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48 | November 29, 2018 | The Northbrook tower Sports northbrooktower.com Football Player of the Year Gonzalez’s leadership helps right Loyola’s ship Michael Wojtychiw Contributing Sports Editor Loyola Academy has been a model of consistency since head coach John Holecek took over as the Ramblers coach in 2006. With nine state semifinal appearances in the past 10 years, four straight title game appearances and five of the past six, it’s fair to say the Ramblers have been on quite a roll. So when the team started off 3-3, the team needed to regroup to right the ship. “I think in the beginning of the season in those early couple weeks, we just thought we’re just going to throw on that Loyola jersey and we’re just going to just win, because that’s what Loyola does,” he said. “But I think that after that Montini loss, we all kind of realized that this is our team, like each year is different. So if we’re going to be successful, we have to do it on our own, we have to work that much harder. “And I think our coaches, even at practice were just kind of, they’re patient at the beginning just understanding, and then they really helped us get back on the right track.” Thanks to the play of Gonzalez and his fellow Jake Gonzalez returns an interception against Maine South. 22nd Century Media seniors, the Ramblers not only righted the ship, but won eight games in a row, leading them to the state title game. “We started righting the ship when we all started bonding and getting closer with each other, and started trusting each other and playing for each other,” he said. “There’s one moment, we were at Cole Livaditis’s house, and we were all, everyone on the defense was pretty much in there, and we were just talking about what we can do better and how we’re going to become a championship team, like what each person’s going do to play their part.” Gonzalez, who has started since he was a sophomore, became the school’s all-time tackles leader after the Providence game, something he knew he was nearing but didn’t know he had achieved until the end of that game. He also became the sixth Rambler to be named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year when he won it this year, sharing the award with Jackson Bruscianelli of Montini. Not to be outdone, however, the Loyola senior also earned Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State honors in 2018. For as much success as he’s had, Gonzalez is more than willing to give credit to the teammates he had around him. “I’m very proud of that one (all-state award),” he said. “I think it just felt really good, and that also is a reflection of just teammates, I think everyone on our defense especially my safety partner Nick Pomey, we’ve been having a really close relationship this year. And I just think that relationship has really helped.” What makes Gonzalez’s case even more interesting is that he started out his high school career as an offensive player, before the coaches moved him to safety his sophomore year. “When there was practice over the summer going into sophomore year I think that I was just really up for the challenge and just knew that not that many people are getting this opportunity to play because they’re sophomores for Loyola,” he said. Next year Gonzalez will take his talents to the East Coast and play for the University of Pennsylvania. Despite being a safety for the majority of his career, Penn recruited him as an outside linebacker. coach From Page 51 know it would take off so well. “I wanted to be in the conversation,” Holecek said. “I didn’t think it was going to be consistent every year. It’s not like I have a piles of money where we can buy kids. You don’t have scholarships. We’re going to get who we get, a bunch of kids who work hard. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be in the conversation every year.” So the Ramblers bought back into the system when faced with adversity. Starting quarterback Jack Fallon missed games due to injury and the defense didn’t look as strong as it always had, but once everything came back together, Loyola was back. Loyola’s staff focused on the individual players and games, going back to their roots. “I think there’s a commitment, and now I think there’s an expectation,” Holecek said. “There’s a commitment to getting better, working on yourself every day.” That’s why the Ramblers ended up in a familiar position.
northbrooktower.com northbrook the northbrook tower | November 29, 2018 | 49 Get an annual membership and save up to $184! GET FIT FOR THE HOLIDAYS! HOLIDAY GIVEBACK! GET A JUMP ON THE NEW YEAR AND SAVE! JOIN TODAY! NORTH SUBURBAN YMCA • 2705 Techny Rd. Northbrook, IL • 847-272-7250 • nsymca.org DECEMBER 1 st from 1-3pm • Donate supplies and help pack "Blessing Bags," which will go to Project "I Am Helping the Homeless."Bagswillalsogo to the YWCA to help North Shore women and children who are dealing with domestic violence. • Holiday craft and activities • FREE pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus If you would like to donate money for supplies, the NSYMCA will be taking money donations as well. For more information, please contact Tara Wesselink at twesselink@nsymca.org. For donation information, please contact Karen Brownlee at kbrownlee@nsymca.org. 2017 & 2018 WINNER NORTH SUBURBAN YMCA 2705 Techny Rd. Northbrook, IL • 847-272-7250 • nsymca.org
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