Former Xaverian standout Christian McIntyre and his family decided that he wanted another year of development. When it came time to picking a school that would help him meet his potential, he looked at two schools. One of them was Avon Old Farms and after visiting both schools, McIntyre settled on Avon.

“What really stood out to me about Avon was the culture. It reminded me a lot of my experience at Xaverian. A strong sense of brotherhood and high expectations both academically and athletically. When I visited, I had the chance to meet some of the players and we have stayed in touch and even got together to throw the ball. Being able to start building relationships with future teammates means a lot to me. I believe that kind of chemistry creates winning teams, I was lucky to have that at Xaverian.”

The Winged Beavers are coming off of one of the best seasons in the storied program’s history, finishing 10-0, winning the Founders League and the Drew Gamere Bowl. Coach Jon Wholley has restored the program its elite status both on and off the field.

Wholley knows how to develop talent and get players recruited. For McIntyre, he was a big reason why he made the decision to attend Avon.

“Talking with Coach Wholley was definitely a big positive during the process. I really enjoyed getting the chance to talk football with him and learn more about his approach to the game. That said, it was also the overall culture at Avon and the opportunity to develop there that made the decision feel right.”

After a historic season at Xaverian that culminated in a third straight Division One championship for the Hawks, McIntyre had three offers but he felt that he could get more opportunities if he took another year to develop and get more tape. It is a decision that is already paying off as he picked up a UMass offer on Monday.

” As a player, it gives me more time to get stronger, faster, and continue refining my game while getting to competing against really strong competition. I was fortunate to receive some great Division One opportunities already, but I felt that taking this year would give me the chance to keep improving and make sure I’m fully ready for the next level. Off the field, being in a new environment like Avon will also help me grow in terms of independence, discipline, and leadership.”

McIntyre will play receiver but he may also play some defensive back. He is willing to play anywhere that will help his team win while at the same time allow him to get better and get more experience.

“Right now the main focus is playing wide receiver, but I’m sure I will be playing some type of defense whether it be at corner or safety. Ultimately, I will play wherever the team needs. If that means contributing in other ways, I’ve always been open to help the team win however I can.”

It is that attitude that has made McIntyre one of the top players in Massachusetts the past two years and why he will be successful in the long run.