Champion proud to return to Artesia

By SAMANTHA MORIN
Daily Press Staff Writer
J.D. Champion is proud to be a Bulldog and to be teaching in his hometown.
Champion is Artesia (Park) Junior High School’s new PE and basketball coach. … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.
“Basketball is my specialty,” said Champion. “It’s what I came back to do.”
A 1995 Artesia High School graduate, Champion played football and basketball for the Bulldogs. He said his coaches impacted him greatly and were his biggest motivation to become a coach himself.
“My senior year was the year we won Artesia’s first basketball championship,” Champion said. “We won football championships in all three of my years playing football. My biggest motivation to become a coach was to impact the lives of kids the way my coaches impacted me.