By: Kacy Solomon

Over the summer, Bellbrook High School students interested in playing football started going to lifting and practices in order to make the team. This year, the varsity football team has four captains, seniors Jude Omiatek, Johnnie Brown, Kelvin Okechukwu-Ozor, and AJ Bratka. Each captain was picked by head coach Jeff Jenkins. 

Jude Omiatek   

Originally, Omiatek’s dad got him into playing football. “I’m excited for this season,” Omiatek said. He has played football all four years of high school as a tight end and defensive end. “I block and catch the ball as a tight end and I tackle other opponents as a D end.” 

Omiatek is a four-year starter. His hard work across all four years is what earned him his captain position this year. “He exemplifies everything we would want in a Bellbrook football captain,” Jenkins said. “Jude gives 100% effort to everything he does in football and he’s a great teammate.” 

Outside of football, Omiatek participates in some other hobbies. “I like to fish and play pickleball,” Omiatek said. “I probably fish every other night and I play pickleball about once a week with my friends.” 

Omiatek has an offer from Valparaiso University, a Division 1 school located in Indiana. He is still undecided about his plans after high school or if he will accept his offer from Valparaiso. 

Johnnie Brown

Brown has played football since his junior year and is currently in his senior season. He got himself into playing football because he loved sports and decided to give it a try. “I play d[efensive]-line and I also play o[ffensive]-line a little bit,” Brown said. “To be more specific, I play strong guard, d-line, and then I play guard on the o-line.”

“Johnnie has probably shown the most growth of any football player we’ve ever had here at Bellbrook High School,” Jenkins said. “I think he’s a great role model for younger players of how much you can grow and develop as a person and a football player.” 

Over the summer, Brown said he put the work in during practices and that’s how he got his captain position. “I worked my behind off this whole summer you know and that’s really it, being a vocal teammate,” Brown said.

When Brown graduates, he is looking forward to potentially playing football in college. “If I get somewhere I’m interested in, like a good school that offers me a spot, then I would play,” Brown said. “I don’t really have any specific schools that I’m looking at.”

Kelvin Okechukwu-Ozor

When Okechukwu-Ozor was younger, he loved watching sports. Specifically, he loved watching football. No particular person got Okechukwu-Ozor into football, but his mom just noticed how much he loved watching the sport and got him to play in middle school. 

Okechukwu-Ozor has been playing football all four years of high school as defensive line. “We do a lot to help the defense,” Okechukwu-Ozor said.  “We get hands on our opponents which would be the offensive line so they can’t get to our linebackers.” 

Jenkins picked Okechukwu-Ozor as a captain this year because of his hard work and growth from season to season. “Kelvin has completely transformed himself through football,” Jenkins said. “He’s made major changes to his life both on the football field and off the football field as well.” 

While Okechukwu-Ozor isn’t playing football, he claims to not partake in many hobbies. “I’m a boring person,” Okechukwu-Ozor said. “I usually just play video games and hang out with friends. That’s about it.”

If Okechukwu-Ozor was offered a Division 2 or Division 3 school, he said that he would most likely go there and play football if they provide a good education. “I would just play for the fun of it. I don’t think I’m good enough to go further than Division 2 or 3 but you never know,” Okechukwu-Ozor said.

AJ Bratka

In elementary school, Bratka developed a liking for the game of football by himself. He wanted to play but wasn’t allowed to until middle school because his mom thought he may get hurt being a young kid. 

Bratka has now played football all four years of high school as a wingback and linebacker. “Wingback is a little bit of everything. I run the ball, catch the ball, and block,” Bratka said. “As a linebacker, basically I just try to tackle whoever has the ball.” 

Bratka got his captain position this year for his leadership skills on and off the field. “AJ is a quiet leader, he does everything the right way,” Jenkins said. “He is extremely coachable, smart, and a great student in the classroom, again another guy we want our younger kids to look up to.” 

In the years following high school, Bratka would be interested in continuing his football career if he gets the opportunity. “If I get the chance to play in college I would,” Bratka said. ”To be honest, any school that’s good at academics I would go to.”