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2011 Tommy Vento
Quarterback
6’1″ 185
High School Coach: John Herrington
High School: Farmington Harrison, A
College: Michigan State University
Tommy is the son of Julie and Mark Vento, and his step-mom Kelly Vento is also very involved in his life. He has two younger brothers, Jake (16) and Ben (14).
Tommy’s football career began in 2005 on the North Farmington-West Bloomfield Vikings. Both of his parents played a role in his love for football, as they have always encouraged him to try anything and everything. In both of his freshman and sophomore years, Tommy played quarterback and free safety. Beginning with his junior year, he concentrated on just playing quarterback and he continued that focus in his senior year. In his senior year Tommy led the Hawks to a perfect 14-0 record, winning the state championship for Division 2. They also beat the Division 1 champions, Lake Orion, in the regular season. Throughout this year, Tommy accumulated 35 total touchdowns, throwing for 32 and rushing for three. He threw for over 2,800 yards, and in the process set some new team and state records: most passing yards in a game (345), most touchdowns in a single half (5) and he concluded his season by throwing for over 300 yards in the Division 2 state championship game against Lowell, which ranks as the second most in history. Tommy was one of three captains. At the end of the season, he was voted Team MVP, as well as Best Offensive Player. During the off-season, Tommy devotes his time to speed training, weight training, and conditioning, often working with the Hawk’s own training and conditioning coach, Billy Slobin.
Tommy said, ” I thank my mom, dad, and Kelly, for always supporting me regardless of my decisions. I would like to thank both of my brothers for being supportive, and not doing things because I have done them, but being their own person. I thank every one of my teammates, because there isn’t a single game this year where we didn’t lean on each other to pull out a win. I thank my coaches for the preparation and time they put into our team, always ensuring we knew more about the opponent than they knew about us. Also, I thank Coach Herrington, for being just as brutally honest with me as I was with him.”
Tommy plans to further his education and football career at Michigan State University. He is not sure what he plans to do with his future, but a career in business is most likely.
Awards
All League 1st Team, 2010
All Conference 1st Team, 2010)
All Detroit North, 1st Team 2010
All Oakland Dream Team, 2010)
All State 1st Team 2010
OAA Conference Player of the Year, 2010
Mr. Football for State of Michigan, 2010