Athlete Of the Month: Kenny Schunck

It's a position that takes violence and anger and turns it into an art. It requires speed, but strength, agility, yet size.

Linebacker.

On the field, six-feet two-inch Jamesville-DeWitt High School senior Kenny Schunck is the epitome of all those characteristics. But it's not just football that he excels at. Schunck is also a star on the Boys' Varsity Baseball team.

"Kenny has cognizance on the field," says Varsity Football Head Coach Eric Ormond. "Kenny puts a ton of work in. He takes all variables into account and sees the whole picture on the field."

This athletic ability should not come as a surprise to many, considering Schunck's dad won a National Championship in football at Ithaca College. Schunck's physical talents are undeniable. His talent in the classroom has proven undeniable as well. Schunck is a member of J-DHS's chapter of National Honor Society, and has achieved honor roll or high honor roll each marking period since freshman year, while taking honors and AP courses. "(Grades are) very important. Sports won't take you through life, academics will carry you," Schunck says.

Despite being a scholar in the classroom, Schunck can really flip a switch once he steps on the gridiron. This change is so smooth that many people see Schunck as the defensive leader of the J-D football team, which isn't a coincidence. Schunck wears his double nickels because "my favorite player is Brian Urlacher, (the Chicago Bears middle Linebacker), but at the same time I want my own number." Schunck says.

"I definitely prefer defense to offense because I just love hitting people and not getting in trouble for it," says Schunck.

As many of Schunck's friends know, Kenny Schunck went through a serious metamorphism from the average football player to a star. "Well the ninth grade was when I first started lifting and I still wasn't really a standout," Schunck says. "I went straight to Varsity my sophomore year at 195 pounds. In between my sophomore and junior year I gained about 30 pounds and grew taller. But it was mostly working hard in the weight room that transformed myself."

Schunck also is a talented catcher on the Varsity Boys' Baseball baseball team. He started playing baseball as a kindergartener, and has been a hitting and fielding standout ever since.
It's football, however, that is his true love. "I definitely want to play football in college," says Schunck. A few colleges that he's considering include Cornell University, Lehigh University, and the University of Buffalo.

Alex Hatem, a junior and teammate of Schunck on the football team praised the student athlete: "He helps us out with reading our keys and is always positive. He never has anything negative to say, and if we do something wrong he picks us back up for the next play." Hatem says.

It seems that almost everyone agrees with Hatem: Schunck has an unbelievable leadership factor. "Well for me a lot of my leadership comes by example on and off the field, whether it is in the classroom, in the weight room, or actually playing in the game," Schunck says. "My dad and my grandfathers have always stressed to me how important it is to be a good leader and that a lot of people look to me and follow what I do."

"Kenny isn't a vocal leader, but he leads by example on the field," says Mr. Ormond. "Kenny exhibits all the qualities J-D football is trying to promote: Pride, poise, discipline. That's our mantra."

Schunck will be sorely missed next season, not just because of the space he takes up on the field, but because of his outstanding leadership and perseverance.

"Wherever Kenny ends up he's going to be successful because of his determination," says Mr. Ormond. "Most High School athletes don't make it after their first year. Kenny will make it."