Yianni Gavalas

Southpaw Handler: Westminster School (CT) QB Yianni Gavalas

*As a toddler, Yianni Gavalas was so adept at dribbling a basketball that his Flushing, New York friends and family were amazed by his “handle“: going behind the back, between the legs, spinning the ball on his finger, etc. He became so skilled at hoops that he reached the lofty AAU level as a 9-year old. And when he started playing tackle football for the first time at age 5, Yianni would do the same type of fingertip-control tricks with the pigskin: flicking the ball, making it roll around his hand, having it tumble from his hand to his shoulder, etc. A sort of gridiron magician. “I still love handling the ball on every play. That never changed. Being in control of the action. That’s why I love being a quarterback,” stated the soft-spoken Gavalas.

His high school coach, Tom Pugh, has been coaching at Holy Cross High School in the city for forty years. He has produced his share of college players and a handful of notable professionals, including Tom Earnhardt who played with the New York Jets. “Yianni entered the school at 5’2″. But even then I knew he was something special. Then he hit that one-foot growth spurt. Then he was really special,” recalled Coach Pugh. “Yianni just continued to improve. His senior year he was playing mainly with sophomores and juniors. And he was only 16 years old!” Pugh continued, “He is so bright (3.8 GPA/26 ACT) that he consistently made the right read on offense. A true West Coast quarterback.”

Gavalas’ go-to receiver and good friend at Holy Cross was Shyheim Wingate. The talented 5’8″ wideout hauled in a staggering number of Gavalas’ lefty offerings. Including a school-record five touchdowns in a 48-21 rout of Holy Trinity. These connections opened up D1 eyes for Wingate, and he eventually committed to Wagner College, where he is currently a freshman. “It was that Holy Trinity game when Yianni came of age. As a junior, he was still learning the ropes. As he senior, he was in charge. Took control of the huddle. His confidence soared. He demanded our respect,” explained Wingate, “Yianni can run with the ball but is your typical drop-back passer. A strong, accurate arm, especially on the deep ball,”

Gavalas’s late December birthday made him a logical candidate for a post-grad year.
“Yianni had to be one of the youngest seniors (16) in the state. I just felt that with another year of seasoning and development, he would turn into the kind of college prospect I believe he is,” Coach Pugh added. Gavalas agreed. He and his family took four trips to top prep schools seeking his services after graduating from high school. The Westminster School in the quaint New England town of Simsburg, Connecticut was the ideal fit. “It just felt right from the moment I walked on campus. It felt like home,” the 17-year old southpaw told me.

Lee Huguley is in third year at Westminster, his second season as head coach. He speaks glowingly of his Big Apple transplant. “Yianni Gavalas has brought an injection of life to our football program. He is a natural leader. So disciplined at practice. He hates when one of his passes hits the ground incomplete. He is everything we expected and more,” said Coach Huguley.

The Westminster School has only played two games to this point in the season. Gavalas’ stats have been jaw-dropping. In his first game, he threw for three touchdowns. In the next game, he passed for 450 yards, five more scores and ran one in. Piling up 750 yards through the air on the young campaign.“I even played him at safety and he picked one off and ran it back 40 yards,” Coach Huguley continued, “Yianni is so silky smooth in his ball handling, play fakes and delivery, people might not realize what an accomplished runner he is. He had 40 yards rushing that last game. I’ve installed an option-component to our offense to take advantage of his running ability.”

As excited as Coach Huguley is about Gavalas’s talents on the field, it is his off-the-field make-up that impresses the Westminster head man most.“Yianni has impeccable character. I use him as a role model for the right way to do things in the community and in the classroom. On his own, he has taken two young players (RB David Carter & QB Mike McNally) under his wing. Giving them pointers. No one told him to do that. It’s just the type of class act he is. He cares about the future of this school’s program.”

This mentoring of young players is a passion for Gavalas. He volunteers his time back home in New York City working with youth football organizations, among them the NFL’s Play 60 program. Whether it is giving out passing tips on how to throw on the run or passing out Thanksgiving turkeys at St. Nicholas of Flushing’s annual food drive, this is a young man whose character is beyond reproach.

