Darien Student Named CT Gatorade Football Player of Year

Darien High School student Mark Evanchick was selected at the Connecticut Gatorade Football Player of the Year.

Evanchick is a finalist for the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year.

He is the senior defensive end and has 64 tackles, 20.5 sacks and 30 tackles for a loss. He is the state all-time leader with 63.5 sacks.

Outside of football Evanchick has a 3.34 GPA and volunteers locally to help raise funds for diabetes research. he is also a youth football and lacrosse coach.

“Mark Evanchick is one of the best defensive linemen I have seen in a long time,” said Marce Petroccio, head coach of Staples High. “He has an incredible combination of speed, strength and leverage that reminds me of JJ Watt. He is almost impossible to block.”

Evanchick will player lacrosse for the University of Pennsylvania in Fall 2016.

Evanchick joins recent Gatorade Connecticut Football Players of the Year Zach Allen (2014-15, New Canaan High School), Dario Highsmith (2013-14, Middletown High School), Colin Moore (2012-13, Avon High School), Casey Cochran (2011-12 & 2010-11, Masuk High School), Kevin Pierre-Louis (2009-10, King Low Heywood Thomas High School), Mike Osiecki (2008-09, Seymour High School) and Alex Thomas (2007-08, Ansonia High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.