Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
Even though every football team in the Big Ten came calling, there was little doubt that John Reschke would be a Michigan State University Spartan.
The 6’3″, 235-pound Brother Rice linebacker verbally committed to play at Michigan State, following in his father’s footsteps to the East Lansing campus.
“Everyone knew I was going Michigan State,” Reschke said. “My dad [Paul Reschke] played defensive end there, so it’s been a tradition.”
One person who is glad that the star linebacker is heading to Michigan State is long-time Brother Rice coach Al Fracasa.
“I like my kids to go to Michigan State because that is where I went,” Fracasa said. “But I have kids playing all over, and I let them decide what to do.”
Before Reschke heads to East Lansing, he still has some unfinished business to take care of at Brother Rice.
Four weeks into the season, the Warriors are 3-1. The team’s only loss came in week one to Division 1 defending state champion Detroit Cass Tech, 25-18.
Recently, the Warriors picked up a big 28-0 win over De La Salle Collegiate in the first week of Detroit Catholic League-Central action.
Unfortunately, Reschke was lost to an ankle injury – an injury that will force him to miss week five’s game against University of Detroit Jesuit.
“It’s just a week-to-week thing,” Reschke said. “It is healing every day. I’ll be ready to go next week.”
Fracasa says Reschke can’t return soon enough.
“He is our leader on defense,” Fracasa said. “He calls the defensive signals; he has more experience than most of the guys on the team. He has started since he was a sophomore, so he had more experience.
“He is very valuable and loves playing high school football,” he added. “Soon that will be over, and soon he will be playing with the big boys . But that’s how it goes; you enjoy them when you have them. He has worked hard for this, put a lot of time in on the weights, and MSU is a good place for him to go to school.”
Before that happens, Reschke would love to make one final mark in high school.
“I’m comfortable with our team; we are family together, and I truly believe you can’t beat family,” Reschke said. “No doubt I have a feeling we will be at Ford Field twice this year – once for the Catholic League championship and once for state championship.
“Staying healthy and helping my team achieve the highest level of excellence, that’s what I want,” he added. “With that, everything individually will come. I don’t want to worry about individual stats now, just team goals.”