Printer Friendly Version - Justin Keish Follows in His Family’s Footsteps to Notre Dame

East Haven resident Justin Keish recently began his senior season as a captain for the Notre Dame-West Haven football team. Justin, an offensive tackle, is also involved in several extra-curricular activities at Notre Dame. He’s in the Student Council, was elected to be a peer counselor who mentors incoming freshman, and also enjoys being an active member of the student section at other Green Knights’ sporting events.Photo courtesy of Justin Keish

Even as a student at Ferrara Elementary School, Justin Keish had his sights set on going to Notre Dame High School in West Haven. After finishing 8th grade at Melillo Middle School a few years ago, Justin realized his longtime goal.

“My father and my three uncles went to Notre Dame and my grandfather was the athletic director a few years back,” says Justin, now a senior. “I’ve always wanted to go there. The whole concept of the brotherhood there is like no other.”

Justin is also part of a brotherhood with his teammates on the football field. Justin started with flag football before moving to tackle in the 4th grade. Justin’s youth football coach Gianni Ragaini helped instill the importance of brotherhood in Justin, who says Ragaini “showed me what football was all about and how football can create a family.”

When it came time for high school, Justin notes how lucky he was that nearly a dozen of his East Haven Youth Football teammates also attended Notre Dame. Knowing that group and practicing with them during the summer before his freshman year gave Justin confidence starting at a new school.

“With the football team, I went into school knowing all of my football friends, so it made the transition between middle school and high school easy,” Justin says. “I’ve been playing next to some of these kids since 4th grade or since we were little kids, so it’s real easy to work together.”

Justin earned his first varsity letter during his sophomore year at Notre Dame and was starting at offensive tackle by his junior season. Justin is once again a starting lineman as a senior this year and his teammates also voted him as one of Notre Dame’s captains.

“Being named captain felt really good because I can carry on the great legacy through Notre Dame football and set an example to set the tone for the next year,” says Justin. “Usually as tackle, you’re in the middle blocking, doing all the dirty work. You don’t get much fame, but the coaches realize how much work you put in and that results for the skill players.”

Green Knights’ Head Coach Tom Marcucci knows all about Justin’s contributions on the offensive line and compliments Justin for how he leads through both actions and words.

“Justin is the outspoken leader. He’s pretty vocal in terms of how he leads,” says Marcucci. “He is very, very hard-working in terms of practice and he sets the example for work ethic in practice and games. He’s a good football player, he’s active in the community, and a credit to the school.”

Prompted by a friendly sibling rivalry with his sister Caitlyn, Justin really began to excel in the classroom as a sophomore because he wanted to get better grades than her. Justin’s parents, Dawn and Jerry, along with other family members, have also been strong influences on him. Justin hopes to continue that rivalry at the next level by attending college at UConn, where Caitlyn goes to school. Justin’s uncle and his youth coach Ragaini also attended UConn.

With college on the horizon, it’s hard for Justin to believe that this is his final season on the gridiron with his Green Knights’ teammates. He’s spoken to some of the football team’s alums about the feelings that come with hanging up the Notre Dame cleats.

“A few friends at college said it’s tough to give up, but you get used to it, but find other ways to ease it,” he says. “It’ll take a little getting used to since I’ve been playing my whole life. Just yesterday it felt like I was getting ready to go to freshman football and now I’m in senior year. It flew by.”

For now, though, Justin is focused on the 2016 season with a goal of helping Notre Dame reaching the state championship game. The Green Knights made it in Justin’s sophomore year and lost in the semifinals last season. Although Notre Dame has lost its first two games of this season, Justin is hoping to finish his Green Knights’ career on top alongside his teammates.

“We have a good chance of making states and winning the state championship because the majority of our starters have been playing together since 4th grade and work together real well,” says Justin. “[Not winning the state championship sophomore or junior year] feels kind of bad, but this year, we look to take that missing step and, hopefully, get that state championship. Going into freshman year, I set a goal of having a championship ring and this is my last shot at it.”