Brady Tanguay is still kicking at Siena Heights.
BRIAN RZEPPA
Graduating in 2015 from Trenton High School as one of the program’s more reliable special team’s players in recent memory, Brady Tanguay has continued his success on the football field at the collegiate level with Siena Heights University.
After a game on Sept. 30 against Missouri Baptist in which he went three-for-three in both field goals and extra points — including a school-record 43-yard kick, Tanguay was named Mid-States Football Association Special Teams Player of the Week.
This is his second time earning the honor this year, the first coming after a game against Robert Morris University in which he was 1-1 on field goals and 4-for-4 with extra points, and it’s his third time receiving the honor in his three-year career with the Saints. Despite having won it before, the award was as meaningful as ever to Tanguay.
“It was pretty neat being recognized. The first few weeks I didn’t get many opportunities to kick, but lately our offense has been moving the ball and are setting me up in positions to put three points on the board so I give a lot of credit to them,” Tanguay said.
Following a strong career with the Trojans, Tanguay has been a model of consistency so far with the Saints. Halfway through his junior season, he has nailed his field goals at a 72.4 percent clip and has been at an excellent 93 percent with his extra points. He has taken his game to the next level as a player and that has come through hours and hours of hard work.
“I think I’ve come very far since I graduated from Trenton. I’ve gotten much stronger and added on a lot of muscle weight which helps especially when I’m kicking long field goals or kicking into the wind.”
Not only has Tanguay continued to improve, but the team around him has also made some strides in the right direction. After finishing with four and five wins, respectively, in his first two seasons, Siena Heights already hit the four-win mark at the halfway point in the season.
With the team’s success in mind, Tanguay has been able to feed off of his teammates’ energy throughout the year.
“I think kicking is about 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical so when we’re on a roll like we are right now, I have a lot of confidence. When I get sent out I expect to make everything and when the offense and defense are playing good, I think that translates to special teams excelling as well.”
While the work that he has put in has played a major part in his excellence in college, Tanguay credits the work of the Trenton coaching staff and another local coach with his continued development.
“Playing for Trenton impacted me a ton with who I am as a player and person today,” he said. “The Trenton football program especially taught me way more about being a man than it did about football and I really credit Coach Czarnecki and Coach Segedi with that.
“I also worked a ton throughout high school with Mike DeSana and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. As I’m learning, football goes by so fast and it isn’t forever, so developing those life skills and becoming a better man is what it’s all about. I still keep in touch with my high school coaches and it’s awesome that they’re still giving me support and advice today.”