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Prep Confidential

Jackson's 5 Part IXX

Posted by: Marcus Jackson

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 4:23 PM

Each week staff writer Marcus Jackson poses five questions to an area prep athlete. This week it’s St. Thomas More tight end/defensive end Tyler Schweighart.

MJ: You live in Philo, how close were you to going to Unity?
TS: It was a tough decision because I started youth football there and it got me going early and helped me get good from the beginning. It was a hard decision but my friends went to St. Thomas More. I still have a bunch of friends at Unity but I’m happy where I’m at right now.

MJ: Did your friends at Unity try to push you to stay there and go to school?
TS: They’re always pushing and saying how I can really help them, nut I’ve got some really, really close friends at St. Thomas More. It was tough though.

MJ: Do you ever read the paper and look at the scores and wonder what it would have been like to be a Rocket?
TS: Yeah, Unity is always a good program and there are times where I wonder what it would be like because I know they are pretty good.

MJ: What does it feel like being a part of building the program at St. Thomas More after going 1-8 your sophomore year?
TS: It feels pretty good. Sophomore year we didn’t have very many seniors and then we were young and inexperienced. Now we’re seniors, we’re experienced and we know what playoffs are like after last year. We’re ready to come and play now.

MJ: What was it like being chosen as one of the top returning players by the coaches in the Sangamon Valley Conference?
TS: It motivates me to be a better player when coaches pick me as a top player and top 50. It really pumps me up to play better. The coaches expect a lot more of me now.

MJ: What’s the feeling like around the program with the 5-2 record and the success so far this season?
TS: We need one more win to clinch the playoffs so this week is a real big game. Iroquois West is 2-5 but they’re underrated in my point of view so we have to be ready.

MJ: Do you ever get the chance to see the students doing the Cupid Shuffle at halftime during your games?
TS: Oh yeah, I can hear it on the field when they do the Cupid Shuffle. It’s just a tradition that we’re trying to start.

MJ: How did the Cupid Shuffle tradition get started?
TS: Well we’ve got the Saber Pack out there and some pretty good leaders of my friends are in the Saber Pack, and they really pump everybody up.

MJ: You guys play in front of some pretty good crowds, does that help?
TS: The fans are really, really good. The first couple of years we didn’t have much. But now we’re got the bleachers, the track, the field and everything. Now everyone wants to come out and see what that looks like and we’re gotten better so everyone wants to come out.

MJ: After you beat Watseka, coach Dan Hennessey was pretty fired up and looked like he was ready to play. Is he always like that?
TS: Oh yeah. Coach Hennessey always gets fired up. He’s a great coach, good play caller and he always knows what’s coming. He’s been around for a long time, very experienced and just keeps us motivated.