Highland Park center Joe Sereda. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
He’s no ordinary Joe.
Moments after the postgame handshakes at midfield, following Highland Park’s 14-9 win over visiting Vernon Hills, Joe Sereda — No. 59 on your roster sheet — exited the field, darted to the south end of the bleachers at Wolters Field and quickly climbed a few steps on a steel stepladder.
And before you could say Sir Simon Rattle or Leonard Bernstein, Sereda started conducting the Highland Park High School marching band — at breakneck speed.
His arms and hands were moving a 100 miles a minute.
He went full-bore. Full throttle.
Think New York traffic cop at a busy intersection during rush hour. Think boxer smacking a punching bag.
The center had taken center stage — and he was going to town with it.
Celebration of the wildest — and happiest — kind was in order. With the win over the Cougars (6-3) on Oct. 21, the Giants finished the regular season 7-2 and wound up sharing the CSL North championship with Glenbrook North.
“The band loves it,” said Sereda, who has been doing this since the Hersey game in Week One.
“But I have to say that I wasn’t very good at it at first,” Sereda confessed.
But that changed, when he went under the tutelage of HP drum major — and good friend — Alex Abreu.
Abreu knew what he had in Sereda. He could be taught. You see, Sereda is not exactly your run-of-the-mill offensive lineman.
When he’s not hiking footballs — or throwing the discus (he took first in the discus at the CSL North meet last spring) for that matter — the full-bearded 6-foot, 230-pound Sereda is playing either the oboe or the English horn.
“I know, I know,” said Sereda. “Why is a guy who weighs 230 pounds playing the oboe — and not the tuba. Quirky, right?”
Even HP head football coach Joe Horeni, a former offensive lineman and tuba player, asked the question.
Well, here’s why. When it comes to playing the oboe, Sereda is no ordinary Joe.
Sereda is a three-time all-district oboist who earned all-state honors with the instrument last year. He’s a member of HP’s Wind Symphony.
“I have a passion for music. I have a passion for the oboe,” Sereda said.
He also has an intense love for his country.
Sereda is a patriot.
He’s applied to the Naval Academy.
“It’s been a dream of mine for a while,” said Sereda. “Since I was six years old.”
For Sereda, who acquired his pilot’s license last summer, the F/A-18 Hornet is the prettiest bird on the planet.
Years ago, Sereda saw that supersonic jet at an airshow and said: “That’s what I want to [fly].”
“Joe is going to serve our country in one way or another,” said Horeni.
But, in the meantime, Sereda will continue to give his full attention to the Giants’ football team.
Along with fellow linemen David Barrette, Nick Heilizer, Jack Finfer and Kevin Kaufman, Sereda has one of the cushiest jobs on the North Shore. He blocks for D.J. Penick.
The senior running back ran over and around the Cougars to the tune of 239 rushing yards. His first-half touchdowns measured 29 and 87 yards.
“He’s pretty amazing,” said Sereda. “He can just find holes. A defense can’t give him anything. Or he’ll be off and racing downfield.”
Penick, no doubt, is the heartthrob of HP’s offense.
Sereda, arguably, is the heart and soul.
“Joe’s an emotional leader for us,” said Horeni. “He’s passionate. He’s vocal. He’s fiery.”
And that’s the way this center wants to be perceived.
“Barrette is our big-time player on the line,” Sereda said. “I’m the vocal one. I’m the in-your-face dude.”
Just Joe being Joe.
Notable: Back in the 1980s, Wham! was a popular English pop band made up of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. According to Wikipedia, Wham!’s success was off the charts, selling more than 25 million records. On Oct. 21, in its game against Vernon Hills, Highland Park managed to popularize the wham blocking technique. Wearing No. 56, two-way lineman DeAngelo Alonzo would line up at wingback, go in motion and then plow into the line of scrimmage to clear the way for HP running back D.J. Penick. “We knew they had a big nose tackle,” said HP head coach Joe Horeni. “We decided to go beef on beef. I was pleased with the way DeAngelo responded. He gave us a lot of push.” DeAngelo was happy to have obliged. “I loved it,” he said. “They couldn’t stop it.” … In the waning minutes of this contest, with Vernon Hills driving down the field following a Highland Park turnover, the Giants sideline had become pretty chaotic. But that soon subsided, when HP cornerback Noah Spitz intercepted a deflected pass deep in Giants territory with 27 seconds left to play. “A hard-fought game,” said Spitz, who ended the contest with two picks to go along with seven tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, and one pass break-up. “I’m proud of my teammates tonight. And I’m proud to be able to make some plays for them.” … In addition to Spitz’s two picks, HP safety Ryan Brinks intercepted a pass in the end zone on the first series of the second half. Showing running back speed — because he is one — Brinks returned it 50 yards before fumbling. But the Giants caught a break, when teammate David Barrette scooped up the loose ball and advanced it another 10 yards. … The Giants also had the sack attack thing going. They had six for the game. Penick had two, as did inside linebacker Bobby McCraren. Barrette and Luke Crawford had one each. … Highland Park earned the No. 17 seed in the Class 7A state playoffs. The Giants will open the tournament with a road game against No. 16 Plainfield North (7-2) on Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.