A few years ago, the Steve Miller Band released a very fitting song that had lyrics within that were more memorable than the song’s title. “Time keeps on slippin’ slippin’ slippin into the future” is the catchy part of the song, but the song’s title, “Fly Like an Eagle” provides advice on how to best spend that time.
Washington School senior student-athlete John Bentley Suares has taken full advantage of his time and had big plans to end his senior year actively and passionately. Suares has given spectators a glimpse of one of the areas’ most electrifying athletes whose speed translates off the football field.
“My junior year I realized using my speed helped me become more successful in all my sports,” he said. “My best game came during my senior year was against Bayou Academy. I scored two touchdowns, one of those being off an interception.”
As spring arrived, Suares looked forward to further displays of his athletic prowess. Soccer, tennis and track and field were also part of his extra-curricular activities. After already having left an indelible mark on the school up to this point, completing these seasons would have further solidified his legacy. “
In soccer, we ended up runners up, but we had one more game to play, “Suares explained. “Four of my good friends (Will Giachelli, Eli Fratesi, Caleb Janous, and Bogan Brewer) who I have spent years playing soccer and football with all making the MAIS All Star soccer team. It will be a game I remember forever. I was looking forward to tennis and track as well. I was looking forward to working hard and accomplishing more goals.”
Suares also thanks another great athlete, Thomas Barr, for inspiring him this season. Barr had a knee injury half way through football season and was unable to finish the season or play soccer but was at every practice and game cheering them on.
“Washington School Boys Tennis team was last year’s Overall AAAA Division 2 Boys State Tennis Champions. Returning seniors were two of my best friends (Paul Horn and Cooper Hathaway). We were ready to bring home another trophy. I was looking forward to running the relays in track as well as hopefully gaining another State High Jump Championship. Having big plans and not being able to go out there and make them happen has been disappointing,” he added.
Despite having his senior sports seasons cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Suares, Washington Schools class of 2020 salutatorian, anxiously anticipates being a full-time student with contentment of leaving the athlete part behind.
Time might be slippin’ into the future, but John Bentley prepares to fly like an eagle towards the next stage in life. “I plan to attend the University of Mississippi Honors College to obtain a biomedical engineering degree,” he said. “As much as I love playing sports, I’m not interested in pursuing playing past high school. I look forward to intramural sports at Ole Miss, but my focus will be primarily my education for my future career.”
Suares has also been 2019 Heisman School Scholarship Winner, a 2020 Delta Council Honor Graduate and a member of the 2020 University of Mississippi’s Chancellor Leadership Class
