Pujals Shines on the Field, in the Classroom

Less than two minutes last November defined Peter Pujals’ work ethic both on and off the athletic field.

A rising junior and , Pujals was the Ramblers backup quarterback when the team was in the Illinois Class 8A semifinals last fall. 

Starter Malcolm Weaver, now a senior, was injured with less than two minutes remaining. Pujals was sent into the game. He came within three seconds, four yards and an incomplete pass from putting his team in the championship game on an improbable 61-yard drive for the winning score. 

Earlier:

Though Pujals’ last pass fell incomplete and the Ramblers’ season ended, nearly everyone knew they saw something special emerging. 

When practice opened earlier this month for the 2011 season, Pujals and Weaver were in competition for the starting role. 

Weaver will start when the Rambles open their season at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Evanston but Pujals is expected to play as well, including as a wide receiver, according to a report in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune. 

“He has tremendous poise,” basketball coach Tom Livatino told Patch. “You put him in a situation and he responds.” Livatino saw last November’s fated football game and coaches Pujals for the varsity basketball team.

Hitting the field and hitting the books

With a 95.19 weighted grade point average out of 100 boosted by way of advanced placement courses, Pujals excels in the classroom, the basketball court and on the gridiron. He sat on the student council as a sophomore. With all that, Peter and his younger brothers—J.C. and William—find time for Scouts and music. 

Peter also played baseball for the Ramblers during his freshman year. He gave it up to concentrate on football and basketball.

“I love baseball. I started playing T-ball when I was 5,” Pujals said. “I needed an offseason to lift and train for football and basketball,” he added discussing his decision. 

“It was hard for him to let go,” Pedro Pujals, Peter’s father, said. 

With the potential Pujals has shown both on the basketball court and football field, he may have to decide two years from now to give up one of his two remaining sports when he enters college. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind he can be a Division 1 basketball player,” Livatino said. “He has a good attitude and he’s a great shooter. It’s the same thing with football.” 

Only the beginning

Rambler head football Coach John Holecek sees the same thing on the gridiron. The drive against Maine South in the playoffs was only the beginning. 

“The sky’s the limit. He has a Division 1 touch and attitude,” Holecek said of Pujals passing style. “He’s going to fill out his 6-2 frame. He has the athleticism and potential to reach (Division 1).” 

Two people who were not surprised when Pujals led the Ramblers on their final drive against Maine South were his parents. They have seen their son under pressure before and know how he handles it. 

“He has his best games in any sport when it matters,” Pedro said. 

“He’s best under pressure,” Peter’s mother C.C. Pujals added. “It shows all that commitment.” 

None of Pujals success happened by mistake. Part of a close-knit family with two younger brothers, Peter’s academic success and athletic prowess was nurtured from a young age. He started baseball when he was 5 and by fourth grade was excelling in basketball. By fifth grade, he was starring on the football field at in Glenview. 

Community roots

Pedro, who operates his own consulting business, emigrated from Cuba to Thibodaux, La., with his parents at 2. He matriculated to the University of Notre Dame after high school. It was there he met C.C., a St. Mary’s student from Queens, N.Y. They married, moved to Chicago and settled in Glenview to raise their family.

By the time Peter was in eighth grade he was already a rising athlete and solid student. The Pujals family considered Glenbrook South as well as Notre Dame High School in Niles, St. Ignatius and Northside Prep before deciding to attend Loyola. 

“It took a long time to decide. I feel I got a community (at Loyola),” Peter said. “I knew a lot of people who go there. Looking back I’m glad.” 

In response to the quarterback competition looming with Weaver, Peter said he’ll “give it everything he can” Both are talented signal callers.

“I know I can compete,” he said.

Holecek will defer to a senior with all things equal, so Peter knows he has a lot of hard work ahead of him. 

“He’s a Division 1 quarterback too,” Holecek said of Weaver. 

A bright future

Peter’s parents consider his poise and humility part of the strengths that have helped him become a leader with older students. “He gets along with everyone,” C.C. said. Peter credits his middle brother, J.C., a special needs student, for his leadership skills. 

“I see J.C. and it helps me accept other people better,” Peter said. 

Peter has a pair of football and basketball seasons ahead of him. There are possible championships as well as numerous college opportunities with his classroom success. Will he have to choose between football and basketball when he finishes at Loyola? Maybe not.

“He could play both in college,” Livatino said. “He’s talented enough.”

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