Unsung Hero: Boys Tennis' Joey Graziadei

It's not often you see a high school 11th-grader go out for his respective sport and immediately desire a leadership role. However, with a boys tennis team that lost an overwhelming amount of key seniors in the lineup to graduation last year, somebody had to do it.

Returning seniors this year include leader Tyler Triolo, along with doubles players Alex Caccesse and Tim Mattiole. However Triolo is the only guy with heavy varsity experience of the crowd.

So, when last year's doubles player Joey Graziadei stepped onto the court this year, he knew he had to make a difference.

"We lost a lot of seniors last year," Graziadei said. "So, this year, I realized that I'm one of the two only remaining varsity kids from last year. I realized I needed to take it to the next level, step up and be that guy to assume a leadership role. I'm trying my best to help a new team and get them better."

Graziadei, a junior, started playing tennis when he was 13. His uncle is a tennis pro in Chicago and teaches classes. So, coupled with his knowledge and the enthusiasm of head coach John Brennan and assistant Jeff Rinehimer, Graziadei prepared himself for a serious tennis career at Spring-Ford.

The coaching staff could not be happier. Brennan nominated Graziadei as this week's unsung hero, as, although he's off to a 5-6 start this year, he's shown tremendous leadership to his teammates. Rinehimer agreed.

"He brings a lot to the team," Rinehimer said. "He's a good leader. He works like crazy to improve his game. He came in ninth grade, tenth grade and just loved tennis. His love for the sport and his leadership and what he's done out there. He's worked hard every practice and that's all we can ask."

Excited about the nomination, Graziadei could not help but thank his coaches.

"It's pretty awesome," said Graziadei. "[Mr. Brennan]'s an awesome coach. He's taught me a lot of things over the past couple of years, so it's good that he thinks of me like that."

Overall, Graziadei sees a young team with a lot of potential. He will try to help mold that group into fearless winners over the next season and a half.

"I just want to try to see the guys around me get better and see a young team progress and see what we can do in the next couple of years," he concluded. "Thanks to Mr. Brennan, Mr. Rinehimer and all of the other guys around me for pushing me toward this role and I'm really trying to step up as a leader this year."