An alumni throwback to the future - from youth to high school football.

Football is a sport that brings together players of different ages, backgrounds, and experiences. It is a game that not only requires physical strength and skill but also builds character and camaraderie among its players. In a recent Throwback Thursday post highlighting a Naperville Saints team composed of many now-high school players at the JV and Varsity levels. We spoke to one of those players, Nick Lang, as well as his mother, his youth, and high school coaches for their insights on the game and Nick.

Nick Lang, a rising junior for the 2023 school year at Neuqua Valley High School, has been playing football since the first grade for St. Raphael Football. He started with an in-house team, the Chiefs, and then played with Coach Kubacki on the Ss. Peter & Paul team.

Coach Kubacki shares, "All of our coaches loved coaching Nick. I think football was an outlet for him to channel his boundless energy and desire to achieve. Youth football provides a structure to learn how to compete, be accountable to teammates, and have fun while building friendships. Nick was coachable and eager to learn, and I am not surprised to see how well he is doing at Neuqua, they are lucky to have him."

When asked about his favorite youth football memories, Nick states that he misses the warmups they used to do, such as the Oklahoma drill, where he “really loved to go hit somebody!” His mom also notes that the camaraderie among the players was great.

Bill Ellinghaus, Head Varsity Football Coach at Neuqua Valley High School, praises Lang's hard work and dedication to the sport. Nick is known as one of the hardest workers on the team, lifting weights at 4:45 am and often after school too. Ellinghaus notes that Nick's gym time pays off as he works towards a 600-pound deadlift. While predominantly a defensive tackle, Nick played offensive line in 2022 because it's what the team needed. This versatility is something that Nick learned from playing multiple positions in his youth football days, playing on special teams, offense, and defense as an ironman. As Coach Ellinghaus states, ”Nick is a terrific young man. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team, and he’s done a great job for us.”

By all accounts, Nick's youth football experience has prepared him well for high school football. He states that he has learned to read plays, understand the field, and master the fundamentals of the game. “One thing the [Saints] program did well was increasing the intensity every year. It was hard but it got me ready for the fast pace of high school play, and I now understand why the intensity was so high."

Nick observes that one of the main strengths of kids who’ve played youth football and now play high school is their heart. Similarly, Coach Ellinghaus adds that kids who have played football before coming to high school have a leg up, with the basic fundamentals down, such as where to put their head when they tackle or how to take an angle.

The game of football changes as players move from youth to high school football. Nick notes that the tempo of the game in high school is much faster than youth, with more run-throughs on Thursdays and without pads. He also observes that playing against his former youth football teammates makes the game more competitive, with the desire to "put the gas on" when playing against them. Nick's mom also notes that after the games, they [former teammates] have that recognition and congratulate each other, which feeds into their camaraderie.

Finally, Beth, Nick's mom, praises the Naperville Saints program as she states:”It’s a very well run program, the coaches are very knowledgeable, the athletic trainers are there, and the parent involvement and support are great.”

From a football player mom’s perspective, Beth states that starting at a younger age allows players to play multiple positions over the years. “As their bodies change, they grow, get stronger and faster, and that experience playing multiple positions makes them a utility player and it is what helped him [Nick}."

She believes that learning the game younger makes it safer for the players and that the Saints message of team appearance and respect for parents has turned the players into young men. Nick pays it forward, volunteering his time at the Naperville Saints summer camp last year, and the organization is excited to see what he continues to contribute to Naperville football.

In conclusion, what we hear from Nick and other players is that football is not just a game of physical strength and skill, but it also builds character and camaraderie among its players. Nick Lang's youth football experience has prepared him well for high school football, where he continues to thrive and contribute to his team. We look forward to seeing what he continues to accomplish!