Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with John Fitzgerald, New Trier football

John Fitzgerald was a senior linebacker for the Trevians. He led the team in tackles this season with 109.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

If we’re playing on a Friday night, I get home and I take a 45-minute nap. Then I go to the field and drink a Propel and I eat an orange.

2. What do you hope to do next year?

I’m hoping to play somewhere in college. Right now, I’m mostly talking to Colby College and Bates College. I also have an offer from Denison, so I’m hoping to play at the next level.

3. Why do you want to continue playing?

I love the sport. I just want to play it as long as I can. I had played basketball, baseball, other sports, but the sport I love the most has always been football. I want to keep playing as long as I possibly can.

4. When did you know you were a linebacker?

I started playing tackle in eighth grade and was a linebacker. Then, I switched to fullback sophomore year. Then during summer camp, I told them I wanted to be a linebacker again and I’ve been one ever since then.

5. What do you like about linebacking?

I got to direct the defense this year and linebackers have the most opportunities for tackles. I love tackling. In my opinion, it’s the spot that takes the most game knowledge. I have to take the run and the pass.

6. What is your dream job?

Probably something in business, where you make a lot of money, but that I also enjoy. Something with stocks probably.

7. What has been your top sports highlight so far?

Probably the Evanston game. I had 19 tackles. That was probably my highlight this season, and as a team definitely winning that Week 1 game against Naperville North.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

My favorite chips are hot Cheetos, and my favorite drink is just a red Gatorade.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

I lived in Spain for a year in first grade. My parents thought it would be a good opportunity to see something new. We all just moved out there for a year, did school, did everything there and came back.

10. What are some words to summarize your senior season?

Exciting, fun, sad it’s over and proud of the guys that we came back from a two-win season (in 2024) and go on to make the playoffs.

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