Signed, “Sewelled,” and Delivered!

It is true, not all heroes wear capes. In fact, at Clovis Community College, ours can be spotted in a polo shirt containing a bright accent color, more than likely paired with what I perceive to be some sort of Dockers type shorts setup. While AD Sewell may have more drip than a motel faucet, it’s his selflessness that has propelled the athletic department to unprecedented heights. We had a chance to sit down for a special edition of Q&A with Dre, where AD Sewell spoke candidly about his personal challenges, triumphs, and everything in between.

DN: What sports did you play growing up?
JS: I grew up in the Northeast, so my experience was probably a little bit different than what we’re used to here in the Valley. I played youth hockey, lacrosse, and of course, soccer up until high school. Interestingly enough, I didn’t start running track until my sophomore year and that was the sport that ultimately helped get me to college.

DN: What was the biggest challenge you faced as a student-athlete?
JS: For me, it was time management and maturity. I started college at 17, first time out of the house and on my own with no one to nudge me to do the things I knew I should have been doing anyhow. Professors don’t beg you to come to class or turn in assignments and coaches don’t politely request your presence at practice. If you’re not motivated to do those things on your own, you’ll find out pretty quickly that it’s going to be a short ride. As simple as this sounds, it can be a real challenge with so many other distractions clouding the environment of a typical college setting. I was fortunate in that being a year-round student-athlete (cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field) provided me with the advantage of a sound structure, a luxury that many of my non student-athlete counterparts did not have.

DN: What knowledge would you like to drop on our student athletes as they navigate their collegiate years?
JS: Crush student-athletes, I’m talking directly to you on this one. Your collegiate experience – as a student-athlete or otherwise – is what you make of it. I know people that have competed for some of the biggest programs in Division I that have all the resources and fancy bells and whistles that have had terrible experiences. I also know people that have gone to smaller schools to compete, like Clovis Community College or Adelphi University, that have had amazing experiences that impacted them positively for the rest of their lives. There are three things that you can always control – your attitude, your effort, and your actions. If you are willing to put the work in each and every day to dedicate all three of those things to having a successful experience here, I promise you, you will. There will be bumps in the road and things won’t always go perfectly, but at the end of the day, you will succeed in whatever it is you set out to do.

JS: Last thing, having the opportunity to compete as a student-athlete at a community college is a big deal. In 2023, there were 763,867 high school student-athletes in the state of California. There are roughly 24,000 3C2A student-athletes and while I’ve already admitted that math is not my strong suit, that comes out to just about 3%. The odds were pretty clearly against you being here, yet here you are! So be proud of all you’ve achieved, be proud that you’ve earned the privilege to compete for Clovis Community College, and don’t ever let anyone take that away from you. Wear it like a crown!

As student athletes I hope this assists you in the realization that many administrators and coaches have walked your path. The idea is to share information and experiences that will have you moving forward rather than looking backward. Knowledge is fuel for your future. Speaking of fuel, what do you think AD Sewell ate during his college days? Be sure to link in next time for part 2 to find out!

Coach Dre Nestle has been a member of the Clovis Community College soccer staff for three years, assisting with both the men’s and women’s programs. He is a former NCAA Division I soccer student-athlete at Cal Poly and owner of Dre36 Fitness. Coach Dre holds degrees in Business, Economics, and Nutrition from Cal Poly, as well as a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Fresno Pacific. He is a passionate advocate for student-athlete mental and physical health and wellbeing, and overall personal growth and development.