Since Chris Battaglia began his second stint as head coach of the Aquinas football team in 2006 the Li’l Irish have won six consecutive sectional titles and two state championships. With the return of a top-notch running attack (led by senior Billy Lombardi, 2011 New York State Class A offensive co-player of the year) and a solid defense expectations among players, coaches and fans are high again this season, as always. As the Li’l Irish look to continue their run of sectional championships in 2012 they turn to freshman quarterback Jake Zembiec under center.
Though he won’t turn 15 for a few more weeks, Zembiec will step into the starting quarterback role for Aquinas on September 1 when the team travels to St. Francis. His dedication to the sport since his days in Pop Warner, along with his solid work ethic and above-average size (6’2”, 180 pounds), have taken Zembiec to numerous skills camps around the country, including many where he was the youngest player invited by two or three years. After leading the JV team to an undefeated season in 2011, he steps up to varsity looking to build off his previous experiences under the guidance of his elder teammates.
“We have a great deal of respect for each other,” Zembiec said of his teammates. “That’s an important part of getting better. When you respect the guys you are practicing with and the people who are coaching it makes practicing and learning easier. I am prepared to be a leader, but I also understand I don’t have to be the only leader. Plus it helps to have a lot of teammates who have been there and understand what it takes to succeed showing me the way.”
Zembiec has spent much of his time over the past few years preparing for this opportunity by honing his skills in his backyard and traveling to places such as Virginia, Ohio and Texas to compete and measure himself against the top players from around the country. Back in January he played quarterback for the 8th grade East Team in the 2012 Eastbay All-American Bowl in Dallas, Texas, throwing a pair of touchdown passes against no turnovers in his team’s 40-14 victory. This past summer he was invited to perform at Syracuse University’s Rising Seniors Football Camp, an event normally reserved for high school seniors, and was one of three freshman invited to Rivals 2012 Top 200 Underclassmen Camp in Texas (though he had to respectfully decline because he was already scheduled to participate in the Top Gun Camp in Virginia, another one of the best invitation-only camps in the country.) A member of the 2011 USA Football U15 National Team he has been selected to return as a the quarterback of the U17 team though only 14 years old, and will return to Dallas in January for the 2013 All-American Bowl. When he steps onto the field this fall Zembiec will rely on his preparation, experience against the nation’s best players and his teammates guidance as he begins his varsity career.
Since Chris Battaglia began his second stint as head coach of the Aquinas football team in 2006 the Li’l Irish have won six consecutive sectional titles and two state championships. With the return of a top-notch running attack (led by senior Billy Lombardi, 2011 New York State Class A offensive co-player of the year) and a solid defense expectations among players, coaches and fans are high again this season, as always. As the Li’l Irish look to continue their run of sectional championships in 2012 they turn to freshman quarterback Jake Zembiec under center.
Though he won’t turn 15 for a few more weeks, Zembiec will step into the starting quarterback role for Aquinas on September 1 when the team travels to St. Francis. His dedication to the sport since his days in Pop Warner, along with his solid work ethic and above-average size (6’2”, 180 pounds), have taken Zembiec to numerous skills camps around the country, including many where he was the youngest player invited by two or three years. After leading the JV team to an undefeated season in 2011, he steps up to varsity looking to build off his previous experiences under the guidance of his elder teammates.
“We have a great deal of respect for each other,” Zembiec said of his teammates. “That’s an important part of getting better. When you respect the guys you are practicing with and the people who are coaching it makes practicing and learning easier. I am prepared to be a leader, but I also understand I don’t have to be the only leader. Plus it helps to have a lot of teammates who have been there and understand what it takes to succeed showing me the way.”
Zembiec has spent much of his time over the past few years preparing for this opportunity by honing his skills in his backyard and traveling to places such as Virginia, Ohio and Texas to compete and measure himself against the top players from around the country. Back in January he played quarterback for the 8th grade East Team in the 2012 Eastbay All-American Bowl in Dallas, Texas, throwing a pair of touchdown passes against no turnovers in his team’s 40-14 victory. This past summer he was invited to perform at Syracuse University’s Rising Seniors Football Camp, an event normally reserved for high school seniors, and was one of three freshman invited to Rivals 2012 Top 200 Underclassmen Camp in Texas (though he had to respectfully decline because he was already scheduled to participate in the Top Gun Camp in Virginia, another one of the best invitation-only camps in the country.) A member of the 2011 USA Football U15 National Team he has been selected to return as a the quarterback of the U17 team though only 14 years old, and will return to Dallas in January for the 2013 All-American Bowl. When he steps onto the field this fall Zembiec will rely on his preparation, experience against the nation’s best players and his teammates guidance as he begins his varsity career.
The losses of all-state wide receiver Jahmahl Pardner and all-state defensive tackle Jarron Jones will certainly be felt as Aquinas seeks its 11th sectional title. With a much younger team than recent seasons, the Li’l Irish will lean heavily on their potent running attack to rack up the points and control the flow of the game. That attack starts (and often finishes) with all-state tailback Billy Lombardi, who rushed for 2,146 yards and 26 touchdowns last year. Combine his skills and abilities with backfield mates Ishmael Cox, Mike Manley and Luch Pietropaola, among others, and Zembiec finds himself in an opportune situation to succeed and improve.
“With a solid running game in place, this is the perfect time for Jake to have this opportunity,” said Battaglia. “We have a young team overall but we have some upperclassmen who are exceptional leaders, and their direction both on and off the field will help all of our young players grow. And having a player with the skill level of (Lombardi) helps any quarterback succeed, whether that quarterback is a freshman or a senior.”
Improvement is the main of every practice under Coach Battaglia. Honing his coaching skills at the University of Rochester, Webster Schroeder and Penfield, Battaglia remains old-school in his methods. Working his players through two-a-days throughout the preseason, he believes that success is directly related to the effort you put in during preparation.
“Many things are influenced by how hard you prepare in the preseason,” added Battaglia. “One key to a successful season is staying healthy, and doing things the right way in practice and the weight room help you throughout the season. Increased practice time and conditioning helps keep everyone ready and helps us remain strong through the fourth quarter. The goal is to always be working hard to improve, and to be better in November than you are right now.”
As Zembiec and the Li’l Irish look to continue Aquinas’ winning tradition, the values taught by Coach Battaglia and his staff in practice and in games will resonate with the student-athletes long after the final play of the season. With new preparations beginning each Monday after the slate is wiped clean from the previous weekend’s contest, football reminds us never to bask too long in victory or to dwell too long on defeat because another challenge is always rapidly approaching. Like life football can be a grind, with the rewards going to those who work the hardest and put in the most effort. Jake Zembiec, through the help and of his friends and family, has already shown his desire and determination necessary to succeed. Now he will take the step to the varsity level, where he will continue to grow at the helm of the Aquinas offense.
“I am sure other people have high expectations, but I have high expectations as well,” Zembiec concluded. “I have a great relationship with all my teammates and we have great coaches who work hard to get us 100% prepared every week. We have all experienced success, but we understand that no matter how successful you are you always need to work hard to get better.”