A tire-flipping, fitness fanatic who preferred to work out with linebackers and linemen at Gridiron, a high intensity training complex in Mineola since his sophomore year in high school, the 6’2″, 195-pound signalcaller has the physical toughness to go along with the cerebral part of the game. “I was fortunate to play for a coaching legend in Coach Pugh at Holy Cross. He’s been there forever. And he is rarely wrong. He was the one who suggested the post-grad year for me. Felt that because of my age, I could reach my full potential physically and developmentally as a quarterback with an extra year. Coach Huguley has given me that opportunity at Westminster. And I plan to capitalize on it,” stated Gavalas.

And Yianni has done just that. With his stellar academic record and documented football skill set, it is no surprise that elite universities from both the Ivy and Patriot Leagues are zeroing in on the one-time point guard.

And no matter where Yanni Gavalas ends up a year from now, there is little doubt in anyone’s mind who has associated with him that he’ll be able to handle it.

Christian Honsalek

 

Texas High School Football: Trinity Kicker Christian Honsalek an Upright Cowboy

 

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart it." - Proverbs 22:6

Special teams coach Sean Riley (Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas) kicked for the Naval Academy and in the Arena Football League. Two years ago, Riley was desperate for a placekicker for his junior varsity football team when he spotted Christian Honsalek playing for the Tiger soccer team.

All Coach Riley knew about Christian was he worked hard and could boot the soccer ball as an All-District selection. How that might translate to the gridiron, Riley had no idea.“Christian didn’t even know what a football tee was. Didn’t know how to set the ball up on the tee,” explained Coach Riley.
So when the 10th grade soccer star’s first kickoff in practice sailed through the end zone and into the bleachers, Riley was not surprised when Honsalek turned to him and sheepishly asked, “Is that good or bad?” Coach Riley responded, “That’s very good!”

Christian moved up to varsity last season and the junior responded.“We attempted more 45-yard field goals with Christian than we had the previous three seasons combined,” Riley added. “Every kicker I’ve ever worked with has gone on to be All-County or All-State. Christian has that type of deep leg potential.” Christian works with Coach Riley six to 10 hours per week in private mentoring sessions. “His skill level blended with his work ethic is a strong combination," Riley said. "He wants to be the best. He strives to get better. To get stronger. You hardly ever see a 16-year old who watches his diet like Christian does.”

The 5’11”, 170 pound two-sport star wasn’t always the rugged on-field performer he has become.

“When he first joined the football team, he was toothpick thin and rather frail,” Head Coach Mike Helmer explained.

Helmer added:

Christian simply got bigger and stronger every year. He works out like a linebacker. His performance reflected his improved physical prowess. As a kicker, you have to be mentally tough. You have to choose to have a short memory. Christian has those intangibles as well. I have faith he can get the job done with the game on the line.

Honsalek has become so valuable to the Tigers' cause, his coach had to tell him to hold back on kickoff coverage. “This kid has no fear. He was racing down the field after his kicks looking to nail somebody," Helmer said. "Christian was flattening guys, but I was worried he would get hurt and we’d lose his services.”

Christian Honsalek’s toughness comes from his western upbringing. His family is a clan of longhorn breeders. Their ranch in the Texas Hill Country and a family-owned spread in the Davis Mountains is where Christian developed his considerable skills in rounding up and working cattle. His accuracy isn’t limited to drilling long field goals or touchbacks, either. Christian is an accomplished sharpshooter who enjoys hunting axis deer.

Lest you think that Christian is your typical cowboy, think again. His interests beyond ranching and football are diverse. His strong faith in God, community service, student government, and his academic standing are all vital parts of his being.
Jacquelynn Worley is one of Christian’s teachers. She said of him:

It’s rare for a 16-year-old who works as hard as he does in my honors math class to show up time and time again for Friday and Saturday night functions associated with my sponsorship of the National Honor Society. Whether it is setting up and serving needy families at the Halloween church party or working with the Bridges Program (unwed mothers), Christian is always there. He always steps up.

Christian Honsalek’s 3.5 grade point average in advanced courses reflects his seriousness about his classwork. While he feels he has the physical talent to kick at the Division I level, his scholastic plans for college will include majoring in kinesiology/physical therapy. With his passion for animals, veterinary science is a distinct career possibility.

Upright is a critical word for any placekicker. It is what every kicker tries to split on every placement, whether it is an extra point or one of those 45-yard field goals Coach Riley mentioned. Perfect form each time. Head down. Drive the foot through the ball. Repeat.

