Senior Dylan Knutson has been a key member of the Lake Forest High School varsity football program, gaining a varsity role as a sophomore and maintaining it for three seasons. Known for his commitment to the program, Knutson was one of the most important contributors to the football program and often goes unrecognized due to his being an offensive lineman.
When did you first get involved with playing football and what made you stay?
“My dad played football in high school. He was from a small town, Lake Park, Minnesota, so they only had 7-man football. He played every position but quarterback and center. Then he later played in college at Fergus Falls Community College for his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred to Bemidji State University for his junior year, and then retired after that. He kind of forced my brother and me to play flag football growing up. He coached my team, so I have some of my favorite memories early on playing flag football. Then, when we could start playing tackle football in 5th grade, I really don’t remember why I didn’t play. I played in 6th grade,e though, and I was on the B team. My Dad also coached that team, so I really didn’t care, and I got to have more time with Coach Core,y who was the coach for the varsity team or the 8th grade team. I got to play every position that year, so I had a lot of fun. I remember that Christian Ragsdale and I both got to play running back that year, and when we look back at i,t we still laugh. I played both ways in middle school every year, and it was a lot of fun because I got to play basically the whole game.”
What was it like being brought up to a varsity starter as a sophomore?
“It was kinda unexpected, we were sitting in the main room at West Campus over the summer, and Coach Johnson was going over the positions, and I thought if I was going to get called up, it would be for offense and just be on the bench in case, or just rotate in on the offensive line. He gets through the offens,e and I don’t hear my name called, so I didn’t think I made it. He (Coach Johnson) then starts with defense, and he calls my name, and I was shocked. It felt good to be on the team because it shows that the coaches trust you and believe that you can contribute at a varsity level so early. It was also nice to be part of that team because I knew a bunch of the seniors. After all, they were in my brother’s grade. So it was fun to play with them.”
How do you think being on varsity for three years shaped you as a person and an athlete?
“I think my 3 years on the Lake Forest High School Varsity Football team have developed me more than anything could. I have figured out how to configure a calendar that involves me juggling multiple draining tasks. I have made memories that will last with me for the rest of my life, and I have made countless friends through the program.”
What kind of challenges or difficulties did you have adapting to the varsity level?
“There were definitely some jumping from the freshman level straight to varsity. Everyone is obviously just so much bigger and faster. I think I weighed around 170 pounds that season, and I would go against people who were around 250 pounds, so it was not only hard to move people, but also not just to get driven back right away. Also, the coaches expect so much more from you at the varsity level and even more if you’re an unproven sophomore. I always knew that they could move some people around, and I’d be on the bench.”
Were there any varsity football players who helped guide and lead you when you were first brought up?
“My sophomore year, halfway through the season, I got switched to offensive line from defensive line, and it was the week we were playing Libertyville, so a lot of pressure was on the game. During that week, my position coach made senior Logan Uihlien my brother. He made us sit next to each other in every meeting, even though he got switched to play offensive guard. He taught me a lot of what he knew and eased me into playing. Also, that year, my Parkside roommate, Matthew Somoza, helped me learn the offense that year. During the summer, we played next to each other, and we got so used to each other that we didn’t have to talk when we were playing to call out stuff; we could just look at each other and kinda signal what we were thinking. Coach Busse liked to remind me that he had my JV jersey ready for me.”
How was it during your last season as the person leading the younger people of the program?
“It felt kinda weird. A sophomore got called up halfway through the year, Ezio Berrettini, and I kinda saw myself in him. I remember for the weeks that I was on defense getting called out in film because I would get pushed around or just do the wrong play. Coach Spagnoli and Coach Carney would let me know, and I would hear stories from my friends about Ezio, and I couldn’t help but think that it was me at one point. And to the point I was at, where I would very rarely get called out in film. It was just a full circle moment. In my senior year, over half of the offensive line had zero varsity experience coming into the season. So if I saw they might’ve messed up with some technique, I would try to help them.”
Did you ever see yourself possibly playing at the college level?
“After my sophomore year, I was interested, but that faded. I was looking at some other players who got to the college level for my position, and their athletic ability and size. I just didn’t match up, so that kinda killed my dream. My dad, who is around my height and was around my weight in high school, played, but his dream was to play, and on top of that,t he wasn’t the best student, so going to school was going to school for him.”
What would you say to people thinking about playing football or any varsity sport as they move through high school?
“Tell them to play it, I’ve met so many people from my grade that I would have never interacted with if I didn’t play football. I’ve also met so many people from other grades that I would have never ever talked to or interacted with if I didn’t play football. That is my biggest takeaway from playing football. The people around all the sports programs in Lake Forest are what separates Lake Forest from all the surrounding towns. There are also no sports at Lake Forest where you won’t have fun playing. I have friends who never got any playing time in football, but they showed up to every offseason workout and every summer camp. They didn’t dream in their wildest dreams that they would play, but they loved showing up to football.”
