By Bobby Narang
York High School’s football program is looking to keep on rolling.
York head football coach Mike Fitzgerald said the vibe around the program at the Elmhurst school remains upbeat and positive.
“The expectations and approach hasn’t changed too much this year compared to last year,” he said. “Our approach has always been to focus on getting better every day to give ourselves the best chance and maximize our potential and this group has been doing it since January. These guys have been in the weight room since January and have shown a tremendous commitment to their goals this offseason, so the excitement is very high and these guys are itching to have all that hard work tested on the field.”
The glaring question surrounding the program – besides if the Dukes can sustain their recent run of success – is the quarterback position. Graduated Matt Vezza was a do-it-all player, providing motivation, leadership and many intangibles, along with big-play running and passing production.
Fitzgerald said senior quarterback Sean Winton has shown the ability to lead the offense, but juniors Bruno Massel and Adam Yue have shined in the Summer and first few days of Fall practice.
“The quarterback competition has been great this Summer and they have done a great job working together and making each other better,” Fitzgerald said. “Sean Winton has really demonstrated a good understanding of the offense and has great pocket presence, accuracy, and the arm strength to make all the throws on the field. He is a very instinctive player that loves to compete. Bruno Massel and Adam Yue have pushed him all Summer and have made great strides themselves. Bruno commands the offense well and is extremely athletic, and Adam is a very cerebral player that also understands the offense and can make all the throws.”
Senior offensive lineman Colin Cushing said Winton is a player to watch in the West Suburban Silver this season.
“Obviously, Matt (Vezza) was an outstanding player and a great leader, so it’s different in practice this year,” Cushing said. “But Sean Winton has done a great job filling in his shoes. He’s got a lot of energy and enthusiasm in practice and is a top-notch athlete, so while it’s tough losing a quarterback like Vezza, the team feels confident with Winton as our guy.”
Cushing admitted the team is driven to erase the sting from last season’s 30-3 defeat to Loyola Academy in an 8A semifinal playoff game.
“Last year was the best season in school history, so not only do we have a lot to live up to, we also know it’s possible to go even further,” Cushing said.
York senior linebacker Joey Maucieri said the returnees gained a valuable perspective in the role of a program leader from last year’s seniors.
“We had some great players last year and being able to be on the field with them was an amazing experience,” Maucieri said. “I was able to learn from the older guys what it takes to be a successful player on a good team. Everyone’s excited to get the season going. We had a great year last year and we hope to keep it moving in the same direction. The team was extremely committed and worked super hard this offseason and Summer.”
Senior linebacker Cole Ostendorf said the 2023 team includes some new faces, but the returnees are ready for the challenge of returning to the playoffs after last season’s 12-1 record.
“The vibe around the program is very enthusiastic and excited about finishing what we started last year,” Ostendorf said. “The defense is looking great. I’m excited to see how we stack up to what we were able to accomplish last year.”