by Christina Petersen
The Chronicle
To play at Division I scholarship level in one sport is quite an accomplishment, but to earn scholarships in two sports shows a level of commitment that defies the odds.
Nick Hartofilis has accomplished this feat, juggling wide receiver on the football team and midfielder duties on the lacrosse teams.
The senior who began his career as a scholarship lacrosse player is now a scholarship football player, freeing up one of the 12-and-a-half scholarships the lacrosse team is allotted.
The Huntington, N.Y., native joined the Blue Devils three years ago under lacrosse coach Mike Pressler. In 1997, former Duke football coach Fred Goldsmith asked him to practice quarterback with the football scout team.
As an option quarterback in the mock-Army offense before the game, Hartofilis impressed Goldsmith his speed and athleticism. At the end of the year, the coach asked Hartofilis to join the team as a wide receiver.
"I just thought it would be nice to help Duke football win games any way I could," Hartofilis said. "I'm just trying to do anything possible to help the team win."
He definitely has the skills to help the team win, with impressive credentials on and off the field. Hartofilis attended St. Anthony's High School, where he was twice named Academic All-America
During this year's preseason, Hartofilis has stood out during Duke's intrasquad scrimmages and has really turned coach Carl Franks' head.
"Hartofilis is a guy that has really come out strong for us as wide receiver, especially after not seeing him in the spring because he was playing lacrosse," Franks said. "He's a strong young man who runs pretty good."
As a former quarterback and current wide receiver, Hartofilis is also excited about Franks' new Airborne offense that will focus more on passing.
His transition from quarterback to wide receiver has been relatively painless due to hard work and good coaching. Aubrey Hill, the new receivers coach from Florida State, was one of the primary forces in easing Hartofilis' transition.
"Coach Hill has helped me a lot as far as teaching me to run routes precisely," Hartofilis said. "Being a former college player, he understands."
Hartofilis worked out with the football team all summer, practicing with Hill and wide receiver Scottie Montgomery. His high school lacrosse coach was a former football player and helped him to understand his role in both sports.
The senior also cites his father's influence on his decision to play college football, saying that his father has always loved seeing him on the football field.
Hartofilis' father has had many chances to watch Nick play football, beginning when his son was in fifth grade. Last year, Hartofilis played in eight Duke games to earn his first football varsity letter.
Raised on Long Island, a lacrosse recruiting stable, Hartofilis used his first sport as a means to attend Duke. He quickly became a force to be reckoned with, scoring 15 goals with one assist in 1998.
Over the past three years, he and the lacrosse team have made trips to the NCAA semifinals and quarterfinals.
But there is more.
Hartofilis was also named a second-team lacrosse All-America last season. He placed fifth on the team in scoring last season with 18 goals, helping Duke set a school record for wins with 13.
He juggles both sports and a history major with an economics minor by taking the more rigorous classes over the summer in order to give his best on both fields.
The wide receiver and midfielder has always looked up to future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, his childhood hero.
"[Montana] kind of beat the odds," Hartofilis said. "He was always called an undersized quarterback who didn't have a strong arm."
By playing at the scholarship level in both football and lacrosse, Hartofilis does not have to worry about beating the odds like his hero. He already has.
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