Keiser University defensive back and 2017 Wellington High School graduate Sage Chen-Young has been named the Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s Amateur Athlete of the Year.
The announcement was made Sunday, April 3 during the 45th annual Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame Awards Celebration held at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Chen-Young’s honors, accolades and accomplishments on the gridiron include being named the NAIA’s top vote-getter for the Cliff Harris Award, which is given to the NAIA’s top defensive player of the year. He garnered the American Football Coaches Association NAIA All-American honors for the third-straight season at cornerback.
Chen-Young captured the Associated Press NAIA All-American honors for the second time following the 2021 season. He was also selected to the Mid-South Conference Sun Division First Team for the fourth time in his career. Chen-Young also earned CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-America honors. During the 2021 season, he led Keiser University in interceptions with six and registered 37 tackles, including one tackle for a loss, recovered two fumbles, and blocked one kick.
Keiser University head football coach Doug Socha has nothing but strong words of praise for Chen-Young. “Sage is not only a tremendous player, but a great person,” Socha said. “He is very easy to coach because of how driven he is.”
The 2022 inductees into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame were former Royal Palm Beach High School head football coach Willie Bueno, former NFL wide receiver Pierre Garcon, longtime equestrian star Laura Kraut, NFL punter and Palm Beach Central High School graduate Pat O’Donnell, NFL place kicker Cody Parkey, longtime local sports broadcaster Steve Politziner, and Palm Beach Central High School graduate/baseball standout and former Major League Baseball player Devon Travis.
