Varsity Football

Halfway across the planet, this military dad showing support for son’s football team

Derby senior Amare Ramirez’s father, Kelly, serving overseas hoists a Panthers uniform.
Derby senior Amare Ramirez’s father, Kelly, serving overseas hoists a Panthers uniform. @DHSFootballClub/Twitter

Derby has one of the strongest fan bases in all of Kansas high school athletics, and it has showed no bounds.

Senior defensive back Amare Ramirez received a pleasant surprise this week in the form of a photo of his dad, Kelly Ramirez, who is deployed overseas in the U.S. military. Even better, Kelly was holding up his son’s Derby football jersey.

“So cool to see that,” junior offensive lineman Alex Key wrote on Twitter. “Can’t wait for the season. And thank you so much Kelly Rami for your service to this great country.”

Kelly is stationed in Kuwait. He is a senior master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.

Derby is seeking its third undefeated state championship season in a row in 2020, and Amare figures to play an important role in the Panthers’ defense.

This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 12:57 PM.

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Hayden Barber
The Wichita Eagle
Wichita Eagle preps reporter Hayden Barber brings the area updates on all high school sports while adding those hard-to-find human-interest stories on Wichita’s student-athletes.
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