Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 42

42. The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

42 also holds a revered place in sports lore as it is retired all throughout Major League Baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson, a man who broke the barriers of racial discrimination in professional sports when he became the first African-American to appear in a Major League Baseball game for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.

Also, the Arizona State Sun Devils have retired 42 in honor of Pat Tillman, who wore 42 during his career in Tempe. Tillman, who earned the last football scholarship available at ASU when he began his career, excelled as a linebacker despite being undersized for the position. He led the Sun Devils to the Rose Bowl in 1997 and was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year that season.

Pat Tillman eventually moved on to the NFL and played four years with the Arizona Cardinals. After the 2001 season, he spurned a multi-million dollar contract offer from the Cardinals to enlist in the Army, in response to the events of September 11, 2001. He served several tours of duty in Afghanistan and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2007.

A running back was the first player to wear this number, but ever since 2008, this has mainly been a preferred number for linebackers at Cy Woods.

Logan Junkin, the Junk Man, was a backup running back in 2008.

Logan Junkin, 2008

Travis Calda took this number in 2009, but he was injured and did not play.

Travis Calda (front), 2009

Christian Limbrick made the varsity in 2010, his junior year, and was a rotational player at both outside linebacker spots. He became a starter in his senior season as part of a feared trio with Daylan Skidmore and Deoundrei Davis.

Christian Limbrick, 2010-11

Colin McDade, a backup middle linebacker, wore #42 in 2012.

Colin McDade, 2012

Elijah Pierson was a two-year letterman for the Wildcats, making the varsity as a junior in 2013. Against Cy Creek that year, he made the tackle that kept the Cougars out of the end zone on 4th & goal in the dying seconds of regulation. Elijah was a key member of the defense in 2014 for the Wildcats as part of a solid stable of linebackers. His oldest brother, Alex, played as a safety in 2010.

Elijah Pierson, 2013-14

Neil Chambers made the varsity in 2015, his junior season, and emerged as one of the Wildcats' top performers on the defense. He was a two-year starter at linebacker.

Trajan Armstrong was given this number after he was called up in 2018, his junior year. He led the Wildcats in tackles in his first game, a blowout victory over Cy Park. Trajan also runs track for the Cats.

Photo by Tom Dendy

Trajan Armstrong (far right), 2018-present