Years later, a grandfather’s impact is felt on and off the football field
Steve Bickley never saw his grandson streak down the football field and catch a touchdown pass, never saw him play elite-level soccer and send a ball into the back of the net.
He didn’t live long enough to see him excel in the classroom, where he earned academic honors at Twin Valley.
He did live long enough to impact young Trey Freeman’s life with his wisdom and gracious spirit; now, years after his death, he’s impacting the lives of others.
Trey, a rising sophomore at the University of California of Pennsylvania, was so inspired by his grandfather’s mission to help and serve others that he’s doing it himself.
Trey, just a year removed from playing at Twin Valley, is already giving back to his community.
With the help of his mother, Jessica Bickley, Raiders football coach Brett Myers and others at Twin Valley he has instituted a college scholarship to help others at his school follow his path.
“I think it’s time to give back,” said Trey, who late last month handed out the first Trey Freeman “21” Legacy Scholarship Award and a $500 check to Nick Harris, a member of the Twin Valley Class of 2023.
“My future is in front of me,” Trey wrote in a Tweet, announcing the scholarship, “but I’ll never forget what road I took to get there.”
Steve Bickley died nearly six years ago at age 69. He suffered with complications from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – better known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s an insidious affliction that affects the central nervous system and destroys one’s body.
It doesn’t affect the heart and it doesn’t affect the mind; Steve Bickley always had that going for him. So did Trey. He grew up without a father at home; his grandfather took over that role.
“He taught me everything I know,” Trey said of his grandfather. “He brought me up to give back, to always be nice, and to be humble.”
Steve did a great job helping mold a model citizen. Trey’s not just a skilled athlete who’s caring and compassionate but also a top student.
He’s playing wide receiver at California where at 5-8, 170 pounds, he’s one of the smallest players on the roster. He’s not there just to catch passes, he’s a true student-athlete. His major? Mechatronics engineering technology. He came home a few weeks ago with all A’s and B’s on his transcript.
“He’s a special young man,” Myers said.
When his mom once asked Trey what he wanted for his birthday he urged her to buy tickets for local kids so they could watch Twin Valley play football.
When Myers asked him to show up one day to help with a youth camp Trey insisted he would be there all week, and he was.
“For an 8-year-old (quarterback to be throwing balls) to a college wide receiver, that’s a big deal,” Myers said.
When Myers’ son Evan took over the Raiders’ starting quarterback job as a freshman Trey, then a senior, took him under his wing and helped him feel his way through that first season.
Seniors aren’t always like that; they’ll often look down at freshmen, thinking they’re unworthy of their attention.
Not Trey.
“He went out of his way to make my kid feel welcome,” Brett Myers said.
Trey benefited from Evan’s emergence and success, no doubt. He caught 57 passes for 1,104 yards that season and become Berks County’s all-time career receiving leader with 2,250 yards.
When Trey was approached about creating a scholarship he immediately thought about his grandfather. That’s why it’s called the “21” Legacy Scholarship. Steve Bickley wore that number when he played semipro football, and before that when he played high school football in Ohio.
That’s why Trey wore No. 21 with the Raiders.
“I felt close to him wearing that number,” he said.
The scholarship will go each year to a senior football player at Twin Valley planning to continue their education in college or at a trade or technical school. Candidates are judged on their dedication to the Twin Valley football family. Their application includes a short essay about their football experience with the Raiders.
Trey and his mother reviewed the applications and selected this year’s recipient. They funded the scholarship, as well. He’s hoping to fund it in the future by running a youth camp at the school; that’s a win-win proposition.
“You know how expensive it is going to college,” Trey of the scholarship. “Some families can’t afford it. This is just chipping in, to help in some little way.”
It’s a way to give back not just to his community but to the memory of a grandfather who would swell with pride to see this and the young man Trey has become.
“(It’s saying) I didn’t forget about you,” said Trey.
To donate to the ALS Foundation, click here.
