By Matthew Dunn, Contributing Writer
photo/submitted
Shrewsbury/Marlborough – Two area high school football players were recently selected to the elite Massachusetts All-State Super 26 Football Team, which recognizes some of the top high school football players in the state. Shrewsbury’s Nathaniel Hautala and Marlborough’s Lou Vigeant were selected to the prestigious team and subsequently honored at an awards ceremony on March 3.
“Making the All-State team was a goal I set going into the season, so it was definitely an awesome feeling when I found out I made it,” said Vigeant said, a former top linebacker at Marlborough High School.
photo/submitted
Hautala offered a similar take on his accomplishment.
“I am very excited and thrilled to be named to the Massachusetts Super 26 Football team,” he said. “All of my hard work and dedication has paid off during my senior season and being named to this team is an honor for me, as I have worked very hard to be where I am today.”
Hautala also played linebacker as well as tight end for Shrewsbury High School.
According to the official Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association website, the MHSFCA began selecting this team in 1996. High school football players are first nominated by the head coach of their team, and, once nominated, a MHSFCA Committee decides who will be named to the team.
For both Hautala and Vigeant, being part of the football team throughout high school was also a special experience.
When describing what he enjoyed most about being part of the Marlborough High School football team, Vigeant said, “No question, it’s the brotherhood created with my teammates. It’s really something special how close we’ve all gotten over the years. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys. Friday nights at Kelleher field, under the lights, was also a special feeling that I’m going to miss.”
The teamwork and comradery developed throughout the course of a football season was also something that Hautala looked forward to.
“I enjoyed working hard with all of my teammates every day, whether it was lifting in the off-season or grinding during the preseason, I always enjoyed being around all my teammates and having fun playing the sport that I love,” he noted.
Although their notable high school football careers have come to an end, both Hautala and Vigeant have much to look forward to in the coming years, both in their football careers and outside of the game. In the fall, both will continue to play football in college – Vigeant at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Hautala at Stonehill College.
