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Putting religion first nets player respect

Franklin star wouldn’t play on a Saturday, DQ’d from tourney

Franklin High School junior Stefan Mangroo, a Seventh-day Adventist, was disqualified from the boys sectional tennis tournament because he refused to play on Saturday, his sabbath.

Staff photo by Nick Graham Franklin High School junior Stefan Mangroo, a Seventh-day Adventist, was disqualified from the boys sectional tennis tournament because he refused to play on Saturday, his sabbath.

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By Rick McCrabb, Staff Writer Updated 8:31 AM Monday, May 24, 2010

FRANKLIN — His goal was to reach the Division II boys tennis districts.

But, because of his faith — he’s a Seventh-day Adventist — Franklin High School junior Stefan Mangroo and his doubles partner, senior Cody Buffenbarger, were disqualified from the semifinals. They refused to play on Saturday, Mangroo’s Sabbath, thus ending their postseason dreams.

But during Mangroo’s journey, which grabbed local news headlines, he said he “got closer to God.” That, he said, showed him “what kind of person” he has become.

“Religion is above sports,” he said Friday, May 21, while sitting in a Franklin High School conference room. “Sure, there was some pressure, but it was an easy decision.”

He snapped his fingers. “That easy.”

Mangroo said his religion restricts his activities between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday. That means no Friday night football games, no Saturday afternoon matinees.

From the time Mangroo wakes up Saturday until bedtime, his day is filled with “God things,” he said. He goes to Centerville Seventh-day Adventist Church with his family — parents Teddy and Cheryl and siblings, Shane, 20, Sasha, 15, and Shannia, 8 — then spends the rest of the day talking religion.

Cheryl Mangroo said her son wasn’t baptized until last year after he knew “what he was doing right, what he was doing wrong.”

Mangroo was born in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean and moved to New York City when he was 8. Two years later, the family moved to Franklin because of his father’s job in the heating and air conditioning business.

In the matter of a week, Mangroo became the face of religion at FHS. He said everyone supported his decision, including his playing partner Buffenbarger.

And along the way, he taught his classmates about his religion. He said that’s better than any win on the tennis court.

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