This past weekend, ninth-ranked Hopkins football improved to 4-0 on the season, with a thrilling 30-24 win against rival #24 Muhlenberg Mules in Allentown, Pa. The Blue Jays and Mules are annually amongst the top teams in the Centennial Conference, with one of them having held a share of the conference title every year since 2001. The game is often among the toughest all season for Hopkins, and this year was no exception. The News-Letter recognizes that there were a number of viable candidates on the team for the Athlete of the Week, such as senior linebacker Garrett Spek, who was named Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week and senior safety Jack Toner, whose two interceptions late in the game helped seal a victory for the Jays. Offensively, quarterback Jonathan Germano, wide receivers Bradley Munday and Brett Caggiano and running back Ryan Cary helped lead the offense and were worthy of recognition as well.
This week, however, we have decided to name senior linebacker and co-captain Jack Campbell our Athlete of the Week. The pre-med, biology major and Chagrin Falls, Ohio native notched 14 tackles, one sack, an interception and a forced fumble. His efforts were essential to Hopkins shutting down Muhlenberg in the second half and we were fortunate to interview him this week.
The News-Letter: Muhlenberg is one the tougher opponents you will play, and you found yourself in a rare position over the past couple seasons, down at the start of halftime. What was the team’s mentality going into the locker room, and how did you guys buckle down and come out with the win?
Jack Campbell: Our mentality did not change at halftime. Going into the game, we knew Muhlenberg was going to be a tough opponent, so we were ready for a tight game. We kept our composure and knew that we just had to execute better in the second half to come away with the victory.
N-L: What does it mean for you to be a team captain, and what are your responsibilities? How do you go about being the best captain you could possibly be?
JC: It is a great honor to be selected a captain. A few responsibilities of being a captain are helping out other players, treating everyone with respect and helping facilitate communication between coaches and players. I think it is important to be authentic so I try to lead through my actions.
N-L: How do you balance playing football for one of the top D-III programs in the country with being pre-med at a rigorous and challenging school like Hopkins?
JC: Our coaches are aware of the challenges at Hopkins, so we are very efficient with our time spent at practice. I have also learned to manage my time productively so it is not that difficult to keep a good balance.
N-L: For the vast majority of Hopkins football players, college is the last time you will step on a Football field. What lessons from the gridiron will you take with you after graduation?
JC: I have learned a lot from football and sports in general over the years. The most important lesson for me is teamwork. The responsibilities I have to the team will translate later in life to commitments I may have to a company, group or individual. The group effort produces pretty great results.
N-L: Lastly, what are your personal and team goals as the season goes on?
JC: Personally, I want to be the best player I can be and really get to appreciate and enjoy my last year playing football. For the team, our ultimate goal is to win the conference and advance far in the playoffs. But we can only go 1-0 every week so we make a point to stay focused on the task at hand.
