Due to the current circumstances of 2021, the Friars have had to adjust to some new rules. This includes several 7 v. 7 flag football matches, in replacement of the regular season in the fall. Luke Rizzo, senior varsity captain tells us a little about how he thinks his team has adapted quickly to the new rules despite the major changes.
Luke says, “A lot has changed due to the pandemic but my team and I were quickly able to adapt to the new rules. Offensively, we start on the 40 yard line and we are only able to pick up one first down which makes it a lot harder when in a normal game you sometimes travel over 90 yards to make a touchdown…. Being only able to pass the ball was really annoying. I am a running back, so I can’t really even play my position properly. This rule provided me with the opportunity to play slot receiver which I loved. I am hopeful my fellow captains and I will be able to lead this team to multiple wins and hopefully a championship if the team gets to play a real season in the spring.”
With the regular season postponed from its original August start, players had to find a way to adjust and keep in shape for their upcoming season. When asked how he kept in shape during the pandemic Rizzo tells us, “Due to the pandemic gyms were closed so I was stuck doing a lot of push-ups, core, footwork, and dumbbell exercises. During the quarantine I couldn’t just let my body get out of shape so by doing all these little things I was able to keep my body in shape and I was ready for whatever type of season we were going to have in the fall.” The restrictions on multiple athletes have allowed the creative side of our Friars to shine through as they take matters into their own hands to train.
In the beginning months of his final year at Saint Anthony’s, it is vital Rizzo does all he can to help push the friar team to victories. As a fall Captain, it provided him the voice to help find ways to make the team better as a whole. When speaking with Rizzo he tells us his goal as captain and the most promising moments of his senior year; “As a senior, I am most looking forward to being able to lead my team. Being given the honor of captain holds a lot of responsibility and value. I always need to be the role model for everyone on my team to look up to. With a good role model for people to follow, people can succeed in any task, so I am trying my best to be that for my team on a daily basis. It can be hard but I love the challenge. All I want to do is win and by hopefully leading my team in the right direction we can succeed in winning games and hopefully a championship if we get to have an actual season in the spring.” Although speaking for himself, fellow Senior Captains Kieran McKenna and Emmanuel Green on the defensive side of this Friar team share the same values of being the best leaders they can be.
Gabrielle Miller is a Junior at St. Anthony’s High School, this is her second year at Friar Scoreboard. She is a member of NHS and hopes to study journalism in the future.
