Dave Caldwell literally built the Hopewell Valley Central High School football program from the ground up. When he got to the very top, Andrew Yuska was there waiting for him.
The two will both be sporting tuxedos while getting honored at the Princeton Hyatt March 9, when the Delaware Valley chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame holds its 52nd Annual George Wah Awards Dinner.
Caldwell is being honored as the Hank Johns Coach of the Year for leading Hopewell to a 10-1 record and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship. One of the keys to that title was his running back, as Yuska will be recognized as Hopewell’s Scholar-Athlete honoree.
“As a model of school standards, positive attitudes, and dependability, Andrew serves as a leader on and off the field,” Caldwell said. “His ability to balance the rigors of academics, athletics and community service is a testament to his determination to succeed and give back to his community.”
Caldwell should know, as he has coached Yuska for four years. In fact, he has coached every Hopewell player since the program was resurrected in 2002. That year, the Bulldogs fielded a freshman team of 52 freshmen and sophomores and got a win over the Lawrence freshmen team. That was ironic in a way, since Hopewell beat Lawrence for the CJ III title last December.
The following year it was a freshman and JV team of approximately 70 freshmen, sophomores and juniors. In 2004, HVCHS’ first varsity football game was played since 1932 and produced a 41-13 loss to Hightstown.
But Caldwell is a patient man and stuck with it. The first win came against West Windsor-Plainsboro North in 2005, the first winning season occurred in 2008 and this past year the final challenge was conquered on the 10th anniversary of the varsity program.
“He’s just a great coach,” Yuska said. “He’s been working with the program for 10 years and every single year our team has seemed to improve. And it’s because of his work ethic, and the things he’s done for our program.”
Caldwell’s steady hand helped the Bulldogs bounce back from adversity several times, be it within a game or the season. After losing to Nottingham prior to the playoffs, Hopewell roared back for three straight wins instead of questioning itself.
“We had a meeting before the season and he told us he knew it would be our year and if we put our talent together and we worked hard, we would be CJ Group Three champions,” Yuska said. “He is a patient guy. I know and he knew that his patience eventually would pay off.”
A special education teacher for 19 years, Caldwell and his wife Lourdes live in Hopewell with their four children. Chris (15), Mike (13) and Luke (7) all play football and lacrosse, while 5-year-old Danielle is just trying to survive as the only female sibling.
And while Yuska praised Caldwell, the coach took the opposite tact and praised everyone else.
“The parents who worked tirelessly to bring football back to Hopewell, and to help provide us with such a great facility were a big part of it,” he said. “The administration gave us great backing as well.
“My assistants were invaluable to the cause with all the work they put in. And of course, players make the coach and I had a group of players who worked tirelessly to achieve our goal. They are fine young men who I will never forget.”
It would be tough for anyone to forget Yuska who, pound for pound, was probably the hardest running back in Mercer County. He was named Player of the Year by both Trenton papers and was in the New Jersey Football Coaches Association’s Super 100 after rushing for 1,734 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Despite all the hard hits he has taken on the football field, Yuska managed to keep his head clear enough to excel in the classroom. He has a 3.5 GPA and has taken honors courses in Chemistry, English and Biology.
“Academics always comes first to me and football second,” he said. “I put a lot of focus on academics, and classes I get in trouble with, I get a tutor. During football season it’s about academics not just football, the coaches instill that in you.”
The DelVal award cites Yuska for both aspects.
“This means a lot,” he said. “I wouldn’t ever imagine getting something like this. I wasn’t even playing that much as a junior, so to be able to start this year and show my abilities with the help of my teammates was just a dream come true.”
Even when he wasn’t playing much on the field, Yuska was still making an impact off it.
He has been a member of the HVCHS Youth Advisory Board since his sophomore year and has helped with the Special Olympics since he was a freshman. He is also a member of the Student Movement against Cancer, serves as a volunteer at the Bear Tavern Oktoberfest and Science Fair, and is on the high school Youth Advisory Board.
“We try to meet and come up with activities we can do to help the community,” he said of the advisory board. “I like helping. I do the Relay for Life, I’ve had a couple family members with cancer. I just try to give back.”
HVCHS English teacher Kim Siris, who had Yuska in her English 3 honors course, feels Yuska combines an unassuming, modest nature with an understated leadership quality.
“Andrew compares favorably amongst all of the students I have taught throughout my career,” Siris said. “His attentiveness speaks to the thoughtful way with which he approaches all aspects of her life, as he is an unassuming leader, imaginative and thoughtful.”
Not to mention, he also plays the piano and – much to his girlfriend’s delight – enjoys cooking. He prepared her a nice dinner of steak and lobster on Valentine’s Day.
“Ever since I was younger my parents were cooking I’d always ask to cook with them when they were making dinner,” he said. “I kind of like it.”
His specialty is homemade ravioli that he stuffs with either shrimp or ricotta cheese and serves in a butter sauce with some garlic. That’s good news for his future roommates at Gettysburg College, where Yuska will play tailback for the football team and may major in biology.
He is definitely the epitome of the well rounded man.
“I love football,” he said. “But I know that I’m not going to be playing professional. One day I’ll have to fall back on something else.”
He is setting himself up pretty well to do just that. And he has had a good role model in his head coach.
