Dental Arts of Westwood Athlete Of The Month: Dante Martucci

Dante Martucci is a senior captain of the Westwood football and lacrosse teams. Dante has committed to play lacrosse at Assumption University and spent some time answering a few questions from our team.
 
Why do you think the 2023 football team enjoyed so much success and what lessons did you carry over to this year’s team?
I think we had so much success last year because of our relentlessness in both practices and games. There were plenty of times where guys would be hurting or sore, but we would always push through these adversities with relentless effort. I learned about how important it is to be able t o trust your teammates and know they are working their butts off right alongside you.
 
You come from a very athletic family. How would you describe life in the Martucci house as it relates to sports?
Life in the Martucci household is very hectic, with people always off to different places, whether it has to do with sports, school, or just different activities in general. As a family, I feel there is a culture of being active and working out. Pretty much all my extended family played sports or worked out, and that has been passed on from generation to generation. There never feels like pressure to work out, but we feel if you want to succeed on the field and in the classroom you need to be physically fit as well as healthy mentally. Both my mom (softball and soccer) and dad (football and baseball) were two-sport captains at their high schools. Being able to look up to them as natural leaders, but also knowing they were in a similar spot to me is nice when trying to make different decisions.
 
Do you have a favorite memory from your time playing football in Westwood?
My favorite memory has to be winning the 2023 TVL Championship on Thanksgiving. No doubt about it, the way we played that game, and the energy we had was truly remarkable. Also, playing one of my best games on Thanksgiving in front of my whole extended family was also something truly special.
 
Where is your favorite place to play?
Flahive Field is probably my favorite place to play with Veterans Memorial Stadium, in Quincy, being the second favorite. Flahive is my home, it’s been my home since I was really little through youth football and lacrosse. Every time I step on the field at Flahive, there seems to be some intensity and energy that I just love being around. Veterans Memorial, on the other hand, used to be the home of the Boston Cannons professional lacrosse team before getting passed down to Quincy High. They have the most clean, nicest locker rooms, all with individual wooden lockers for each person. The stands are a legit stadium that go probably 50 yards up into the air at the highest seats. And the best part of all, the jumbotron! It’s so cool to look up at the screen and see yourself on the field, see replays of yourself after a big play.
 
Where is your least favorite place to play?
My least favorite place to play is Holliston. My sophomore year on Thanksgiving we took a beating there, and they were a really good team, no doubt, but ever since then I have always hated driving through Holliston.
 
Which opponent has the most rowdy fans?
Honestly, probably Canton. As much as TVL opponents are never fun to play on the road, this last year’s Canton lacrosse game, kids were yelling at me the entire game, swearing and screaming my name looking to get in my head. I don’t even know any of them but apparently they know me.
 
Who’s your funniest teammate?
Probably my fellow running back Dawson Rose. He’s a great kid, super funny and fun to be around. We always joke around before and after practice. Aside from football I probably wouldn’t really know Dawson too well, we live on opposite sides of town and our paths don’t really cross all that much. This just continues to show the bond that football creates with teammates and kids you might not know otherwise.
 
Compare football to lacrosse… Do you like one better than the other?
I like both for different reasons. Football is a much more hardcore, intense sport which I love, while lacrosse is much more creative and you are able to build and create on the fly. My favorite sport really depends on what is in season. Right now, my favorite sport is football, but I guarantee that come March, lacrosse will have climbed back to the #1 spot.
 
Last year you scored an incredible over the shoulder goal – walk us through that play.
Haha, honestly, it was all reaction. I didn’t really have an angle, but I knew I was able to get a solid shot off, only if I went behind the back. This was actually my third behind the back goal of the season, so I don’t want to say I do it all the time, but it’s not a super rare occurrence. Definitely a big energy goal for me and for the team.
 
Do you have any long term plans or goals?
As of a few month ago, I really want to be either an athletic trainer or physical therapist. Being committed to Assumption University, where they have brand-new life sciences facilities, makes me even more eager and excited to study physical therapy. I am taking anatomy this year at school as a way to introduce me to the human body and get to know all specific functions and what-not. Another long-term goal of mine is to become an Assumption Lacrosse captain in the future, as well as coach a high school/club program after high school.
 
What advice would you offer to a younger Wolverine?
I would say just stay persistent and keep pushing forward, there are going to be seasons where you feel like you over-perform and there are seasons when you under-perform. That’s life. You can’t dwell on the past. Look to move forward and learn from it.
 
Do you have any birthday wishes for this October?
This October 25, the day I turn 18, we play a TVL large rival, Dedham. The only thing I want for my birthday is to smoke Dedham. They have a strong team and are very well-coached, but also very beatable. I don’t want to think of that day as my birthday, but instead as “Dedham Day.” Once we take care of business, then we can celebrate my actual birthday.
 
If you want to nominate someone to be a future Dental Arts of Westwood Athlete of the Month, email Diana Bezdedeanu at dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com