Miguel Salamanca likely will have more than 20 family members, some from as far away as Texas, in the stands tonight at Kiggins Bowl to watch him play in the Freedom Bowl Classic.
Only one is his biggest fan, though.
Miguel’s older brother, Roy Salamanca, cannot do the things that Miguel can do on a football field. Or on a wrestling mat.
But Roy can be there for every event, to cheer his little brother, to encourage him.
Roy is capable of all of this due in large part to Shriners Hospital for Children in Portland. Roy, 22, was a patient there on and off for 20 years, undergoing two major operations and then physical therapy to battle the effects of cerebral palsy.
Tonight, Miguel Salamanca of Camas will represent the East all-stars in a charity football game that raises funds for Shriners. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
“All those times going to that hospital, to be with him, I never dreamed I’d be playing for the hospital,” Miguel said. “He’ll be there at the game rooting me on. If I score, it’s definitely for him.”
Roy Salamanca said that’s his favorite thing about watching football: “The touchdowns,” he said with a smile, hoping that his brother will get one tonight.
This exhibition is a big deal for Miguel. It’s personal for him and his family. Roy is the oldest of Carmen and Jesse Salamanca’s four children.
“It’s hard to describe,” Carmen said. “Without that hospital, my son wouldn’t be walking today.”
She also said Miguel deserves everything he has worked for — for being true to the family, to his values.
“Miguel has always been wonderful to Roy. He’s always been his right-hand man,” Carmen said. “Miguel has given up so much to help the family out, to take care of Roy. He is an amazing young man.”
A superb athlete, too.
Miguel Salamanca was instrumental in a football season for the ages at Camas. Last fall, the Papermakers went undefeated through the regular season and won two playoff games, including the first state playoff victory in the program’s history. Salamanca, an all-league wide receiver, is 5-foot-5 but was described by a coach as the strongest player, pound-for-pound, on the team.
“People had been looking at the team a long time. In seventh grade, we went undefeated. Freshman year, undefeated,” Salamanca said. “We had been playing together for so long. We wanted to win and play for everyone in the stands. Even though we didn’t make it as far as we really wanted, it was still a huge deal, looking back on it.”
Miguel Salamanca will always be able to look back at the wrestling history books to see his name.
Ranked No. 1 in the preseason, he struggled with a few losses early in the season and also suffered a concussion. He said he was pretty much counted out by the time of the state tournament.
“I got to state, and I guess I knew what I wanted,” Salamanca said.
He trailed in each of his matches in Tacoma but rallied for victories, claiming the Class 3A state championship at 145 pounds.
“I wrestled for everybody in Camas. It was a big accomplishment for me,” he said.
He also wrestled for his brother. He recalled his junior year when Roy wanted to fight one of Miguel’s opponents for an illegal, dangerous hold. Roy was just trying to protect Miguel.
Roy just laughs and smiles at that memory. Yeah, he was there for his brother.
Tonight will be Miguel’s final contest affiliated with high school sports in Clark County before he heads to New Mexico Highlands University, where he has accepted a scholarship to wrestle. Salamanca said he hopes to be a walk-on to the football team his sophomore year but first wants to get accustomed to college life.
That means tonight is his last organized football game, or his last one for a long time. It should be special, playing for patients of today and yesterday, raising funds for a charity so dear to his family.
On Wednesday, players from both all-star teams visited Shriners Hospital to meet patients and get a look at the meaning of the game. They saw patients there who, just like Miguel’s brother, will never be able to do what they can do.
“I am so blessed to have what I have,” Miguel said.
He also said the region is blessed to have a Shriners Hospital.
“Roy is really independent. He can do a lot of things for himself,” Miguel said. “Without Shriners Hospital, he wouldn’t be the same.”