Upright also pertains to being a man of high character. It is adhering to rectitude. Doing the right thing. Treating people with respect. Being the best Christian you can be. Head up. Repeat.

Nick Sorrenti

The Bull of Broome County: NY FB/LB Nick Sorrenti

As he walked the mean streets of the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn with his grandmother Sally as a toddler, Nick Sorrenti didn’t know that she would become the most influential person in his football life. “We stopped in a Sunoco gas station one day when I was five and bought a football. One of those cheap, rubbery balls they were known for,” proclaimed the now 6’1”, 235-pound Sorrenti.

“My grandmother was an amazing athlete. And she knew the game of football. She taught me how to carry the ball when I run, how to catch the ball with my hands and pull it in and how to make over-the-shoulder grabs. She threw the tightest spiral! Even taught me how to punt!” Nick’s grandmother suffered a debilitating stoke when he was seven, losing much of the feeling on her left side.
“She is a warrior. I would play cards with her in the hospital. Got her one of those stress balls to squeeze so she could regain strength again. It was my turn to take care of her,” said Sorrenti.
It would take nine months for his grandmother to walk again.

“Our bedroom in the apartment was tiny. Maybe 10 feet by 12 feet. And most of that was filled with a set of bunk beds. I would be in the top bunk. Nick in the bottom. I did a drill with Nick where he would lie on the floor and I would fire the football down at him. One pass to the left. One to the right. One overhead,” recalled his older brother Frankie. “We had a tiny plot of concrete behind the building where Nick and I would do all kind of football drills. Some violent collisions on that surface. It doesn't give. It toughened him up,” Frankie continued When I asked his brother why he nicknamed Nick “The Bull," Frankie told me, “You’ve seen him. It’s self explanatory. Nick was always big, even as a kid. Like a bull, he doesn’t like going down!” 

The Sorrenti family moved to upstate New York when Nick was 10. It was one of his elementary school teachers who spotted his athletic prowess on the playground during recess. She reported his talent to her dad, a local coach, who got him involved in his first organized football league.
The team would go to win the championship during Nick’s first year of participation. It would foreshadow things to come. When Sorrenti reached middle school, he was the first overall pick in the youth league draft. He would play right guard and defensive tackle. “I was bigger than most kids. And I just liked to hit people!” Nick exclaimed. When the family moved to Endwell, Nick attended Maine-Endwell High School, Union-Endicott’s arch rivals. Coaches there loved the mobility and strength Nick demonstrated on the line. But they had other plans. He was switched to the backfield on offense and inserted at linebacker on defense.

It was in the Spartan weight room where Nick would develop the power that exemplifies his game: a 385-pound bench press and 510-pound squat—lifts that are more typical of the lineman he used to be.
The Maine-Endwell football team is blessed with three talented backs, reminiscent of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins.

Speedy Luis "Cha Cha" Uceta is the team’s Mercury Morris. The 5’10”, 160-pound tailback rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and was named MVP of the state championship game.

“Nick is my best friend. We have been talking about playing big-time football since we threw the ball back and forth in fifth grade, “ Uceta stated.
“Nick is one double-tough kid. He leads by example. In the weight room. On the field. When we visit the elementary school, those little kids look up to him like he is a pro.”

Versatile Justin Jacoby is the third member of the talented Spartan backfield. He is the team’s Jim Kiick. Jacoby rushed for nearly 900 yards with 13 touchdowns, including the semifinal game-winner vs. Rochester-Aquinas, the top-ranked team in the state of New York.

“Nick is a solid all-around player. He is a punishing hitter at linebacker and a load to bring down at fullback. He loves running guys over but has quick feet and a shiftiness to him that gets him into the open field. He’s obviously one of our best leaders. We were trailing 20-7 at halftime of the state championship game. Nick gave an impassioned speech in that locker room. It fired us up. He played like a man possessed. Scored three touchdowns, including the 30-yard game-clincher with 45 seconds left,” Jacoby recalled.

Sorrenti is Maine-Endwell’s Larry Csonka, the bruising power back who went on to the NFL Hall of Fame. Despite missing three games toward the end of his junior year with an ankle injury, Sorrenti piled up nearly 1,000 yards with 12 touchdowns during the regular season.

