New Trier’s Artinian twins, Nick and Joey, have been preparing for the battles they face on the varsity football field since their childhood. They often did it without ever leaving their property.
Not only did Nick Artinian, a 6-foot 265-pound starting center, and Joey Artinian, a 6-0, 250-pound starting offensive guard and nose guard, have one another to compete against, but their family also has another set of twin boys. Chris and Peter Artinian are two years older. Chris Artinian, a former New Trier football player, is currently a sophomore offensive lineman at Carthage College in Kenosha.
“Joey and I and our older brothers would always play two-on-two (in various sports) in the yard, and it would turn into fighting, especially in basketball,” said Nick Artinian, a senior who is younger than his identical twin by nine minutes. “Since our brothers were only two years older than us, it was a good opportunity to mess around and just be out playing a different array of sports.”
Since joining the New Trier varsity last season, the Artinians have never been far apart. Nick Artinian spent time as the starting right guard and right tackle in 2016, while Joey Artinian started at left guard and right guard as a junior, also assuming starting nose guard duties midway through that season.
This fall, the Artinians have been right next to each other at center and right guard, though the pair switched positions heading into the team’s Week 7 win over Niles North.
“To be honest, my snaps were not where they needed to be, and (the coaches) thought Nick would be the better player (at center), and we flip-flopped,” Joey Artinian said. “I had no problem with it. I know his capabilities and know he can get the job done.”
Did the grind of playing both ways contribute to his struggles snapping the ball?
“No, I think it’s just that I’m not a very good center, to be honest,” Joey Artinian said.
Joey Artinian has remained a major contributor on both sides of the ball for New Trier, which enters this week’s regular-season finale at Glenbrook South looking to bounce back from last week’s 45-7 Central Suburban South loss to Maine South in Northfield.
Joey Artinian had two sacks against Maine South in addition to handling his relatively new chores on the offensive front.
“(Joey) does a good job firing off the ball (on defense), he gets low and knows his responsibilities,” Nick Artinian said. “If he gets double-teamed, he does a good job taking up two guys, so someone else can make the tackle. He doesn’t care about tackles or sacks, only about making sure the job gets done.”
Nick Artinian added: “I think we play in a pretty similar way (on the offensive line), but his feet are a little quicker than mine.”
Joey Artinian said that along with his brother’s blocking ability, Nick Artinian also brings a little bit of needed “attitude” to the offensive line for playoff-eligible New Trier (5-3, 3-1).
“He’s definitely more vocal (than me),” Joey Artinian said. “He sticks up for the running backs. If there is something, a hit after the play, he’ll be there to defend them. He likes to talk (during the game). He talks to the refs a lot, but it comes from him protecting his player. We appreciate that he’s always there to help us.”
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
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