building a future in Las Vegas.

As Keao continues to grow, one thing remains certain: he carries his roots with him wherever the game takes him.

“You can take the boy from the islands, but not the islands from the boy.”

More FSM Athlete of the Week

Catch up on past honorees: Liberty Football’s Madden Dela Cruz, Durango Football’s Julian Vargas Gemoya, Bonanza Football’s Braeden Osotio and Liberty Flag Football’s Trishelle Tucay, or see the full list of FSM Athlete of the Week winners. Know an athlete who deserves it? Nominate them here, and vote in this week’s poll.

Franchise Sports Media. Las Vegas sports news about Las Vegas Sports teams.

— Keira Orton (@sportswithkeira) for Franchise Sports Media

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