This week I had a quiet conversation with senior Diego Torrez in the Robinson Library. Torrez is a left guard and center on the St. Louis U. High varsity football team.

Austin Wald: Diego, what position do you play, what role do you have on the team?

 

Diego Torrez: I play left guard and center position-wise. My role is a little bit of everything. It might be you know, going in on Scout at center. It might be you know, somebody messes up and I’m right there filling in their spot. I do a little bit of everything. I wish it was, you know, one task and I could be locked in every day, but mainly it's just anything to do with the offensive line. It's usually me.

 

AW: So when did you start playing?

 

DT: Sixth grade. My brother was giving me a tour of the middle school. And the gym teacher walked up to us and said “hey, are you guys playing football?” I said no and he said “okay, I'll see you guys at five o'clock at the high school for football practice.” That's really how it happened. Just, you know, the gym teacher was one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He changed my life.

 

AW: I know your brother Tim ’21 went here and played football, how did he affect your come up as a football player at SLUH?

 

DT: I had big shoes to fill. He was known as a great center. He rarely made mistakes and he could snap the ball perfectly and he was praised by a lot of people who graduated before which honestly shocked me. But you know, I’ve had that mindset of needing to fill those shoes. He set that bar and I have to surpass it. You can talk to players who graduated and some coaches who were there when he was and they'll say that he has better size for football. But when it comes down to  the technical standpoint, that's where I have the advantage.

 

AW: So do you have any plans of playing after high school or no?

 

DT: Sadly no, but what I plan to do is become an equipment manager for hopefully LSU, that's where I want to go. But really like anywhere I go, they’ll have a football program or just any sports program and I'd like to be involved with that. It's a lot of work but you know, it’s always gonna be a lot of work being involved with college football.

 

AW: Yeah, LSU is a great place. Both of my parents graduated from LSU and I went to a football game there last year which was a lot of fun so let me know if you end up there. But you guys are close to the end of the season, who’s left on the lineup this season?

 

DT: We got Chaminade up next this week. You know, they have us as the favorite on GSV but you can't really go off that. In high school football, anything can happen. It's their homecoming, and Senior Night so they're going to come out firing and wanting to take the win. It’s all about the start. We need to come out playing like we know we can, hitting and getting to the ball quick, and making the plays when we need to. It will be a good game.

 

AW: Good luck with that. How much are you benching these days Diego?

 

DT: No that much, really.

 

AW: C’mon, give me a number.

 

DT: I don’t know, probably like 250.

 

AW: Yeah, not that much. You put me to shame.

 

DT: I’m more of a legs guy, you know, squats and deadlifts.

 

AW: Unbelievable.