ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Drew Spinogatti

Winter Garden resident and Bishop Moore Catholic senior linebacker Drew Spinogatti, 17, currently has 100 tackles in his 2022-23 football season. Currently, Spinogatti is ranked in the top 15 in the state for tackles.

Talk to us about your years as an athlete.
I want to say in around fourth to fifth grade, I started playing football since I stopped playing baseball. So I switched to football, and I liked it way more than baseball. So then I started to work out and play football a lot, and I just fell in love with it.

What other sports have you played?
Baseball, football and weightlifting.

Why do you love football so much?
I hit someone every play, and it’s competitive. I like to play a competitive sport, so I can go and hit someone every play. There’s different athletes, so there’s different competition every week. There’s always something new, and I just like it, because it’s aggressive and it’s fun.

What’s your favorite thing about playing linebacker?
You are kind of the captain of the defense, so you kind of help out the other players. You are kind of the standard on that side of the ball, and you (have) to tell everyone what to do. You (have) to be a leader on that side and help everyone.

Talk to us about leadership on the field.
I get the calls from the coach, and I kind of help everyone else on what they have to do and their assignment from getting those calls from the coach. And just being the standard on that side of the ball — everyone looks up to you for dedication and all these other aspects so they can work on it and get better themselves.

How do you feel about having 100 tackles this season?
Good; I still want more though. I still want to improve. It matters, but it doesn’t matter at the same time, but it feels good to have that many tackles.

What has been the hardest skill for you to learn in football this year?
Just learning what’s going to be the next step, learning what I have to do here my senior year that’s going to carry on to next year that’s going to help me and benefit me in college.

What’s your favorite NFL team?
The New York Giants. Always been a fan, because my parents were born up there.

What do you believe football has taught you not only on the field but off the field too?
Our program is really good on building good men, so we really look at that. That’s helped me, because we learn a lot of respect and discipline. Things that you want to do off the field you learn in football, because your coaches really tell you how to be a man and take problems and solve them.

Who’s your favorite superhero?
Superman, because a lot of people say I look like him when I’m wearing my glasses. … He helps a lot of people. He’s tough, and he can do whatever he wants.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Either super strength or read what other people are thinking.

What are three things you would bring  with you to a deserted island?
Water, of course. Food — if that’s a choice — and probably a football or a sleeping bag.

If you could be an animal for a day, which one would it be and why?
Probably a lion, because they are one of the bravest and toughest animals in Africa.

What color would you say represents your personality?
I don’t know. My favorite color is blue, so I would say blue. It can be dark blue or light blue, because blue kind of pops when someone wears it.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Be one of the best college linebackers, be rookie of the year in college and probably make it to the NFL one day.

What will you miss most about playing high school football?
Just being around all the friends I have and just having fun.

What are you looking forward to the most in playing college football?
Just being around a new group of people and learning what it has to offer and what it’s like and having to adapt to it and see what college is like.

Do you know what you want to study?
Probably business or exercise science.