Front & Center
HEHS Junior Balances Band and Football
It is a very normal sight at most high school football games: The teams head to the locker room during halftime while the school’s marching band performs for the families and fans in the stands. At Hoffman Estates High School, however, one player does not go into the locker room. Instead, varsity center Anthony Luzwick climbs a ladder on the sideline. The reason? He is also one of the Hawk Marching Band’s drum majors.
Luzwick has been active in both football and music since elementary school. He began playing football in fourth grade and joined band in fifth. He said staying active in both during high school has taken a great deal of work and coordination.
“There was definitely a lot of discussions with both Mr. [Brian] Furgeson, the band director and Coach [Greg] Garofalo the offensive coordinator,” Luzwick said. “It makes for a ton of long days, starting at 7:30 in the morning and staying until as late as 8 or 9.”
Head football coach Timothy Heyse described Luzwick as a “workhorse.”
“Not only is he balancing both football and marching band, but he does even more stuff outside of the school, all while maintaining a very high GPA,” Heyse said. “The best part about Anthony is he always has a smile on his face. In his eyes he is living the life. He is getting to do the things he loves to do.”
Marching band director Brian Ferguson shares Heyse’s opinion of Luzwick’s work ethic.
“Anthony has always had a great work ethic and great communication skills,” Ferguson said. “In some instances, Anthony has had the balance practices that are scheduled at the same time. He has always found a way to show up to band right after a football practice.”
Luzwick said he chooses to participate in both activities because of his love for them and the lessons he learns from each.
“For me, this is a way for me to express myself,” he said. “I know I likely won’t play football in college, but there are a lot of lessons I can learn from playing now. I am seeing a lot of those lessons in the band as well.”
Senior Maeve Wallace said Luzwick’s ability to balance both activities sends a message to other students.
“It’s really showing that you can be true to yourself and do what you want, not what others say,” she said. “A lot of people will say, ‘choose one or the other,’ but he showed you can choose to do both.”
Despite his success in both activities, Luzwick said he was nervous about attempting to balance them as he entered his freshman year.
“The summer before freshman year, I was in the cafeteria for a signing day for my brother,” he said. “My mom mentioned to Mr. Alther that I was scared. Mr. Alther told her simply ‘We’ll make it work.’”
Ferguson noted that “making it work,” is something he has seen many members of the marching band do.
“Nearly 60% of the band is participating in a fall sport at the same time as marching band,” Furgeson said. “We are flexible and we want students to be able to be a part of many activities and athletics in high school.”
He added that, although Luzwick is the first varsity football player to serve as drum major, two cheerleaders have also served in the role: Adam Cortes and Dominic Luzwick, one of Anthony’s older brothers.
Ultimately, Luzwick said high school is a time to try new things.
“I think saying yes to activities in high school is always worth it,” he said. “Find your people who will support you and you can make things work.”
