Family and football are big parts of Mundelein senior Jake Junia’s life.
Junia’s grandfather, father and two uncles all played the sport.
“I love football, and I want to keep going for myself,” he said. “But I also want to follow in the family tradition.”
Junia, who intends to continue his football career in college, said his grandfather Joe played football and baseball at Case Western Reserve. His father, Jeff, and his uncles Matt and Adam all played football at Stevenson. Matt Junia also played football at Valparaiso.
“Sports has always been a big part of our family because of my dad,” Jeff Junia said. “We’re an athletic family and almost were born into it.
“His grandpa was happy to hear Jake was playing. He’s been very proud of him through the years. He’s always willing to lend an opinion. He has a wall in his basement with all of his articles, plus different things about me and my two brothers. He started to add Jake’s in the past couple of years.”
Indeed, Jake Junia, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound linebacker/running back, has taken on more responsibility for Mundelein over the past couple of years. After playing solely on defense as a sophomore, he was a two-way stalwart for the Mustangs (4-5) last season.
Junia had 109 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception, and he had 35 carries for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He was named Mundelein’s defensive MVP and was selected for the All-North Suburban Conference team and the academic all-state team.
“He did a really good job as a sophomore,” Mundelein coach John Cowhey said. “We expected him to struggle. He was just on the defensive side. But he played offense and defense last year. He showed he could play with more on his plate.”
Junia has taken on a leadership role too. During the offseason, Cowhey was promoted to succeed Vince DeFrancesco as coach and turned to Junia for help. The Mustangs, who return three starters on offense and six starters on defense, have one of their largest rosters in recent years as they prepare to open the regular season with a home game against Grant on Aug. 30.
“He’s been a two-year starter on the team, led our team in tackles last year, and everyone has relied and counted on him,” Cowhey said. “He’s been a leader for us during the coaching transition.
“I told him that he was the most experienced guy I’ve got, we don’t a have coach, so I needed him to be a leader in the offseason and in the weight room. He did a really good job of that.”
Mundelein junior quarterback Logan Young, a first-year varsity starter, also emphasized Junia’s leadership.
“Jake was always a guy who believed in the process every step of the way,” Young said. “He trusted the new coaching staff. … It was a learning experience for all of us coming up as juniors, but Jake was able to help us during the change, even though it was just as big of a change for him. He also provided feedback by talking to the coaches about plays.”
Mundelein junior linebacker Frankie Lesniak agreed that Junia is a strong leader.
“Jake knows his stuff and really takes that into his responsibility to make sure the rest of us know what’s expected,” Lesniak said. “He’s a vocal leader. When he messes up, he doesn’t let it get to him and lets the team know that it’s his fault and that it won’t happen again.”
Young and Lesniak also play baseball with Junia, who hit .274 with 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored for the Mustangs in the spring. His busy summer included travel baseball and football camps at colleges like Bowling Green, Kent State and Miami of Ohio.
Junia said he’s inching closer to his goal of playing football in college.
“I’m definitely looking to play at the next level,” he said. “I love everything about football.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
