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Sports

New Trier Athlete to Watch: Nick Hedge

Trevians' Hedge stands out in multiple ways

Venture to New Trier football summer practices and you may need to rub your eyes once or twice; Nick Hedge can make you think you’re seeing an illusion.

Hedge, six-foot-two and 205 pounds soaking wet, practices with some lineman he spots nearly 100 pounds. But even in the July heat, Hedge is no mirage.

He’s expected to be among the Central Suburban League’s top defensive lineman and play some tight end for the Trevians this fall.

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At his size he looks more like a wide receiver or linebacker. And if opposing teams scoff at Hedge when he clashes with their offensive lineman, it will play right into his game.

“I like to be underestimated like that,” Hedge said. “It’s nice. It’s good to catch them off guard like that. I think when people see me and see that I’m small they’re going to think more of a speed guy.”

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The New Trier football staff can join a long list of people who look at Hedge and think skill position. As a freshman Hedge played running back and receiver, but by his sophomore his potential was seen in other areas.

He began to play some tight end but the majority of his work came as a defensive lineman. In fact, he was so good defensively that the coaching staff would have moved him up to varsity as a sophomore if it weren’t for an already deep defensive line according to Trevians defensive line and strength and conditioning coach Tim Davis.

Celebrated as a junior defensive lineman and named captain, Hedge continued to perform well for the Trevians on varsity last season prompting head coach Dan Starkey to add to the senior captain’s resume by designating him a “blue chip player” this summer.

There are about 12 “blue chip players” on the Trevians roster who practice with both the offensive and defensive units. Though Starkey is cautious to play his players both ways, he’ll play about two players a game on offense and defense.

Hedge is expected to see spot duty as a tight end in addition to his role as a defensive lineman and special teams stalwart.

“Nick’s a guy who has very good character,” Starkey said. “He’s worked hard in the off season for us. So, he’s been a leader for us.”

And not just for the football team.

Hedge is an outfielder and left-handed pitcher for the baseball team and anticipates pitching in college. Schools have already contacted him but he hasn’t received any offers yet as it’s still early in the recruiting process.

Unlike most high school football coaches who would like to see their players lift in the offseason, Starkey doesn’t only encourage multiple-sport athletes, but celebrates them.

“The way you become a better football player is by competing. You can’t compete necessarily in the weight room—the weights don’t fight back,” Starkey said. “So, I want our kids competing in the arena and arenas.”

Still with the everyday demands of the baseball season, Hedge was certain to maintain his offseason commitments to the football team last spring.

Starkey and Davis design the offseason weight lifting program so that their players can lift during school.

Combine that with his studious nature and commitment to his fundamentals and he’s able to accomplish even more than some of the CSL’s prototypical-looking lineman.

“His technique is pretty darn good,” Davis said. “He’s got surprising strength. In fact he was one of the top pitchers on the baseball team this year and after every start he’d be in the weight room the next day, without fail, doing his hang cleans and squats and things like that. His work ethic is certainly top on the team. He kind of just does things the right way.”

But beyond the superlatives, Hedge epitomizes the necessary athletic attributes to the success of the entire Trevian football team.

While Hedge looks out of place as a lineman, throughout the roster guys are undersized. That’s not uncommon for a high school football team in a given year..

“He’s [Starkey] been telling us that we’re not going to be the biggest team out there,” Hedge said. “So we need to get by on being the most explosive team and the fastest team out there.”

While Starkey and Hedge don’t harp on size as a weakness they can only hope their opponents do. They know all too well their looks are deceiving.

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