By Ken Hansard
Grant Fuska, a senior to be for the Andover Central Jaguars, knows something about working hard in anonymity. As an offensive tackle for the Jags, Grant has shared in the successes that Central has had over the course of his career, but he is comfortable enjoying things from the role of a quiet leader. “My role on this team going into senior year is to be a leader and a friend to some of the young guys who are just
developing; I also aim to carry my own weight on the line.”
Last year, the Jaguars finished 9-4, culminating in a loss to perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas in the Kansas 4A state championship game. This year, Fuksa and his teammates would obviously like to duplicate that success, with one small adjustment –winning that final matchup, “I’m looking forward to playing a competitive schedule and trying to get back to – and win – a state championship.”
Fuksa strives to lead by setting a good example for his younger teammates. His humble plan for doing so shows an unusual maturity, “One challenge we will face is protecting against ego, because we have so many stars, and we need to remember that we all need to be great to win.” Fuksa has a plan to keep his own performance in check by acknowledging and working on any perceived deficiencies, “My main weakness has been strength and agility. I’m working on improving by focusing on my diet and doing agility work with ladders and jump ropes.”
When asked about any particular accolades he received last season, Grant responded, “Going to the state championship is the most important accolade. My personal accolades were nothing special. I got a couple of honorable mentions for tackle. Personally, my main goal this season is to secure my first D2 or D1 offer.
The ultimate goal is to get to the next level, and this year I am working towards an opportunity to do that.”
Fuksa also participates in band and throws discus for the Jags track and field team. After high school, Grant would like to continue playing football at the collegiate level while studying civil engineering.
