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11/10/2021 11:00 PMThe Hand football team features one of the most prolific offensive attacks in all of Connecticut this season. One of the primary reasons behind the Tigers’ success is the performance of senior captain wide receiver Seth Sweitzer.
Seth has accumulated 800 receiving yards and scored 12 touchdowns for Hand so far this year. Along with his knack for catching passes, Seth is also a ball hawk on defense and has five interceptions as a member of the secondary.
“I’ve been playing football my entire life pretty much,” says Seth. “All of my uncle’s cousins, brothers, and dad played, all at Hand, so I didn’t have much of a choice. I was kind of blessed into the Hand family.”
Seth embraces the intensity that comes with playing football and prides himself on being the ultimate competitor. Seth values practices just as much as games, and that approach is paying dividends for him at the wide receiver position this season.
“I love the fact that you get knocked down every play. And every play, you have to put your fist in the ground, get up, and go at it again,” Seth says. “I also enjoy spending every day practicing with my guys and going to war every Friday.”
Seth spends many hours perfecting his craft on the football field. He enjoys working out and taking extra reps after practice. Aside from football, Seth is also an All-State player for the Hand boys’ lacrosse team.
“I like working every day on my game in every little aspect, whether that’s being a captain or catching as many footballs as possible a day,” says Seth. “I also play lacrosse, and that has helped a lot with my hand-eye coordination.”
Hand Coach Erik Becker describes Seth as the epitome of the Hand football program. Becker praises Seth for the skills that he brings to the gridiron, along with the senior captain’s ability to communicate effectively with his teammates.
“Seth has a positive impact on everyone around him. He sets an incredibly high standard for himself, and he reaches it every day,” Becker says. “Seth is a consummate leader and, most importantly, he is a fantastic young man of high integrity and great character.”
Seth’s relationship with Becker stems back to when he was a young child.
“I’ve known Coach Becker my entire life, so my relationship with him is really strong,” says Seth. “He’s been a mentor of mine for a while, and it’s been great working through the ups and downs of a season with him. I wouldn’t want anyone else coaching me.”
Last year, Seth saw his junior football season get canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seth isn’t taking one second of his senior campaign for granted and is pleased that the Tigers are playing a full slate of games.
“I haven’t really been worried about missing games this year, because our team has taken all the proper safety protocols to ensure everyone is healthy,” Seth says. “We absolutely do not want to miss a game.”
Off the field, Seth enjoys skiing, drawing, and creating videos. He also has an active clothing business that he takes pride in.
Hand has won its last three matchups to improve its record to 5-3 on the year. Seth’s expectations are for the Tigers to win their final two contests and make a run at the Class L State Playoffs.
“We want to make plays and win it all. We have a really good team, and I know we’re capable of going far,” says Seth. “We’re just starting to hit our stride now, and I think we’re going to do big things.”