Q&A: Totino-Grace Athlete Andy Moritko Attracts College Looks

Andy Moritko, a 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound, two-way football player for , will help lead the Eagles against Mounds View Friday evening in the Section 2AAAAA finals. Moritko is a three-sport athlete who is drawing recruiting looks for his football exploits.

Moritko has caught 22 passes for 308 yards and has seven touchdowns this season, helping the Eagles build their current 9-1 record. The team has been dominant since , outscoring their opponents 345-97.

Totino-Grace, which has won six of the last eight Class 4A titles, . They finished 12-1 and won the state title last season with a 34-14 victory over Rogers. Moritko had 18 receptions for 321 yards and four touchdowns in 2010. He had 72 tackles, including a season-best 14 tackles against Irondale and intercepted three passes.

Moritko comes from an athletic family. His father, Jeff, played at Minneapolis Edison and at the University of Minnesota. His older brother, Adam and older sister were also athletes at Totino-Grace. Adam and his father coach the Eagles' offensive and defensive linemen.

Fridley Patch: You were named to the KARE-11 preseason All-Metro team. That had to be a pretty big honor for you?

Moritko: It was really great. It was more of a motivation for me to live up to that.

Fridley Patch: How pleased are you with your team’s play this season? You have won eight straight games since losing the season opener to Minnetonka.

Moritko: We obviously don’t want to lose a game, but it was really great for us to get humbled a little bit and work harder the rest of the season. I have been really pumped to see how it goes.

Fridley Patch: You have been a power in Class 4A, but this year you moved up to Class 5A. Have you talked with your teammates about showing that you are a good team, regardless of the class?

Moritko: We always want to compete the best that we can, wherever we are. It has always been a good thing to see if we can play with the best. It will be a good thing to see if we can.

Fridley Patch: Did you get a chance to go to many summer football camps?

Moritko: I went to three. I went to the “U" [of Minnesota], Air Force and North Dakota State.

Fridley Patch: You are hearing from both Minnesota and North Dakota State and you got a chance to watch the two teams play earlier this season. Was that kind of nice to see both schools without having to drive up to NDSU?

Moritko: It was a great thing.

Fridley Patch: You play defensive back and wide receiver for the Eagles. What position would you likely play in college?

Moritko: In college, I would be putting on some weight and playing tight end or outside linebacker.

Fridley Patch: What is the latest with your college recruitment?

Andy Moritko: I have an outstanding offer from Air Force that I received two weeks ago. I am also keeping up with the other schools that are talking to me.

Fridley Patch: What have you been hearing from Minnesota?  

Moritko: They are just keeping in touch and want to see how the season goes. I’ve been going to the games and seeing how they are doing.  Keeping in touch so far.

Fridley Patch: Would it mean something special to go there since your dad attended Minnesota?

Moritko: That would always be a cool opportunity for anybody in that situation. That would be great.

Fridley Patch: You also play basketball and baseball at Totino. What are the expectations for the upcoming hoops season? You also have football teammate Nick Carr [a 6-foot-9-inch offensive tackle] on the team.

Moritko: We have me and Nick Carr (a 6-foot-9 offensive tackle) and two other good seniors. I think that we are going to have a fun year and be competitive for sure. 

Moritko is hoping that his basketball season will wait a while as he still has some unfinished business on the gridiron.

Totino-Grace hosts Mounds View in the Section 2AAAAA final Friday at 7 p.m. at .