As an emerging running back for the Hand football team, Aidan Dolan learned that patience is indeed a strong virtue when it comes to his field assignment, and he did in fact patiently wait to make a huge impact in the Tigers’ biggest game of the season this fall.

The junior tailback for the Tigers grew up playing both football and lacrosse in town. This past campaign, Aidan stepped into the running back spot for Hand to great prominence, as the team’s leading rusher with 539 ground yards on 68 carries (a rate of 7.9 yards per attempt) with a team-tops seven trips to the endzone. More importantly, Aidan’s peak performance came against rival Guilford on Nov. 23 in a 28-25 win, with 21 rushes for 149 rushing yards and a trio of touchdowns.

“I have just kept working on my agility, speed, and cutting ability,” says Aidan. “I also worked on my stiff arm move a lot and being able to have a better field of view. All of those things have helped me create a good game as a running back.”

The victory against the Grizzlies was especially sweet, as it knocked the Tigers’ main foe from playoff contention. Speaking to his solo showing on that Thanksgiving Eve night, Aidan asserted that the credit goes all to his men in the trenches that opened up luxurious lanes.

“I am pretty new to running back, and I had trouble at first on how to work with the offensive line,” Aidan says. “The week leading up to the Guilford game, I worked hard on being patient. I just waited for the line to open that night and went. It felt great to win that game; we were so happy to end the season on a win and beating Guilford. It was all about us versus Guilford that night; the rest of the year did not matter.”

Aidan’s love affair with football harkens back to the childhood friendships he made in grade school that have blossomed into lifelong relationships with current teammates. Yet when looking inward, he takes pleasure through logging reps in the gym and practice.

“I love football because I met my best friends through it. We made a family through it from 2nd grade until now and created a bond,” says Aidan. “I work in the offseason as hard as I can, because I hate missing any workout days. I strive to better myself and stay consistent every day.”

Moving back to the backfield, Aidan especially craves the moment where the waiting pays off tenfold and real estate opens up for him to run and roll into the endzone.

“It feels so good as a running back when you see only grass and break away,” Aidan says. “When you are in the open and it’s just you versus a couple guys, it is such a good feeling.”

Hand football Head Coach Erik Becker states that Aidan gives only the best to everything he does day in and day out.

“Aidan is a dedicated athlete and consummate teammate. He sets the example every day with hard work, dedication, and total commitment,” says Becker. “He is extremely disciplined in the way he works on and off the field as an honor roll student. Most importantly, he is a young man of high character and integrity.”

Whether around his teammates, or working with his coaches on his game, Aidan is always upbeat and enjoying the moment. He additionally notes how the gridiron has sharpened his mental durability through any hurdles thrown by life.

“I learned that through my sophomore season, it was the best time of my life. But then this year was still the best time of my life,” Aidan says. “Hand football has taught me how to work through adversity and how to be a better man. It helped me through tough times, and it taught me those times come and go, but you have to work through it.”

Looking ahead to his final foray next fall as a senior, Aidan aims to be part of a club that can bring championship glory back to Madison while continuing to bolster himself academically.

“We would definitely love to make it to the state final next year and win the title to bring it home to Madison,” Aidan says. “I want to keep studying hard and getting better grades. I am really excited for next year.”