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After earning First Team All-State honors as a junior and helping Cape Henlopen High School to its first Delaware state football tournament berth in 13 years, Matt Graviet might have wondered what was left to achieve in his already stellar career.
But judging from the 25 pounds of muscle he added to his frame in the offseason, the answer is plenty.
"Ive gotten a lot stronger and faster," said Graviet, whose weight has jumped from 240 to 265 pounds. "I just feel like I'm coming off 100 percent harder. I feel like overall I've become a better player."
If that's the case, Cape's prospects for a second straight Henlopen North title and state playoff berth should be vastly improved.
The Vikings lost to eventual state champion Newark 21-0 in last year's semifinals and would love nothing more than another shot at a state title.
"That's all we can think about is getting back there," said Graviet, who attended a number of offseason camps to improve his blocking techniques.
Graviet is a valuable two-way player who anchors the offensive line as a center and defensive line as a tackle. "He's been a great catalyst for us on offense and defense," Cape coach Brian Donahue said. "He has a great work ethic. He's got everything a coach could ask for."
As a 220-pound sophomore in 1996, Graviet was given the starting center job by then coach George Glenn and surprised everyone with his blocking ability.
"We knew he was going to be a player. He was a pleasant surprise as a sophomore," said Donahue, who was one of Glenn's assistants at the time. "He's got good quickness for a big guy."
But Graviet really blossomed in his junior year, bulking up to 240 pounds and showing an explosive first step off the ball. He excelled as a two-way starter and after the season was named First Team All-State as a center.
"It just surprised me. I just went out there and worked hard all season," he said. "I was just completely ecstatic when it happened."
Graviet is also one of the state's top heavyweight wrestlers, finishing second in the Henlopen Conference and fifth in the state last year.
On the football field, however, he can no longer sneak up on opponents. So far this season, he has drawn double teams on defense and from his center position has felt opposing defenders key in his direction.
"Therešs just a lot of pressure on me but it's just that much more fun I guess," he said.
Graviet also isn't concerned about the lack of fanfare given to offensive linemen, happily surrendering the spotlight to the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
"I just like going out there and hitting," he said.
And Donahue believes Graviet still has room to improve, a prospect that should frighten most of Cape's opponents. "He's going to get better every week," he said.
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