Fort Mill quarterback Chandler Lewis, 12, is competing in the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year competition, a national online contest decided by public voting. The winner receives $25,000 and a mentoring session with Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson.
Chandler led his voting group as of Sept. 10, the final day of the competition’s Top 10 round, according to his voting page on the contest website. The next round, which trims each group to five competitors, runs through Sept. 17. His parents, Kevin and Candace Lewis, are asking Fort Mill residents to back him as the contest moves toward finals in October.
Honors On The Field
Chandler has earned Offensive Player of the Year honors in tackle football, won a 7 on 7 championship and competed as an All American finalist in flag football, his parents said in an email to the Fort Mill Sun.
He enjoys playing quarterback because it lets him compete, lead and challenge himself each time he takes the field, his family said. He takes pride in being responsible for his teammates and reading defenses correctly.
Chandler counts his parents as his biggest inspiration, pointing to the work and sacrifices they make to put him in a position to compete, according to his family.
A Season On The Sideline
The moment his parents say they are proudest of came during a year Chandler did not play at all.
As a sixth grader, Chandler was not permitted to play football under team rules. He could have waited a year. Instead, his family said, “he took a different approach and applied to become the team manager.”
He spent that season supporting the players, taking on responsibility and learning as much of the game as he could to prepare for seventh grade.
Chandler is excited about representing Fort Mill and showing other young athletes that there is always another way to keep working toward a goal, his parents said.
“As parents, we are incredibly proud of Chandler,” Kevin and Candace Lewis said. “Not just because he is being recognized as a talented athlete, but because of the young man he is becoming through the game. Football has taught him invaluable lessons such as leadership, discipline, accountability, and how to handle setbacks. He is always striving to improve and be a supportive teammate.”
“Witnessing our family, friends, and the entire Fort Mill community rally behind him during this competition has been truly heartwarming,” they said. “Winning Youth Athlete of the Year would be an incredible honor, but what truly makes us proudest is seeing Chandler’s hard work, character, and passion for the game being acknowledged beyond the football field.”
How The Competition Works
The competition is operated by Colossal Management LLC, a commercial fundraising company, on behalf of DTCare, a national public charity. According to the official rules, the contest is not owned or operated by CBS, Sports Illustrated or 3BRAND, the apparel brand whose advertising is part of the prize.
The grand prize includes a $25,000 honorarium, a photo shoot for a 3BRAND advertisement in Sports Illustrated, filmed commercials set to air on CBS during the Family Film and TV Awards, an appearance at that awards show and a one on one mentoring session of at least 30 minutes with Wilson.
Anyone can cast one free vote per day. Voters 18 and older may also buy additional votes through donations. Those donations go to DTCare, which grants them to the Why Not You Foundation, founded by Wilson and his wife, the singer Ciara. Under the rules, the grant is made after deductions for competition fees of 36.5 percent, variable costs of up to 12.5 percent and a 1 percent share kept by DTCare.
After the Top 5 round, group finals run Sept. 17 through 24, followed by a wildcard round, quarterfinals and semifinals. Finals voting runs Oct. 16 through 22, and the winner will be announced on or before Nov. 19.
Residents can vote for Chandler at athleteoftheyear.org/2026/chandler-73b8.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
