Atlantic Eagles football team coming to the big screen in documentary ‘I Will Soar’

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — We will watch countless life changing moments this week at the NFL Draft.

But lives have already been changed forever through football at Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach. That story is now being taken to a big screen or streaming service near you in a movie called “I Will Soar.”

“I saw the dedication in the community,” said John Sturdy, who took on multiple roles to get this movie made. “I said this is a story that needs to be told.”

“On the field and in the classroom,” said Jane Swanko, who works closely with all of the student-athletes. “They’re winners. And John and I are just very proud to take that story to the big screen.

TRENDING: Man found shot in car in Lake Worth Beach

It’s a real life story more incredible than most Hollywood movies. Captured in real time over the past three years by Director of Photography John Sturdy, as well as director, writer and producer Jane Swanko.

Head Coach T.J. Jackson has not only turned around the football team with success on the field, but he and the staff at the school has inspired the players, many who come from impossibly difficult circumstances at home, to soar in the classroom like the Eagles on their uniforms.

“I didn’t want to go show the world what they were suffering from so much,” Sturdy said. “I wanted to show how they were stepping above it.”

“There is homelessness,” Swanko said. “And there is hunger, and there is nobody home and they are without clothes. Yet they rise above the storm and that’s what eagles do. One of our students was homeless, his home burned down. We didn’t know that (the principal) Ms. Tara Dellegrotti-Ocampo was feeding him every day until we interviewed him in the studio. They have created a family and what I’m most proud of is that Joh brought family to the big screen.”

The Eagles staff and students became one, and the results are amazing. Eighty-five percent of the varsity football players are now on the honor roll, with a 100 percent graduation rate. Sixty-three percent are now first generation college students.

“It is about life,” Sturdy said. “Football is saving their life. Football is the tool that’s actually giving them the greatest opportunity.”