It’s all about family for Fenwick football

After a heartbreaking one point loss to Joliet Catholic on Sept. 13, the Fenwick Friars climbed onto the bus for a ride back home. And that night on the bus, something was brewing inside everyone.

“I just remember thinking, ‘We cannot let this season be another season like [last year],’” said junior Tommy Thies. “The next week of practice, we really locked in because we knew we could’ve won that game. But now it’s in the past, we don’t care, and we need to beat our next opponent.”

Fenwick came together to avoid a slump like last season and worked to start winning games. And win they did. The team went on a win streak that only recently ended with a 35-10 loss to Mount Carmel on Oct. 18. During that win streak, the Friars clinched a spot in this year’s playoffs.

Over and over again, many in the organization have pointed back to the same thing when asked what has propelled this team to where they are now — commitment to family and camaraderie.

“It’s definitely more of a brotherhood this year, and we’re staying close because you are your brother’s keeper,” said Tommy. “Last year we would only have about 20 guys show up at 6 in the morning for weights. This year we have just about every guy buying into the process because this is when you win games. Everyone knows how special this team can be.”

The players believe in the familial bond in and around the locker room. And just like an actual family, the Friars regularly spend time together.

“The night before a game we have a team dinner. There’s a lot that goes into football that isn’t the X’s and O’s. It’s about culture and playing for the person next to you,” said Scott Thies, athletic director of Fenwick High School. “I think that sense of community is a differentiator for Fenwick. I see it every day. [The students] are surrounded by teachers, coaches and classmates who have high expectations and push each other.”

So it’s no wonder the defensive and offensive teams have also started their own dinners. For the defensive starters, one player a week hosts the team on Wednesday night after practice. Once they’re done eating, the players all review film and get ready for the next game on the calendar.

Tommy and Jake Thies, Tommy’s younger brother, both attend these dinners and say it’s a big part of what has brought the team together. It gives the players a chance to socialize and bond, but it also allows them to grow with each other. Once the film starts running on the TV, the guys get serious. Players help each other out and make sure everyone knows the plays and coverages before heading into practice.

Whether on or off the field, the Fenwick football team has a brotherhood that runs deep. And when Susan Thies, Tommy and Jake’s grandmother, passed away, that brotherhood shined through yet again. The team showed up to the wake in support of the family and grieved with them. For Jake, it really validated all the camaraderie that the team had developed.

“When my grandmother passed away during the season, everyone showed up. I thought it was really special because it showed how tight our team was and how they were there for me,” said Jake. “There are a bunch of guys on the team I’ve been playing with since I was 10 years old. So everyone on the team I just think of as family.”

The Fenwick Friars are expected to be a threat this postseason with their strong culture and talent. If Fenwick can keep up its solid defense and improve consistency on offense, there’s hope that they can make a deep playoff run.

The Fenwick Friars kick off the end of the regular season against the Carmel Corsairs at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 25 at Triton College. A win there would clinch the outright Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference White Division title for Fenwick. After that, they plan to just take it one game at a time.