Photo courtesy of Gabe Rosen
May 11, 2023
After three years of starting on the offensive line for the varsity football team, senior Gabe Rosen had a plethora of options to play at the next level. After numerous offers and interest from Division I football programs, one offer stood apart from the rest for Rosen. When Division I Valparaiso University offered Rosen a scholarship the summer before his senior year, Rosen was quick to take advantage of a tremendous opportunity.
“Valpo was close to home. They preach the same things that ETHS football preaches, and they had my major in criminology,” said Rosen. “[Valparaiso offensive line coach] Pat Denecke called me every day during the season and checked in on me, he really cares—that is how all the coaches are at Valpo.”
Rosen was so excited to get to Valparaiso that he completed the necessary credits to graduate this fall allowing him to get to Valparaiso for spring ball.
For Rosen, the adjustment from high school to college football was a daunting task at first. As spring ball progressed, Rosen started to feel more comfortable.
“The first day is a shock, because everything’s so much faster, you feel like you’re the worst football player in the world. But once you find your routine, you’re totally okay.”
Rosen started with Junior Wildkits, ETHS’ tackle football feeder program when he was just eleven years old. From sixth grade to Rosen’s senior year, he believes that ETHS’ program “100 percent” prepared him well for Valparaiso.
Rosen’s favorite memory from his time on the football team at ETHS came against rival New Trier during his junior year.
“My favorite memory at ETHS was beating New Trier my junior year,” Rosen said. “We came out hot and didn’t let up. We had fun.”
Rosen believes college football will give him the opportunity to play the game at a more calculated and serious level. While he is excited to take the next step in his career, he will never forget the times he had playing football with his childhood friends.
“The difference between high school and college football is that college is a business while high school is a game where you just have fun. During high school, you can hang out and play football with your best friends that you’ve grown up with through your entire life.”
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