Thanks Guy: Muchemore's physical play a huge plus for Nashua North

Note: Thanks Guy is a feature we like to do at Thanksgiving to recognize players from the Nashua North and South football teams who were unsung heroes during their senior season.

When Dante Laurendi was an assistant coach at Nashua High School North, there was a freshman lineman that he thought could turn into a solid player if he worked at it.

Now back this season as the head coach, Laurendi saw Mike Muchemore, now a senior, not only turn into a solid player, but perform as one of the Titans most reliable players.

"He was huge for us," Laurendi said. "When we were here, Mike was a good lineman on the freshmen team. The biggest thing is that he had great offseasons in the weight room. He got everything he could out of his abilities because he got stronger and faster."

While Muchemore worked to make himself a better player, he feels grateful that the coaching staff was able to find a way to rally the Titans after a 1-2 start this season to make the playoffs.

"My first couple of years here was tough, but we were still a team," he said. "Last year was probably the toughest year I had playing football. Nobody had a solution to help us win games.

"We were closer on the field and off the field. We all liked what happened and it feels great. I wouldn't have wanted to spend my senior with another team."

As North's strong side defensive tackle, Muchemore gave the Titans a physical presence along the defensive line that not only caused problems for other teams, but helped North's offense during practice.

"He was huge for us physically all year, not only just in games, but also, giving us a look on scout teams," Laurendi said. "When you're blocking a kid like him, there aren't as many kids in the state that you're going to go against that are as good as him."

When he first started playing football, Muchemore was a quarterback. But when he reached eighth grade, his physique meant it was time to move out of the backfield.

"The coaches told me I was too big, that in high school, I'd be a lineman," he said. "I had these guys freshman year and I'd like to thank them for making the player I was and am."

Laurendi liked to joke that if North ever needed someone to throw a deep ball, Muchemore might have to be the one to come in and do it.

"When he started growing into that body, that was an easy transition (to the line)," the coach said. "You knew he was a lineman when he came up here, but he does have a really strong arm. He can throw the thing. He’s our Hail Mary quarterback if we need to."

Muchemore, who also played baseball, decided this year that his athletic career was going to end when football did. Instead, the senior plans to prepare himself to join the Marine Corps after graduation.

"This year, I gave up baseball so I could train all winter and spring to join the Marine Corps," he said. "I've wanted to join the Marine Corps since I was a kid. The service to my country, I just felt like I needed to do it. The sense of pride and honor of being in the military, that's what I wanted to do. All the stuff going on now, I see it and I want to make a difference."