Football is football, talent is talent, but the mindset of your team makes all the difference. I wanted to take the time to recognize Aidan Porreca, a three-sport athlete and WTHS football player. At 6’3 and 230 lbs, Aidan plays the defensive end position and tight end (playing on both sides of the ball). Aidan is currently ranked 20th in the North Suburban Boys Football Tackle Stats and 151st in all of Illinois for 2023, but these stats are subject to change. Aidan got his start in 2013 and was influenced by his mother to join the program. I got a chance to ask him some questions about what he likes most about football and he said, “Physicality is what makes me love football.”
I also asked him if he wanted to play in college and he said, “If I’m able to, I would love to.” That just shows Aidan’s determination in furthering his football career.
I also had an opportunity to talk to the three main coaches who have guided Aidan through his athletic journey. Coach McNulty, head coach; Coach Van Schaik, head defensive coordinator; and Coach Vout had nothing but nice words about this passionate football player. Firstly, I started by asking them what Aidan brought to the team everyday and Coach McNulty replied, “He brings a lot of toughness and experience. He is a Warren player through and through.”
Coach Van Schaik said that “he brings a lot of consistency… and he will work his butt off everyday.”
When asked about Aidan’s role on the team, they stated, “He means everything and he’s a representation of what the program is all about.” According to Coach Vout, “he is the most dominant tight end blocker” he’s seen in 32 years. To follow up on that, I asked them about his work ethic.
“When you see him you know that he’s always going to work his butt off all the time and put all his work out there.”
They were also stressing the fact that very few kids have the strength to play both ways and that he is very confident in this position. I also asked if he was considered a leader on the football field and they responded, “absolutely, he has a lot of game experience. He has played 12 full games this year and he has played for many years.”
My final question to the coaches was what is something they think everyone should know about Aidan. Coach McNulty’s response was, “How much he cares about Warren…he just bleeds Blue and Gold, he leads the program.” He also said that “he loves it so much that he will come back and taunt our program 30 years from now.”
Coach Van Schaik said “He made himself…he didn’t come in like he’s supposed to be the man, he literally made himself from the ground up.” Coach Vout agreed with these comments.
