Meetings, no meetings.
Practice, no practice.
Games, no games.
Schedule, no schedule.
Like the vast majority of us, San Marino High School student Niko Mavridis could probably use a little more definition in his life, but it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference to the junior quarterback.
Under normal circumstances, Mavridis would be preparing for the Titans’ sixth varsity football game of the season. Instead, he’s just preparing.
Niko Mavridis, a junior at San Marino High School, has continued to train for the upcoming football season, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.
It’s part of a process that began shortly after San Marino’s grid finale last year and will continue until Jan. 8, when the CIF fall sports season begins.
Along with team meetings via Zoom, Mavridis lifts weights every morning on his own and takes part in private quarterback training sessions — all socially distanced, of course.
Mavridis’ journey to signal caller is a unique one. He began playing football as a 3rd-grader in the popular San Marino Community Athletics Association’s flag football league and started out as a running back and wide receiver before one of his coaches thought he should be throwing the ball. As an SMHS freshman in 2018, Mavridis received significant playing time before the 9th-graders’ squad was merged with the junior varsity team.
As a sophomore on the varsity squad last season, Mavridis got the nod when then-senior starter Connor Short was injured. He responded well, completing 12 of 16 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns as the Titans defeated Bell Gardens for their first win of the season. Demonstrating his “next man up” attitude, Mavridis took a crash course on playing in the defensive backfield, where he also received a lot of playing time.
Mavridis will probably find a crowded field of contenders when camp eventually opens later this year, with experienced quarterback candidates that include senior Andy Sutherland and sophomore Riley Short making the decision on a starter more difficult for head coach Justin Mesa. His competitors may not immediately recognize Mavridis — not so much because distance learning has kept everyone apart, but due to the fact that he is approaching 6 feet in height and has bulked up by 20 pounds. In any event, Mavridis will be ready.
“I am more than excited,” he said last week via telephone. “I have been waiting for so long and I am really looking forward to getting back on the field.”
