Lake Central offensive lineman Matthew Kafka strives to be the best.
The 6-foot-2, 290-pound senior believes it’s his time to ascend to that plateau, particularly in the Duneland Athletic Conference, in his third season as a starter.
“I want to be regarded as the top of the top, the top of the DAC, and I just want to make my team better,” Kafka said. “I count myself as one of the leaders here. I just want to make everyone better. When a wide receiver has a good catch, you want to tell them, ‘Good job.’ When a defensive back gets a good break on a wide receiver, you want to congratulate them. Just help everyone. Be at the top of the top.
“I’ve always worked hard. I’ve seen what it takes to be that top level.”
As an example, Kafka pointed to Jon Ross, who played left tackle as a senior two years ago opposite Kafka at right tackle and “taught me the ropes.” Last season, Kafka was part of an offensive line that included Jimmy Johnsen, who is a freshman at Purdue.
Kafka’s eyes opened wider this summer as he attended various camps as part of his college recruitment. He has received five offers, and more opportunities could be in store if he continues his development.
“That put a lot of things in perspective,” Kafka said of the camps. “I was always in the weight room, but it really put into perspective how much more I had to be into it. I’ve taken it so seriously. I talked with our strength coaches, our coaches. I went super, super heavy in the offseason in the gym. I was already into it, but now I was fully focused into it.
“I did extra work, talked to our offensive line coaches, got tips from camps. I did a lot on my own, needing to perfect my work, looking at film, weight room, footsteps. My coaches helped me a lot. But when it all comes down, it’s on me. They can tell me what to do, but if I don’t do it, it doesn’t really help. I just put in the extra work.”
The results have shown. Kafka has gained about 15 pounds since he played at 275 last season, when he moved around among tackle, guard and center. He also improved his eating habits, focusing on protein. He said he has increased his bench press from 250 to 325 and his squat from 475 to 550.
“I’m able to move great with it, but I’m also really able to get much better push and shove on guys,” Kafka said. “I’m able to move more weight, but I’m also able to move left and right, up and down.”
Kafka was hampered by a right calf injury last season. He suffered a bruise in practice during the week leading up to the season opener, missed the better part of two games and didn’t fully recover until the postseason.
“I was off and on,” he said. “I wasn’t at 100%. It was a struggle to deal with. I got through it as much as I could.
“It kept getting better and better and better. I still didn’t feel 100%. But it wasn’t like it was destroying me. I’m 100% fine now.”
Lake Central coach Pete Koulianos is eager to see what Kafka, healthy and situated at guard, can accomplish. In his second season after stints at Highland and Hanover Central, Koulianos is a 1994 Lake Central graduate who played on the offensive line on the 1993 Class 5A state runner-up.
“From day one when we got here last year, he’s been a leader,” Koulianos said of Kafka. “He’s one of the strongest kids in our program. He’s a student of the game. He’s very versatile, can play multiple positions, which is a blessing for us. In case we have any injuries or anything like that, we can move him around. He’s looking to have a big year this year.”
Lake Central senior guard Will Sandoval also has high expectations for Kafka.
“He’s a leader of the O-line,” Sandoval said. “We’re both guards, and he helps me with stuff. We golf a lot, hang out, go out to eat. We’re all really close, and he’s a big part of that. It’s fun.”
Indeed, Kafka has been enjoying his time with this group and is thankful for the various people who have helped put him in this position.
“If I come out here and have teammates who are arrogant, super self-centered, I wouldn’t be having as much fun as I do,” he said. “When I’m on our O-line, I look to my left, I look to my right, and no matter who it is, they’re good people. I want to be with them. I want to be out here with these guys. It’s not a dread because they’re mean. They’re super great people, and that’s what really helps me fall in love with the sport too.
“Our team has such a good connection. It doesn’t feel like you’re playing with a teammate. It feels like you’re playing with a brother. It’s huge for our team.”
Kafka hopes that translates into on-field success. The Indians last went .500 in 2015 at 5-5 and last posted a winning record in 2014 at 9-2. But Kafka is setting a lofty bar, consistent with a theme of pursuing excellence.
“I never want to undershoot myself,” he said. “Always, 100%, the goal is to go to state, win state. I feel like we can win. I’m never going to doubt ourselves.”