On Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, Quakertown seniors Eric Dzieniszewski, Alec Vera and Luke Wood were recognized at a special news conference for committing to play football at the collegiate level. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/p/021915_signings_mjs/_mg_1462_59_12_14
Coach George Banas says: “It’s bittersweet for me having these three individuals leave with this senior class. They were part of the season we don’t like to talk about when we had one win three years ago, and they put in the work and the effort in the offseason to turn things around to go 11-2 this year.
“These three – along with the rest of the senior group – were like an extension of my right arm. Anything that I asked them to do – they didn’t question. They led the underclassmen, whether it was winter workouts, in-season practices or in games. They believed wholeheartedly that we had a destiny and that we were a family and would stay together and triumph on Friday nights and Saturdays, and it came true. Along the way, they became young men, and that has helped with them deciding on their education and their careers in the future. I’m going to miss them terribly. The underclassmen have a lot to live up to because this group was so special.”
Eric Dzieniszewski – Shippensburg University (Football)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Shippensburg, Millersville, Delaware Valley, Stevenson (Md.)
Reasons for choosing Shippensburg: “Once I went there for a visit, it just felt like home. At Quakertown, the football team is like a family, and Shippensburg gave that to me.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I started playing football in eighth grade. That was my first year of real football. My freshman year I didn’t play. My sophomore year I played my first varsity game, and junior year is when I started getting serious into it because I was actually getting good at it, so I thought I might as well make the most of it. I put a lot of hard work into it, and it came out to be a good thing.”
Coach George Banas says: “Eric was a wide receiver/defensive back, and he’s going to Shippensburg for defensive back. He’s just a tremendous athlete and a great personality to boot. He’s a fun-loving guy that has a smile on his face and comes to work every day. Whenever you talk to him or coach him up, it’s always, ‘Yes, coach.’ He’ll try his best to do whatever you ask him to do. I’m partial to him because he’s going to my alma mater. I’m really happy for him.”
About Eric:
Favorite food: Perogies
Favorite movie: The Wolf of Wall Street
Favorite music: Rap
Alec Vera – Ursinus College (Fotball)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Ursinus, Kutztown, Lycoming, Delaware Valley
Reasons for choosing Ursinus: “I visited a couple of other places, but I went on an overnight to Ursinus. I stayed with one of my friends who played football at LC, and I met a bunch of the players. It just seemed as though I fit well. It seemed like older guys interacting with younger guys – it wasn’t two separate things, and I just want to be a part of that. I want to be part of the family, and also, coach (Peter) Gallagher seems like a great coach. He was really helpful throughout the whole process, and it’s just something I want to be a part of.”
What was the progression that led you to playing football at the collegiate level? “My junior year when I received a few e-mails – I signed up for a recruiting web site, and I was getting looked at by a few schools. I always thought I could go bigger than D-3, but it doesn’t always work out that way, but I’m fortunate enough to be playing college football. Sometimes people don’t give D-3 enough credit. It’s still good football. It’s still very competitive, and I’m happy that I’m playing.”
Coach George Banas says: “Alec ended up at Ursinus and got a great package. I think it’s a great fit for him. I think he will go and compete right away for the starting job. You see the kid on the field – he was very underrated all year. He could throw and run. In the district playoff game (a 14-10 win over Pennridge), he makes that scramble to get the first down and then the next play throws a 22-yard touchdown pass. Those two plays really helped us win the game, and he did that all year long with his feet – getting first downs, getting out of jams with bad snaps. He was just tremendous.”
About Alec:
Favorite food: Chicken
Favorite movie: When the Game Stands Tall
Favorite music: Rap
Luke Wood – Wilkes University (Football)
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Final list of colleges: Wilkes, Widener, Shippensburg
Reasons for choosing Wilkes: “I really wanted to get a good engineering education, and I just felt that was one thing they offered very well. Their football team is in a building process with a new coach. They’ve been struggling the past couple of years. It represents what I went through at Quakertown – the program struggled my freshman and sophomore years, and towards the end of my junior and senior years, we really started to pick it up. That appealed to me. They just really made me feel wanted, and I just felt very comfortable there, meeting all the kids and meeting all the coaches. It just felt like the right place.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I kind of knew when the season ended I had potential to play at the next level. I had a couple of coaches talking to me. At that point, I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to play. I kind of bounced back and forth, but I just felt it was the right thing for me to do.”
Coach George Banas says: “Wilkes is a great fit for Luke. They’re real high on Luke. He’s a real tough kid. He always came to work in the offseason and is probably one of the toughest workers, hardest workers in the gym. He led by example in the weight room and speed camp. He was always there, and going onto the field during the season, it really showed. He played both ways and on almost every special team for us. He’s just a tremendous kid and a major contributor.”
About Luke:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie: When the Game Stands Tall
Favorite music: Hip Hop
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