In the gym at Valley Central last week, Mark Crisfield was honored as a graduating senior who will play collegiate athletics next year.

Crisfield will play football next year at Saint John Fisher College, and he will going thee after playing three seasons on offense and defense for the Vikings.
Crisfield started playing football in elementary school, and he played in a youth league. He then worked his way through the Valley Central program before being called up to the varsity program as a freshman for the postseason.

“I fell in love with it. It’s the best thing I ever done since,” said Crisfield, of when he started football as a young boy.

And during his three full seasons with the Vikings, Crisfield played on the offensive and defensive lines and as a linebacker.

But community is a big part of why Crisfield loves and plays football.
“Being part of the team, meeting everybody. Even guys on opposing teams,” said Crisfield. “Winning is a bonus.”

Crisfield played on the offensive line, and he helped open holes for runners and protect the quarterback, but he enjoyed playing defense and trying to stop Valley Central’s opponents.

“Defense is fun, just getting at it and going for it at every play,” he said. “That’s the best part.”

From the middle of August and until the middle of autumn, Crisfield’s afternoons, Friday evenings or Saturdays were filled with hours of practice or playing in a game. And Crisfield has enjoyed the entire experience.

“I just enjoyed it. Going to practice, going to camp. Preseason. Everything. It’s just the sport that I love,” he said.

Now he’s headed to college. Crisfield is undecided about his major, but he wants to study sciences or history

“It’s always been in my mind playing in college,” he said.