Yuv Banker ’25, a four-year Senior from London, England, is co-captain of Varsity Football. He plays center and defensive lineman. Teammate Justin Kearse ’27 said, “Yuv is a captain with electric energy. Whenever he’s playing in practice or killing it on the field, he’s always leading by example. Even when things are looking bleak, Yuv elevates the morale of the team.”
Head Coach Dempsey Quinn said, “Yuv has been an absolute joy to coach since the minute he stepped onto campus. The fact that he had never played organized football before and is now a two-year starter and co-captain speaks volumes to his hard work and dedication. He always puts the team’s needs above his own. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to coach Yuv and get to know him well.”
How did you start playing football?
I started playing as a Prep. I played rugby throughout elementary and middle school. I wanted to find a similar sport to engage in here, and football seemed perfect.
I was really nervous coming in as a Prep. I saw these Seniors who were captains and they seemed really big, which was intimidating.
However, walking through the hallways, you have fifty teammates who you know are gonna say hi to you and who are going to pick you up when you feel down. That’s why we make it a point to look after the Preps on our team, because I remember how much of an effect it had on me.
Who are some of your role models?
A Senior named Henry Emswiler ’22 —we called him Buckley—was a big role model for me. Henry started off his Prep year as a pretty small kid who had never played football before and became captain in his Senior year. He looked out for me on and off the field and kept me sticking to the sport.
Another role model would be Sean Donovan ’23. He graduated two years ago and plays football at the United States Military Academy now. We play the same position, so he was always there to pick me up.
What has your experience as a captain been like this year?
It’s been a really good experience so far. There’s definitely a lot of work behind the scenes, like picking up after other people in the locker room, taking the loops out, doing the laundry, and getting there early.
When people look lost and need a boost of energy or morale, you need to make sure you’re the one going out of your way to make sure everyone on the team feels like they belong there.
Also, you need to help to make sure everyone is working towards the same goal and getting better every day.
What are some of your goals for the rest of the season?
Beating Taft is the biggest goal we have. Also, I want the team to bond more off the field, perhaps by going out to the lake, having some activities on a day off, or getting team dinners.
I am also excited about doing a lot of the traditions that the football team has. For example, all the new players sing a karaoke song for the whole team in the locker room— this will definitely bring our team together.
What challenges have you encountered as a captain?
It has been hard getting everyone out of their shells. Since we had a lot of new kids this year, it can be hard to get the energy that’s key to the team’s success. We’ve asked them to give us more energy, and I am glad that the team has really responded.
What is one of your favorite memories from playing football?
It would be my Prep year when we beat Lawrenceville. We were down by two touchdowns going into the fourth quarter. Then we moved the football down the field and scored a touchdown. After that we got a huge stop on defense, which gave us a final offensive possession. We really saw the team come together, and then we beat Lawrenceville by one point in the last second of the fourth quarter with one last touchdown. It came down at the very last play, and I think we played our best game of football that year at that game. This was something I probably won’t forget.
What advice would you give to young football players?
Don’t let your outside life affect how you act on the football field. Even if you feel tired, give it 100% every single day, because the strides you make will be huge. When you commit and give your all each day for a few seasons, you really start to see the build-up in your skills and mindset. I’ve seen myself change a lot from Prep to Senior year, and much of that growth has come through football.
