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New Canaan Football Captains Learned Leadership At Country School

NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- Five members of the New Canaan Country School Class of 2013 attribute their roles as captains of their high school football teams to the leadership skills they learned at New Canaan Country School. 

Five New Canaan Country School Alums attribute their success to being high school football captains.

Five New Canaan Country School Alums attribute their success to being high school football captains.

Photo Credit: Submitted

John Fox, Rory Tait, Emerson Logie, Jackson Quinn and Charlie Erdmann have all remained close friends. They have learned important life lessons both on and off the field, and continue to bring those lessons forward at their respective schools.

Logie of New Canaan, a tight end and defensive end at Deerfield Academy (4-3), said that he learned to become a leader at Country School. 

“NCCS made sure that every kid was a leader in some way,” he said. 

Tait of New Canaan, an offensive tackle at Choate Rosemary Hall (8-0), credits the ninth grade year in particular for his leadership skills. “Ninth grade year put you in a position to lead. Everyone had to find a place where they could excel.” 

Erdmann of Norwalk, a fullback and outside linebacker at Berkshire School (7-1), did not graduate from Country School. He left early to go to Windward School. His struggle with dyslexia has taught him persistence and grit. “I always tell myself, ‘Do your best, never give up.’” He will attend and play lacrosse at the University of Vermont in fall 2016.

NCCS varsity football coach Carl Brodnax ‘80 is not surprised that these student athletes are team leaders. “They all had a strong work ethic. I could see them as role models back then.” 

The players credit Brodnax, as well junior varsity coach Andy Johnson for having had a lasting impact on them. 

Fox of New Canaan, a linebacker at Brunswick School (6-1) who will attend and play lacrosse at the University of Virginia in fall 2017, enjoys mentoring younger players by getting them involved and excited. “I like to get them charged up.” 

He has taken the sophomore quarterback under his wing. “I tell him to forget his mistakes and move on.” 

Quinn of New Canaan, an offensive guard and defensive end at Hopkins School (3-5), said that he has learned that balancing academics and football requires time management. He uses his experience to help underclassmen, “It is important to me to be a helpline for the younger student athletes.”

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