Q&A Senior Spotlight: Glenbrook South's Do-It-All President Drew Duffy

Politically-inclined and an athletic star, Duffy dabbles in aplenty.

Interview conducted Oct. 6

This interview has been edited for clarity and timeliness. 

CSLV: What has this 2022 season been like for GBS Football?

DD: “I’m very proud with what we’ve done so far. I  think we have a great group of guys and athletes who are extremely hard-working driven and have a high football IQ, which has clearly resulted in success for our team. We had a bit of a setback ….with Maine South. With that being said, I think we played hard and showed some perseverance.”

CSLV: You play offensive and defensive line correct? How is your time split?

DD: “I play all reps on offense at strong guard for us and I take a majority of the reps at Nose Guard.”

CSLV: In your time as a football player, have you always been on the line?

DD: “I’ve always been on the line since I started in 5th grade. I played D-line throughout middle school and up into freshman year. I was on varsity as a sophomore, so I was really just focused on offensive line, then I went back to D-Line for my junior and senior year.”

CSLV: How would you characterize the way you play the game?

DD: “I try to be extremely physical 100% of the time. Obviously I think most guys are doing that, but I really try to take it to the next level. On D-line I do a lot of bull-rushing, I get my hands up and drive the guy. I’m a wrestler, so I like to use the balance and weight distribution I have from that sport and carry it into the D-Line. I just try to be very explosive and physical.”

CSLV: How long have you wrestled? 

DD: “Actually I only started my freshman year. My freshman line coach told me he thought it’d be great for me to try. I had one of my good friends did wrestling. The worst that could happen was I didn’t like it and I move (on) the next year. I really enjoyed the sport. I enjoyed learning how to really fight for yourself. I think football is great in the way that it builds a great team bond, however, I think wrestling is special because it forces you to rely solely on yourself and your training. You really can’t make mistakes because you’re the only one out there. You’re still fighting for the team but it really improves your individual focus on technique and emphasis on strength.”

CSLV: Over the last couple of seasons what have you been able to accomplish and where are you most happy with your development as a wrestler?

DD: “I had to skip my sophomore season of wrestling because of Covid. I also play Lacrosse. All our seasons were scrunched into the spring. It really didn’t work out.  I, unfortunately, had to forgo that wrestling season. But I came back for my junior year and I worked my way back to the techniques. Re-learned the basics and was able to go pretty far in the state tournament. I won the regional championship. I was 3rd place in my sectional, so I qualified for the state tournament. I did not end up placing, but fun road.”

CSLV: What is your relationship with lacrosse and how important is it to you as a sport?

DD: I love lacrosse. It’s the first sport I really ever played outside of AYSO soccer as a very young kid. My dad played throughout high school and college. My brother played it at Augustana College. Ie always been around the sport. Being a bigger kid, you have to find your place on the team and I’m currently the face-off guy so I’m really able to utilize a lot of my football and wrestling skills and put it into the sport that I’ve known for most of my life so I really enjoy playing it.”

CSLV: Were you always of a mindset that you were going to play all the sports you could or did that come later in high school?

DD: “I really just thought of taking up a winter sport. I was never a basketball guy. I was open to anything. My plan going into high school was just football and lacrosse but wrestling opened itself up and I thought if I’m not wrestling I’m doing workouts or speed training and weightlifting so I might as well be competitive and try a sport.