Junior Kevin Alberque has been a force on the turf for the Spartans this fall, leading the team with 506 yards receiving and 645 yards returning, with three games to go. Alberque is quietly building an impressive resume, having been named to ECAC second-team last year as a receiver and returner and coming in 21st in the country with 155.9 all-purpose yards per game. I sat down with Alberque to find out a little more about the Spartans’ star receiver.
Q: When and why did you start playing football?
A: “I have been playing since I was in second grade. My dad coached football when I was growing up so I was always around it. My dad actually left a football practice to go to the hospital when my mother went into labor with me.”
Q: Who was your favorite football team growing up?
A: “New York Giants!”
Q: How did you go about choosing Castleton for football?
A: “I wanted to get out of Jersey and my aunt lives over in Fair Haven so I had heard about the school, came to visit and really liked it. It’s in a good spot to get away!”
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
A: “I always wear my high school football shirt. I also have coconut water, a jar of pickle juice and a couple tablespoons of yellow mustard before every game to settle my stomach.”
Q: How do you manage being in ROTC and playing football – both are big commitments?
A: “I have to make sacrifices if I want to be a stand out leader in either. They both are very time consuming; it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, not just during the designated times, to succeed. I love working under pressure!”
Q: When not playing football, what do you like to do?
A: “I’m busy a lot, but I enjoy kicking back and watching football on Sundays with the boys. Going out and socializing, fishing, being outdoors, lifting and hitting the beach in the summer are some things I like to do in my spare time.”
Q: What’s your favorite sport, other than football?
A: “To watch, it’s got to be Hockey, and to play would be Baseball. In high school I played football, baseball, track and I wrestled. I won most outstanding athlete in my high school my senior year.”
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: “My mom makes unreal homemade pasta with meat sauce. Other than that I love steak, Mahi Mahi and some raw clams.”
Q: What are you going to miss most about Castleton?
A: “The close knit community that Castleton forms, everyone is so friendly and outgoing, it’s a good experience to be at Castleton.”
Q: What is your favorite moment at Spartan Stadium so far?
A: “Our best win was definitely my freshman year when we beat Anna Maria 56-52. My best performance was last year though against Plymouth State where I scored three touchdowns and we won 35-7. Going to practice at 5:30 every morning with your brothers builds a bond between all of us and the collective practices are my favorite moments at Spartan Stadium.”