Interview With Varsity Football Captains
by Erin Behr '18

This year, the captains of the varsity football team are seniors Luca Hagen, Jacob Jarosz, and Joel Mandish. I had the pleasure of sitting down with all three seniors to ask them about this year’s football season. 

Question: Which positions do you play? 
Luca: I play right guard and defensive tackle. 
Jacob: I play running back and middle linebacker.  
Joel: I play wide receiver and safety. 
 
When did each of you start playing football? 
Luca: I’ve played since I was five years old.  
Jacob: I have been playing since I was seven.  
Joel: I have been playing for ten years, so since I was seven. 
 
Jacob, how do you get your team hype before games? 
We have a flag that we all run out to the field with while chanting as a team. The honorary captain that week is in charge of holding the flag and planting it in the middle of the field.  
 
How is the honorary captain picked? 
Luca: The coaches pick one every week based on hard work and dedication at practice.  
 
What do you enjoy most about your role as team captain? 
Luca: I like walking out for the coin toss. But more importantly, I like being the person that the coach goes to for getting the team fired up and getting players back on track.  
 
What have been your major football accomplishments as a team and as a player? 
Joel: I would say we already have a lot of accomplishments. We are 4-0 so far. We don't have a lot of injuries, we have a successful new offense, and the team blends really well.  
 
Who do you think will be your toughest competition this season? 
Jacob: St. Mary’s, because we both lost a lot of seniors. They’re a good team but so are we, so I think we can beat them. 
 
 
What do you think are your team’s strong points? Weak points? 
Luca: Our wide receivers are really good and we have the best defense in the league. We don't have a lot of weaknesses, but we are at a disadvantage because we don’t have a lot of players compared to a lot of other teams in the league.  
 
Come cheer on the varsity football squad as they battle St. Mary's for the B Conference championship on Saturday night, November 12, under the lights at Spaulding. 

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