Recruiting Report: Eli Fest – Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda (2021)

When it comes to football, the offseason for Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda’s soon to be senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18202" first="Eli" last="Fest"]</strong> has fallen into two categories – improving on a micro and a macro level. During the spring and the summer, he has been doing full-body workouts and has also focused on things that few will notice. He has been working on the little things. Fest was disappointed in the 2019 season in which the team won a playoff game, but only finished with a 3-7 record. "We kind of underachieved," Fest said. "I think it started in the weight room. I don’t think we took the offseason as seriously as we should have. I don’t think we were as locked in as we should have been. This year, myself and a couple of my teammates are trying to improve that this offseason." When the Coyotes’ were winning, they were winning upfront. "Our success usually came from running the ball and then using play-action off the run," Fest explained. "When the offensive line was imposing their will and controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, it opened everything else up." A soon to be four-year starter at quarterback and a multi-year starter at corner, like the team, Fest felt he should have been better. "The season went pretty good, but I made some mental mistakes that I shouldn’t have. I didn’t read the defense as well as I should have. It has given me something to work on for next year." He has been working on subtle improvements. "I have been focusing on the little things as a quarterback that it is hard to focus on during the season," Fest explained. "I have been working on finishing with my hip throws and getting more velocity on throws – so my throws are crisper and don’t hang in the air as much." Fest is a dual-threat quarterback. "I think my strengths are the short, quick game and keeping plays alive with my feet. I can throw accurately, but I am also a dual-threat and can run." Fest plays both ways. "I play corner and usually follow the best receiver around. I am at my best in coverage." Fest rarely comes off the football field during the game – or the hardwood, or the diamond. Before he could focus entirely on football, the three-sport athlete’s time was spent with his other sports. "I play point guard. The main things I do well is creating for others and shooting the ball. I was going to play AAU ball with the Southwest Minnesota Stars. I would have played baseball too. I have been starting on the varsity baseball team since 8th grade. I pitch and play left field. I have been our number one starter since ninth grade." Once the basketball season ended, Fest had to get creative with his training. "This spring, I wasn’t able to do a whole lot, but this summer, our weight room opened up, so I have been able to lift all summer," the 6’0" 185-pound athlete said. "When I was at home, I made up bodyweight type stuff. I would run and do sprints and combine it with pushups, dips, and ab workouts to stay in shape so when I could lift, I could get back at it. Before COVID hit, I was lifting and doing low weight, high rep kind of stuff. Then once the summer hit, I have switched to lower reps and higher weight." One of his off the field interests has also helped Fest stay in shape. "I enjoy helping my dad around the farm. I have always enjoyed that. I am looking into majoring in some sort of agricultural degree." Getting that degree will likely involve also playing a sport in college. "For football, I have talked to quite a few Division III schools and a couple of NAIA schools," Fest told prepredzone.com. "I have talked to Jamestown, Dordt, Waldorf, and a few other schools. A couple of DIII schools have talked to me about basketball." What sport and what position he will play in college are both up for debate. "I think I am being recruited as an offensive player, but I am not sure," Fest admitted. Wherever and whatever Fest decides to do with his athletic career starts with his desire to improve the team’s performance – by improving on the little things in his own game.