Sachem Coach Profiles: Mark Wojciechowski

In the history of Sachem football, there may never be a better lineman than Mark Wojciechowski. At 6-foot-1, 240 pounds as a senior on the bruising mid-1980's Sachem teams that dominated Suffolk County, Wojciechowski (pronounced Wo-ja-how-skee) was a nose guard and offensive tackle that caught everyone's attention at a time when video highlights and digital media couldn't do justice for linemen, who play one of the most unthankful positions in football.

From his desk as one of the Deans at Sachem North, he's a disciplinarian of sorts, and while that fits his massive build, his unassuming disposition juxtaposes the beast of a player he was some 25 years ago.

Affectionately known as Wojo, or Woj, he was a man amongst boys in high school, garnering regional recognition after winning the Hansen Award in 1985, given to Suffolk County's top football player annually.

For a teenager whose parents almost didn't let him play the game because he could hurt somebody, to being a standout that was recruited by numerous colleges in the tri-state area, he came a long way.

Wojo fit the build of the prototypical Sachem football player: big and smart. He was taught the values of being a lineman at an early age and never forgot that those big boys are just as important to the team as anyone else.

"There were always coaches at the lower levels that made guys that played line feel special," he said. "It wasn't necessarily this big fat guy. No, you're doing important things. You're making this happen. You're the reason this guy can run the ball and score touchdowns and that was so important. It was done by guys like Joe Murphy or Tony Petillo. They always promoted linemen."

"Big is beautiful," Petillo said proudly. "It's about having big-on-big and keeping your feet moving. We were talented enough that we could make line calls. You really can't find too many high school kids that can make line calls. We would run a sweep and make peak and pull calls, swoop calls and we'd make those calls up and down the line."

Wojo says Petillo was his line idol, someone he looked up to as much as players from the New York Jets from his day.

"He was a guy that really instilled the desire to be a good, really great offensive lineman," he said.

Since played nose guard at Huntington High School, he also was able to relay specific messages about tenacity.

He played both ways on the line, but it wasn't necessary with the amount of players Sachem had at the time.

"At some point in a game I wanted to take him out just to give him a breather and he did not want any of it," Fusaro recalled. "He did not want to come off the field. If I had thrown him on kickoffs he would have done it too."

In Wojo's two years on the varsity, Sachem was 16-4, yet was never able to take home a title. "West Islip has always been a thorn in my side," he said.

After a 3-0 start in '85, the Lions beat Sachem 21-0 in Week 4.

"Even though we were undefeated going into that game, we weren't together as a team like we should have been," said Wojo, who was edgy and passionate when describing the regular-season and championship losses he endured some 20 years earlier. "After that regular season loss, it brought us together. Going into the championship we felt real confident. We were going to do our jobs and what we needed to do, to win."

West Islip ran option like it was a college offense. Wojo recalls tackling West Islip's quarterback, but the ball being pitched perfectly and ran in for a touchdown in one game. "That's how good they were offensively," he said.

Though he would have traded his Hansen Award for a Rutger's Trophy or Suffolk County title any day, he did win the honor in 1985 and is one of three Sachem players to take home the coveted award. The same year, he was named New York State Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association, Team MVP, All-American, All-Long Island, All-Suffolk County and All-Division.

"I had guys around me that were great to play with," said Wojo, who also wrestled and was on track & field. "I thought more than anything I played with guys who helped me be what I could be. They made me work hard and always kept me humble. I thought the team was more important than the individual."

That mindset came down from the top, from Fusaro. Aside from his parents, Wojo credits Fusaro with being the other main influence in his life. He taught him how to play the game, and more importantly to any Sachem football alum, he learned the rudiments of how to carry himself on and off the field.

"How to respect others," he said. "How you want to be treated is how you treat other people. It's how he carried his program and how he carried himself. He always tried to promote that in all his players and everything he did."

His first memory of Fusaro dates back to 1982 when he was a freshman. The first playoff game he attended was against West Islip, fittingly. Watching the legend work the sidelines seeped its way into his subconscious. One day, he too wanted to roam the sidelines of Sachem and carry himself with the same pride as Fusaro and the varsity staff.

"He never got too crazy and I think that always carried over to his team," he said. "Be calm and keep your emotions in check. Not that he wasn't emotional, but he never let his emotions take over. I remember sitting in the bleachers in the corner with my friends being at the game and there were times when it was crazy and everyone was all jacked up, but he was always level headed."

When it was time to play at the next level, Wojo chose UMass, though he didn't start or play as much as he'd have liked. Still, he doesn't regret going there because he's made best friends that will last a lifetime.

He juggled a handful of leave replacement positions and temporary teaching posts until something probationary came along in 1998 at Sachem. All the while, he was around as a coach.

Not a fan of the Sachem split in 2004-05 at first, things have changed and Wojo went from coaching at North for years as a defensive coordinator, to being the associate head coach at East the last two seasons.

"Mark is an outstanding football coach who has dedicated many years of his adult life to the development of the young men who he has come in contact with while coaching football at Sachem," said North head coach , who coached with him for a number of years. "The years that we worked together with coach Fusaro was a time of learning and development for both of us in the coaching profession."

Schools aside, the jersey says Sachem and the game will always be football. With that, comes his favorite part of the game, one without Xs and O's, one without vicious blows and trench wars.

"When I'm on the sideline just before the game starts, there's this peace that comes over me," said Wojo. "Especially at home and when the sun is bright. As they're playing the Star Spangled Banner, it's like I'm back again and I'm playing the game, I'm a senior in high school with no problems, no worries, just going to go out and give everything I got to win this game and that's the best feeling all the time. That love of the game. Give it everything you got, try to win and do your best."