Once healthy again, he turned it on in a four-game playoff run, capped off by his heroics in the title tilt vs. Burnt Hills HS. He ran for 110 yards and scored both touchdowns in a 14-0 sectional victory over his old school Union-Endicott. He won MVP again the next weekend when he rushed for 117 yards and the semifinal game-winner in a 19-16 nail biter vs. top-seed Rochester-Aquinas. And capped off his junior campaign with three scores in the come-from-behind state championship victory. Six touchdowns in four playoff games. Big players step up big in big games. “I try to lead by example. Growing up I admired Mike Alstott [Purdue All-American who went to star with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers]. I love to lower my shoulder and run over a defender. I don’t like going down because I don’t like having to get up,” Sorrenti confessed.

His opponents agree. Anthony “Ant” Johns is a promising sophomore tailback from neighboring Johnson City HS. The three-sport star (wrestling and lacrosse) got a first-hand view of Nick Sorrenti & Company in Maine-Endwell’s shellacking of JCHS.

 

“We were undefeated at the time. Their entire team was just so physical on both sides of the ball. All three of their backs are talented. Sorrenti was just running over guys like bowling pins. And as I found out firsthand, he hits like a truck on defense. I used that game to motivate me. I know what it takes now to be great,” Johns admitted.

Maine-Endwell HS will be dropping down a division for the 2012 season. The goals of the Spartan team and Sorrenti are clear: win that second ring. “I know we are going to have a giant bullseye on our back. I welcome it. My workout partner Luis [Uceta] and I are lifting harder than ever this offseason. Looking forward to the start of track season.”

Don’t see many 235-pounders who run the 100 meters and relay events and then go on to throw the discus and shot put. It tells you what kind of freakish athlete Nick Sorrenti truly is.

National organizations are taking note of the considerable talent coming out of Maine-Endwell. Sorrenti was just selected to try out for Team USA (Under 19) in Austin, TX in early July. Uceta, Jacoby and starting center Jake Haddock will join him there. Only 200 juniors nationwide were selected to compete for roster spots to play in the prestigious International Bowl in 2013.

After four days of intense full-contact drills, each athlete will receive a hand-written evaluation from a member of USA Football’s evaluation staff which includes NFL player personnel scouts, NFL coaches and Team USA coaching staff members. A tremendous honor for a small school from upstate New York.

As Division I colleges begin to head to the Empire State to recruit him, Sorrenti is looking for one thing:
“I want a university that feels like a home on and off the football field. I don’t want a team. I want a family. With the same type of community feel and tradition that we have here at Maine-Endwell.”
As what does he intend to major in?

“I want to become a registered nurse,” Sorrenti proudly stated.

With this rampaging Bull ready to charge into his senior year and a talented surrounding cast returning in the fall, I have a feeling there won’t be a shortage of potential patients for Nick Sorrenti to tend to.

Bryce Fausett

 

Feeling The Brees: Texas QB Bryce Fausett 

“In wars amongst ideas,
doubters are the victims.” ― Toba Beta

 

At 6’0", 180 pounds, it isn’t surprising that junior quarterback Bryce Fausett (Midlothian High School of Texas) idolizes New Orleans Saints' All-Pro signal-caller Drew Brees.

Brees is barely 6'0" tall. Considered smallish by NFL standards, Brees’ height didn’t prevent him from winning Super Bowl MVP in 2008 or from setting the NFL record for passing yards in a single season (5,476) in 2011. Fausett’s height hasn’t prevented him from piling up consistent numbers in one of Texas’ toughest 5A Districts. Nor has it affected his confidence and love for the game.

Fausett said:

You aren’t going to find tougher competition nationwide than schools like DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Mansfield and Duncanville. They are all loaded with major D1 prospects. Big, fast athletes who are strong and cover a lot of ground. I held my own as a junior and know I’ll be even better this year (his senior season). I’ve been a quarterback since I was in the primary grades. I thrive on having the ball in my hands and controlling the game. To a large extent, the game comes down to me. I have to play well for us to win.

Teammate A. J. Tully, a junior wide receiver/linebacker, has high praise for his friend and team field general.

Bryce is very competitive. He always wants to win. He knows how to get the best from you. Even when mistakes are made, he doesn’t jump on you. He simply wants to make you better. That’s what makes him such an effective leader.

