The moment he took to the football field this year for a scrimmage, Wilbraham & Monson Academy's Dylan Dupont '16 knew he was a different player from a year ago.
And Dylan wasn't just a different player – he was suddenly an MVP-type player.
Dylan was named Lineman Most Valuable Player at the Athletic Awards Ceremony Nov. 17 at the Academy.
"I wasn't really expecting it. It's a weird feeling," Dylan described. "You always feel there's someone who did a little more than you or who deserves it a little more than you, and it's hard to be happy with it. But I guess I should just be happy with it. There are other kids on the team who could have won it, too. I'm thankful the coaches chose me."
The coaches noticed early in the season Dylan had transformed himself from a teenager playing football to a dominant player. Behind his off-season conditioning, he rarely came off the field, starting at left tackle and defensive tackle.
"I was really impressed early in the season to see the improvement he had made," Coach Jeff Vartabedian said. "Come mid-year, it became an expectation that he was going to keep playing at that level, and he did. He fought through some injuries, but didn't come out and wouldn't come out. It was satisfying to see that hard work pay off for him because he worked his butt off. He set a great example for the younger guys."
Dylan worked out nearly every day since the spring. On his weight training days he lifted twice, and ran sprints and went on long runs on the other days. He also attended four football camps.
"I've always loved football," Dylan said. "It's been a part of me since I was little. I started playing when I was in South Carolina, and it was really intense there. It's how I think about myself."
"Along with being our Lineman MVP, he was also our most improved player, and that was due to all of his hard work in the offseason," Coach Vartabedian added. "He lifted all winter, spring and summer. He went to camps to get better, and it showed. He played our toughest, most demanding position at left tackle. We threw the ball a lot this year, so having a left tackle we could depend on to block the opponent's best pass rusher week in and week out, he did a great job. At 200 pounds, it's not always easy to do, but he's strong and athletic and tough."