JACOB GINSKEY PROFILE

THE FOLLOWING Q & A SPOTLIGHT FEATURE IS PROUDLY PRESENTED BY…

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JACOB GINSKEY

6-0, 185 LBS, QB, SENIOR, CAPTAIN

5 QUICK QUESTIONS

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR NUMBER (No. 2)

“I honestly can’t remember exactly why I picked it, but basically starting in middle school all the way through freshman year I wore No. 2. I obviously wore No. 12 the last couple years and just decided to switch it back and have some fun with it my senior year.”

FAVORITE UNIFORM COMBINATION?

“Boy, that’s a tough one. I would say either the classic blue jersey on white pants or the black out — black jerseys, black pants.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM?

“Well, yeah, for sure. So, both of my uncles (Nate Skala and Matt Skala) are on the coaching staff. Matt is the running backs coach and Nate is the receivers (coach). My brother Nolan is on the team, he’ll be one of my wide outs. Um…I have a bunch of cousins that played like Shadrik Skala and Sheridan Skala back in the day. Basically, I’m related to any Skala that’s ever played for Owatonna. There’s a lot of them.”

ARE YOU INVOLVED IN ANY OTHER SPORTS OR ACTIVITIES?

“I am in band and choir. Clubs, I’m in DECCA and I’m a board member for NHS and then for sports I play basketball and run track. I was in the 4-by-8 team that went to state last year. We placed seventh. I also ran in the open eight, 400 and did the triple jump. I kind of did a little bit of everything.”

WHAT IS MEMORABLE PHRASE USED BY ONE OF YOUR COACHES?

“I’d have to say from my uncle Matt (Skala). He’s always telling me to have moxie. I honestly didn’t know what it meant until he used it, but it’s about have poise and being a leader.”

Q & A WITH JACOB GINSKEY

Does this season feel like a fresh start for you?

“For sure. Everything is new, just the environment and being out on the field. New teammates, new season. I’m excited.“

Do you ever catch yourself looking around at the new stadium and facilities and are like ‘wow, I get to be a part of this.’?

“Definitely. The guys make fun of me a little bit, but it’s cool on the morning when we are at practice, you get to see the sun rise behind the field. It’s pretty sweet.”

You look back now, it feels like it was just yesterday that you were a sophomore being thrown into the mix as an emergency quarterback and now you’re a third-year starter and a captain. How far have you come, both on and off the field?

“I would just say the command of the game and confidence. Everything else, too — all the little things and all the small things. I feel like I’ve become a more fully-developed player and a better quarterback — a better leader. Like my uncle said, having that moxie. That’s huge.”

This year you guys return a lot more experience on the offensive line compared to last year. How important is it to have that type of experience and size up front?

“That’s key. They are the ones blocking up front. They are the ones that are out there every play, regardless if it’s a run play, pass play, it doesn’t matter — they’re always out there, and that takes its toll. They are also the ones giving me time to throw the ball, so I can’t do my job without them. For us to to have that type of experience up front is a huge help.”

You have played with three different centers since your first varsity start as a sophomore. What has the adjustment been like with (Jack) Meneguzzo?

“It’s been good. We are out here early at practice getting some snaps in and working on things. And even when we have spare time (during games) we just go off to the side and take snaps because that exchange is key to the start of every single play. Without a good exchange, it makes it hard for everything else to work.”

When did you start feeling 100% last year after suffering that ankle sprain in Week 1 last year? What was that process like?

“It was the worst sprain I have ever had — the worts injury I’ve ever had. I took a couple games off and then came back against Austin (in Week 4). I wouldn’t say I felt 100% — probably around 90% at that point. But I felt like I was good enough to play and then after that game and throughout the rest of the (week) I continued to ice and elevate and rest. By the next game (in Week 5) I would say I was pretty close to 100%.”