Bryce has a strong arm and is a salty (shifty) runner. He knows how to juke and make defenders miss. He is rarely rattled. His confidence gives all of us confidence, even when times get rough during a game.

Midlothian’s head coach is Lee Wiginton.

The strongest attribute Bryce has is his feel for the game. Some kids just have "it." He understands more than the plays. He understands what the offense is trying to achieve vs. certain defenses. He’s heady. Like having a coach on the field.

Bryce is a tough kid. He starts at safety for us. His ability to read coverages comes in handy on defense for us. He knows where the ball is going, is instinctive and is a sure-tackler.

The coach’s thoughts about Fausett’s next-level potential?

I believe Bryce is capable of playing quarterback in D1 football. Granted, he is not the biggest kid. College coaches today have this “cookie-cutter image” of what a quarterback should look like. Think they all have to be 6’4” or 6’5” like Cam Newton.  I compare him to the Boise State quarterback (Kellen Moore). Not the biggest kid either. All he did was win in college. Yet nobody drafted him (signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent). Like Bryce, he had his doubters. He proved everyone wrong. Believe that will be the case here too. Bryce can do everything on the field a quarterback has to do to put his team in a position to win. Intangibles such as leadership, character and command of the game are just as important as his physical skill set.

 

Bryce Fausett is fortunate enough to be mentored by three of the top quarterback tutors in the United States: Kevin Murray starred at Texas A&M and was the 1984 Big 12 Player of the Year. Brad Frazier runs the prestigious Old School Quarterback system in Frisco. And Graham Harrell set numerous national records while at Texas Tech and has been a back-up quarterback for NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers for the past two seasons.

Coach Frazier told me:

Of all the top quarterbacks I train, Bryce Fausett would be right at the top of the list for next-level success. He's got the physical tools and can make all the throws, but it's his leadership that sets him apart. He is an "encourager." Brings the best out of his teammates. Makes everyone around him better. With so many swagger jackers out there, Bryce is the real deal. You can't measure his heart, he plays to win and goes all out till they turn the stadium lights out!

“I’ve emphasized to Bryce that you don’t throw over linemen. You throw through lanes. Brees and Vick (Michael of the Philadelphia Eagles) are not giants, but they know how to read coverages and get the ball out quickly,” added Harrell.

With all the comparisons being made by coaches and tutors, I think the most logical one is Russell Wilson. Like Wilson, Fausett is a highly-skilled baseball player. He plays both pitcher and right field for the Panthers. Russell Wilson measured out at just 5’10” at April’s NFL combine, but that didn’t deter the Seattle Seahawks from selecting him in the third round after a storied college career at both North Carolina State and Wisconsin (his senior year).

A high honors student with a 3.5 GPA, Bryce Fausett is a high-character individual admired by his friends, his teachers, his coaches and those in his Ellis County community. His goal is to be a chiropractor someday. A valuable skill to have playing a game known for spine-adjusting hits.
Fausett summarized:

I see myself starting for a top college program five years from now. I was born and still have family in Illinois so I admire the Illini program, and one of my coaches played at nearby North Texas of the Sunbelt Conference. I’ve been there. Love the campus and the program. But I am receptive to any school willing to provide me with the opportunity to do what I love.

The comparisons to other quarterbacks are just that—comparisons.
It is great to have role models who you resemble and admire and who others compare you to.

Ultimately, Bryce Fausett will pave his own path toward establishing his own player identity, fueled largely by his upcoming senior season. In a gridiron region that was the model for a fictional television show about the drama of high school football, Bryce Fausett is looking to turn Friday Night Lights into Saturday Afternoon Reality.

*All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

John DiCaro

 

The Shelton Sledgehammer: Texas Linebacker John DiCaro

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it."~ Moliere

George Teague knows a little something about defensive football. After starring at powerhouse Alabama in the collegiate ranks as a safety, he was drafted in the 1^st round by the Green Bay Packers in 1993. His 101-yard interception return vs. the Detroit Lions in the 1994 playoffs is still the longest in NFL post-season history. When his second stint with the Dallas Cowboys and a successful nine-year NFL career wound to a close in 2001, Teague knew he wanted to remain in the game he loved. He also knew he wanted to remain in the area. He began coaching and serving as athletic director in the high school ranks in the region. In 2011, the same two positions became available at The June Shelton School in Dallas. When offered the job, he immediately accepted. “Shelton is an amazing place. The nation’s top private school for children with learning disabilities. We have incredible kids who strive hard to reach academic excellence and shine athletically.”

