Ben Marchetti

Ben Marchetti

Ben Marchetti of Father Ryan Named 2021 Recipient of Joe L. Worden / Jack Redgren Courage Award

The Joe L. Worden / Jack Redgren Courage Award is named after two outstanding athletic trainers whose careers included long stints of service with Vanderbilt University. Both Worden and Redgren are former winners of this chapter’s Roy Kramer Contribution to Football Award. This award is presented to a Middle Tennessee scholar-athlete who faced obstacles but came back to succeed.

This year’s recipient of the Worden / Redgren Courage Award is three-sport Father Ryan athlete Ben Marchetti. Until his junior year, Marchetti excelled in football, wrestling, and rugby. He endured a broken foot as a junior that ended his football and wrestling seasons prematurely. While the injury was a major setback, Marchetti never complained, kept an upbeat attitude and maintained the relentless work ethic that had gotten him to where he was prior to the injury.

Father Ryan football coach Brian Rector said Marchetti never complained while he was hurt or asked, “why me?” He continued to work, lead and show amazing character on the way to finishing out his senior year. Marchetti, a tough-nosed running back and linebacker, made it back to the football and wresting teams. As a team captain he helped the Irish football team advance to the second round of the state playoffs and as a wrestler advanced to the championship semifinals of the TSSAA state meet in the 182-pound weight class. Even with the setbacks Marchetti has faced he has also continued to enjoy success in the classroom. He has a 3.9 grade point average while also taking part in the school’s Fishing, Investment and Entrepreneur clubs.