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Meet Taft's Athlete Justin Gniedziejko Class Of 2021
- Peter "COACH BIG PETE" Leinweber
- Mar 14, 2019
- 3 min read
So in a way to better understand the use of Deep Dish Football for lllinois recruits and the whole entire IHSA Football scene. Decided to do player profiles of players who you might not know or you might know , but you should respect them for their roles on their respective teams. Every Football Player Has A Story To Tell
Justin Gniedziejko Taft Class of 2021 ATH 6'1 175
Justin Gniedziejko how was your 2018 season?
My 2018 football season was a humbling experience. I learned a lot playing my first year on varsity. Starting off the season 0-3 wasn't the best first experience, but as the season progressed the team began to click and we ended up winning the CPL championship. So far this has been my most favorable season of football I have played.
Favorite memory of 2018?
After becoming the CPL champions, most would say that their favorite memory is winning that championship game. My favorite memory from the season was playing in my first state playoff game. Although it was an away game and Oswego had the larger crowd I still felt like Taft had a large crowd at a game that was far from home. I was an amazing experience to see that more are supporting a program that is on the rise.
What does football mean to you?
Football has been a part of my life for 7 years and I can't imagine my life without. I has helped me build relationships with some of my closest friends and is something that I have competed against my brother in since we started playing.
What should college coaches know about you?
College coaches should know I am an athlete that can make plays on both sides of the ball. I am a hard working player that will do what's best for the team
What was the best advice you received from brother about high school football?
Some advice my brother always emphasizes is to always be working in the weight room. He always told me that I need to be faster and stronger than my competition. I've took his advice to heart and made sure to push myself every time I go in weight room.
How good can Taft be this season?
I feel Taft is a program on the rise. After making some noise last season I thing the program can only get better. After this past season I can confidently say that winning the CPL championship should be expect-able. We had a tough schedule this past season and I think we can repeat the same outcome or better with his upcoming Taft team.
What position do you feel most comfortable in?
I love being on the field. Coming off the field is not something that I enjoy doing. Playing offense is something I enjoy. Who doesn't like having the ball in their hands and scoring? Wide receiver is a position I am relatively new to and love. Playing defense is something I really like too. I was shocked when I was told that I lead the team in tackles from the safety position. I feel most comfortable in the safety position.
Who is the funniest coach on the Taft staff?
The funniest coach on Taft's staff is Coach Farlow. He still has that kid in him and is always trying to bring up the mood on practices when the energy isn't where it should be. He's a funny guy both on and off the field.
What goal do you have for yourself this upcoming season?
I have a lot of goals for this upcoming season like raising my max lifts and scoring a certain amount of touchdowns. I feel like my most important goal for myself this upcoming season is to give back to the team. I want invest more into the program and players because it will only end up benefiting me and the team. I hope to change the culture of the team and program so that Taft can be a #1 choice of high school for kids on the northwest side.
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