In one of his early film sessions with an assistant coach, George Teague noticed a defender flying all over the field. “Who is #6? Please tell me he is coming back,” asked the new head coach.

The assistant responded, “That’s John DiCaro. He’s going to be a junior in the Fall.”

Teague just smiled.

“I knew I had a good one and I was right. John is one heck of a kid. He’s big (6’2”, 225 pounds), fast and strong with a motor that just won’t stop,” Teague gushed. “He’s so physical. Same way in basketball. He loves banging in the paint. He loves banging people on the football field. Led our team with 105 tackles in his first year playing linebacker. Was elected captain as a junior. Tells you what his teammates thought about his leadership.”

Developmental reading disorder (DRD), or dyslexia, occurs when there is a problem in areas of the brain that help interpret language. It is not caused by vision problems. The disorder is a specific information processing problem that does not interfere with one's ability to think or to understand complex ideas. Most people with DRD have normal intelligence, and many have above-average intelligence.

John DiCaro has dyslexia. The Shelton School is noted for its reputation in teaching strategies to excel scholastically by instilling strategies to overcome the affliction. “The teachers at Shelton are amazing. They bend over backwards to work with you. Go the extra mile. Small classes. 8 students to a room. I credit them with all my academic success (3.3 GPA),” DiCaro told me. Ben Luedtke is the starting quarterback at The Shelton School. Like John, Ben is a rising senior. Like John, Ben has dyslexia. And like John, Ben is a major college prospect. “Hard-nosed. Best word I can use to describe John (DiCaro). He’s a throwback. He’s always around the ball. I love having him as a tight end because he catches everything. Presents a big target. Uses his basketball skills to block out defenders and come up with the ball. On defense, he’s the quarterback of that unit. He’s a natural leader. Our captain. He commands respect,” added the 6’1, 180-pound honor student (3.7 GPA).

What was it about football that intrigued John DiCaro early on? “It got me the first time I ever put the pads on. The speed of the game. Being able to hit people. It was just a perfect fit for my personality,” explained DiCaro. “I averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds in basketball and I love that sport too. I enjoy crashing the boards and knocking people around.” And who are your idols on and off the field?

“I always admired Pat Fitzgerald (former All-American LB/head coach at Northwestern University). He was big and tough. I watch his film all the time. He wasn’t the fastest linebacker, but he was smart and hit like a train.” “My older brother Will (19) has always been my hero. My mentor. He taught me how to go all out, to focus and how to work/train hard. He pounded into me that I can accomplish anything I want to accomplish.” “My Dad (Joe) has been an inspiration as well. His motto is “Be a leader. Be above that.” He is always there for me,” DiCaro proudly proclaimed.

When I asked Coach Teague about John’s dyslexia and how that might impact his recruitment by major colleges, he told me, “John knows left from right. He knows North from South. And he knows how to drive an opponent into the ground. Hard.” “John lives over an hour away from Shelton. Yet he’s never a minute late. We have kids who live down the street. They are always tardy. John is always the last to leave. Have to kick him out of the weight room. He sets an example. His dedication makes him a dream to coach.” “I don’t think his learning disorder is going to affect him one bit at the next level. Top colleges have experts/tutors who know about learning accommodations. I expect him to have an outstanding senior season here. Whoever lands him at the university level will be getting a tremendous player and a true leader. More importantly, they’ll be landing a classy kid,” added Teague.

And where does John DiCaro see himself four years from now? “I definitely want to play at the highest college level possible. I know I can make an impact. But right now, my focus is on finishing the job in high school. I am going to do everything it takes to lead my team to a winning season my last year at Shelton. Make my school proud.” “I’d like to major in culinary science in college. Perhaps open up my own restaurant one day.” The recipe to a successful existence has many ingredients and is a complicated procedure. The finished product often takes years to produce. At 17, John DiCaro’s will to overcome and maximize his potential on and off the field already makes him a master chef in the kitchen of life.

