Insider Info: Championship Edition (Anthony Ukofia-Wayzata)
In my latest feature article for Northstar Football News: “The Trojan Reign Reestablished”, I interviewed six Wayzata Trojans that were apart of the 2019 state championship. After releasing the full feature, I thought it would be both appropriate as well as interesting to post each Trojans individual interview…
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Continue ReadingIn my latest feature article for Northstar Football News: “The Trojan Reign Reestablished”, I interviewed six Wayzata Trojans that were apart of the 2019 state championship. After releasing the full feature, I thought it would be both appropriate as well as interesting to post each Trojans individual interview so our readers can receive as much exclusive insight into the success of 2019, as well as what it means to these boys to be a Trojan, and what lessons they have learned from the ride.
Ukofia’s commitment graphic for CSP.In these individual interviews that I used as sources for the feature, the Wayzata players give even more detail into the inner workings of the team and their keys to success. This “Championship Edition” of NFN’s “Insider Info” highlights First Team All-Metro and Second Team All-State safety Anthony Ukofia. A recent Concordia St. Paul football commit who is set to have a great career in the NSIC, Ukofia shared with us some of the big moments of ’19, his career at Wayzata, big plays from the state championship game, and how playing for the Trojans has prepared him for his next steps in life as well as college football. I hope you enjoy!
NFN: Hello and thank you so much for your time, Anthony. Congrats on the 2019 season. Please begin by telling us what it means to you to be a Trojan, and what your career at Wayzata has been like.
Ukofia: “Being a Trojan these past 4 years has been an honor. High school football is definitely something that I will remember and carry with me for the rest of my life, there’s nothing like it.”
NFN: Walk us through some of differences the program has seen since you were a freshman to now senior. What difference can you credit with having the biggest impact on the Trojans success this year?
Ukofia: “One difference that I’ve seen over the years is definitely the camaraderie. Everyone on the team really plays for each other and you could see that with how we play. From the coaches to the players to the parents, everyone in our program was all in and I credit that the most.”
NFN: How was the 2018 season for you as well as Wayzata? What were some big games, low moments, and how did you build off 2018 to succeed in 2019?
Ukofia: “The 2018 season for me wasn’t the best, I didn’t play much at all, a big moment for me was switching from receiver to safety, the coaches really trusted me with the switch and also guided me through it. I carried some lessons into the 2019 season though, I really learned and embraced being a great teammate so that whole experience worked out great.
Credit: Anthony UkofiaThe off-season was great, everyone on the team worked for our end goal which we achieved. One thing I loved about the off-season is how Coach Halverson put us through some of the toughest workouts I’ve ever seen. He really emphasized us working as hard as we could so that the season could be easier.”
NFN: Describe the 2019 regular season. How was it going undefeated? When did you know you guys were going to be legit, especially on defense?
Ukofia: “The 2019 regular season was so amazing, I don’t even have words to explain it. Being undefeated during the regular season kind of gave us a chip on our shoulder, not that we were cocky or anything but we knew that we didn’t want to go undefeated just for the regular season, we wanted to finish the season perfect and with a ring. To be honest, during the off-season we knew our defense would be legit, we knew no other team had the athletes we did on this side of the ball.”
NFN: Elaborate on the state playoffs and especially the championship game! What were some big plays and moments, and how was your performance?
Ukofia: “The state playoffs were such a great experience, it was great to be able to have those first 2 games at home for all of our fans. Playing at the Bank was something else I’ll never forget. It felt really good for us to be challenged in the final 2 games, we love fighting through adversity. In the state championship, I was really proud of our defense and how we turned the game around at halftime, we did a great job at containing their main receiver Brock Johnson who is a really good player.
Credit: Anthony UkofiaThat was a matchup I was looking forward to going into the game and I’m glad our secondary came out on top. The best moment of course was just being with my brothers on the field after the game holding up the trophy, emotions were just flying! I played good throughout the state tournament, I just did my part just like everyone else on the team did. My coaches put me in great positions and I executed.”
NFN: What will stay with you as a Trojan as you transition into the next step of your football career? How has Wayzata prepared you for college football if it’s something you’re interested in?
Ukofia: “Wayzata has just taught me so many lessons I can carry into the next level, they taught me how to compete, on and off the field, and going 1-0. That’s something that will stick with me forever because it doesn’t just go for football, it means going 1-0 in life. So that is something I can carry forever.”
Thank you and congratulations again, Anthony. Good luck at CSP!