Cejay Suarez '13 Turns Love of Baseball Into a Career
A trip to North Bridgton in February of 2012 was just what Cejay Suarez ‘13 needed. Although the Abington, MA native was merely following up on a strong recommendation from Zach Littman ’12 to “come see Izzy (Athletic Director and Baseball coach Aaron Izaryk) and Atwood (Dean of Students Tim Atwood),” he knew almost immediately that Bridgton Academy was the place for him. The tour of a snow-covered campus with Jon Lounsbury ‘01 and conversations with both Izaryk and Atwood convinced Suarez that he had an opportunity to change course from “an interesting four years of high school” where he saw great success in football and baseball but lacked maturity and was “not super-committed to academics.” His mom, however, was not as convinced. “I knew then I needed one more year (before college) and to get away from home, but mom was not sure. I remember we’re driving down 302 and she says, “Do you really want to do this?” and I answered, ‘I NEED to do this!'” shared Suarez. Six months later, armed with a strong commitment to become a more serious student and a deep love for the game of baseball instilled in him by his father, Cejay Suarez joined his brothers in the Class of 2013, knowing he would make the necessary adjustments to honor his parents’ investment.
Almost immediately Suarez felt the opportunity to get better every day he was there. “Mr. Atwood and I became close quickly,” shared Suarez. “He was my advisor, my dorm parent. He gave me all the life lessons that BA gives—discipline in the classroom, in the weight room, and beyond.” As many Wolverines do, Cejay also used the lack of social distractions to his advantage. “Let’s be honest,” he notes. “There’s sometimes not too much to do. We didn’t have cable TV in our rooms. I wasn’t going to skip a lift and hang out in the lounge.” Like so many student-athletes that come to Bridgton aspiring to continue playing in college, Suarez sought a high level of baseball and a commitment to the “purest form of the game.” He also knew he needed the same “hard-nosed” approach from Atwood and Izaryk that he received from his Abington coach. “Izzy and Atwood got me ready for the college game. They taught me to practice with intensity and to, not only prepare for, but embrace competing for a job,” notes Suarez. “That’s real life,” continued Suarez. “You have to compete and get better. Bridgton taught me that.” That mentality and attitude allowed Suarez to have a successful year at Bridgton, and continues to direct him from one successful venture to another.
Cejay’s life has come full circle in the eleven years since he was at Bridgton as Suarez has now turned his love for baseball into a career. A shared passion between father and son—inspired and fostered by both his Abington and Bridgton coaches—provided the foundation for a successful career at St. Joseph’s College under Will Sanborn, where Cejay earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Sports Management. While there he admits “I realized there were people making money on the game of baseball!” and that became a goal. His path has led Cejay to coaching stops with the Sanford Mainers, IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, and to his current placement as the pitching coach at the University of Maine. Through all of this growth, Cejay gives the highest praise to his time at Bridgton and the lifelong relationships that started while he was there. “Izzy is my biggest mentor outside of my father,” acknowledges Suarez, who coached under Izaryk at Bridgton Academy in 2018 and 2019. “I learned how to coach under Izzy—how to bring intensity to practice, read players and how to treat them, and how to be cool, calm, and collected.” Though Cejay loves his current position, he aspires to run his own program one day. When that happens, Suarez will be sure to bring all the lessons from family, mentors, and Bridgton Academy with him; and he will most certainly make the most of his opportunities and succeed.