Conner Novotny

 

The Great Wall of Texas: Senior NT Conner Novotny

"I've learned over a period of years there are setbacks when you come up against the immovable object; sometimes the object doesn't move." Coleman Young

*During the reign of Qin Shi Huang (220-206 BC), the 5,500-mile Great Wall of China was built. The first emperor oversaw the construction of the structure along the northern border of China to protect his dynasty from assorted nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike peoples or forces.

During the two-year reign of The Shelton School's George Teague as head football coach, he has built his defense around a 6', 315 lb human anchor at nose tackle. The 1993 #1 draft pick of the Green Bay Packers knows that a force in the middle can fortify his defense from enemy running backs and opposing quarterbacks. "Conner Novotny is an absolute brute. Beast is such an overused term, but this kid is a total beast," said the former All-American defensive back out of the University of Alabama."He reminds me a lot of Gilbert Brown, who I played with in Green Bay. Unreal strength with enough side-to-side quickness and straight-forward explosion to command a constant double team. Often triple-teamed!" proclaimed Teague. "Even more important is the kind of high-character person Conner is. I use him as a sounding board when I gauge the team's temperament toward new schemes and workouts. He gives me frank, honest answers. And that helps maintain positive team morale."

Conner Novotny was destined to be a lineman. "He was always a big kid," his mother Barbara told me."He was a natural to play along the line. Conner always had brute strength and a passion for the game. It takes a special kind of player to take on two, sometimes three, offensive linemen at a time," she added. John DiCaro is Conner's defensive teammate at Shelton. The 6'2", 215 pound linebacker is the team's leading tackler and a major college prospect himself. He knows that having his friend in the middle of the Chargers' defense in front of him makes his job a lot easier. "Conner is almost immovable. No one offensive lineman can handle him. It is not just constant double teams, but mainly triple teams. That opens up clear tackling lanes for the other linebackers and me," added DiCaro.

Conner Novotny himself is such a humble, soft-spoken kid that it was hard to get him to talk about himself for this feature."I'm not in to trash talking or self-promotion. I let my actions on the field speak for itself," When asked what current player either in the college ranks or pros he most resembles, Novotny replied: "I really can't say. I let those around me compare me to to others. They can see better than I can. I have my hands full out there!" It was that attitude that allowed Conner Novotny to overcome the challenges of dyslexia. Developmental reading disorder (DRD), or dyslexia, occurs when there is a problem in areas of the brain that help interpret language. It is not caused by vision problems. The disorder is a specific information processing problem that does not interfere with one’s ability to think or to understand complex ideas. Most people with DRD have normal intelligence, and many have above-average intelligence.

The Shelton School is known for its reputation in teaching strategies to excel scholastically by instilling strategies to overcome the affliction. Mom Barbara has been a school board member since Conner was in 5th grade. "The Shelton School is a truly special place. Besides academic lessons, the faculty provides these kids with the necessary life skills to succeed in the real world. They instill a sense of confidence in their students that is unmatched."

Whether it is Conner's coaches, teachers, teammates, family or friends, the consistent message of work ethic was voiced repeatedly. "I had an optional weight room open session over Easter break in the Spring," Coach Teague told me. "The only player to show up: Conner Novotny. And I eventually had to kick him out so I could go home!" The rare combination of pure strength and athleticism carried over to track and field where Novotny was a state qualifier in the hammer and shot put, earning him an invite to Baltimore in late July for the Junior Olympics.

While Novotny thrives on the competition that athletics offer, his most meaningful contributions extend far beyond the track and playing field. An Eagle Scout at age 15, Novotny gets great satisfaction over his volunteer work in the community. His affection for working with the elderly through his church's "Holy Rollers" program is most noteworthy, whether it's building ramps to make dwellings wheelchair accessible or personally escorting them at various religious functions.

"I like to push myself, whether it's on the field or off. I am my own harshest critic. If you are never satisfied, that makes you constantly work harder than the other guy," Novotny mused. Conner plans to major in either engineering or civil law in college. He hopes to lead Shelton deep into the playoffs and hopefully a state crown before he starts university life.

To conclude our conversation, Coach Teague told me:

"When opposing centers look across the line and see Conner, they know they are in for a long day. You can see the terror in their eyes." People often wonder what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Novotny's football prowess speaks for itself. His talent for wreaking havoc in the middle of the line of play will get him an opportunity to play at the next level for a top college program. More importantly, his ability to overcome early challenges has proven that he will be an even more formidable force in life.