Like every other game this season, East Aurora’s Victor Torres will take the field Friday and play for Cristian Agustin, his buddy, his classmate and his former teammate on the offensive line.
Last year, Torres started at left guard and Agustin at right guard for the Tomcats. Both thought they would play side by side as seniors, with one of them moving over from guard to center.
But following the start of offseason weightlifting and conditioning workouts, Agustin was diagnosed with leukemia.
“Our center had graduated and we had both been practicing to see who was going to be center,” Torres said. “Cristian has his good days and bad, but he’s been coming to every game he can.
“He’s part of the team, especially to me. I still see him as one of the captains. He was gonna have a big role and still is having one. He’s an inspiration to me to keep going.”
Agustin was at East Aurora’s home game Sept. 4 against Elmwood Park. He was honored as captain for the program’s awareness game for pediatric cancer.
Senior quarterback Joseph Becker summed up the mood of the Tomcats’ players.
“It’s hard for the team, of course,” Becker said. “Victor and Christian would have been a great duo for as much work as they put into it. It makes us really emotional, and it especially did that day.”
More Top Picks Best Gaming Mice For Large Hands
They’re not alone, according to East Aurora coach Nick Kukuc.
““He’s been getting some services from the cancer support system,” Kukcu said of Agustin. “He’s battling and he’s kicking butt.”
So have the Tomcats, who started out with 28 players dressed for the season opener. But East Aurora (5-4), down to only 22 for the regular-season finale, ended up qualifying for the playoffs.
This year’s East Aurora seniors were freshmen in 2023 when the varsity finished the regular season with a 6-3 record and made the program’s first playoff appearance in 41 years.
The Tomcats will hit another milestone at 7 p.m. Friday with an opening-round game against Oak Park-River Forest (4-5). It will be the first home playoff game at East Aurora in 46 years.
“I know the new formatting allowed us to have this home game,” Kukuc said. “But for me, it’s nice to know we would have made the cut for the playoffs regardless of the situation.
“Sitting on the couch and watching the pairings show with my wife and seeing us get a home game, I was sobbing. I’m very proud for our kids and the fight we had.”
High on that list is the 5-foot-10, 230-pound Torres, who impressed Kukuc and position assistant coach Matt Orbell.
“Victor had, quite possibly, the best offseason we could ask of a varsity athlete,” Obrell said. “Nick and I run the weight room, and Victor was in there religiously without fail, every single day and staying after we figured out we were going to need a center.”
Torres pointed out that motivation started at the end of his junior season, realizing he could do better and wanting to finish strong as a senior.
“Victor took it personal and all the work he’s done in order to kind of pay homage to Cristian has been impressive,” Orbell said. “Victor has been carrying the torch for the O-line.
“This is for Christian, who still is in school, and when he’s not, Victor is checking in on him. That’s the kind of kid Victor is, very, very special.”
Torres, meanwhile, has been happy with his progress despite the circumstances.
“I felt like I could’ve done more last year but I wasn’t where I am now,” he said. “I love this team. I wish Cristian was playing with us, but I’m happy with how the season has been going.
“it’s just gonna suck when it’s over because it’s my senior year.”