Alvora Set To Start Season With Privateers

Few Harrison athletes had the school spirit or heart of Duke Alvora last year.

The three-sport athlete was a captain for the football, wrestling and lacrosse teams in his senior year. Now that his career at Harrison is over, Alvora is taking the leap into college athletics as a member of the Maritime Privateers football team.

As a high school athlete Alvora’s on-field intensity was infectious. Regardless of the game’s situation he was always ready to go.

“No matter who he is playing, and what the score is, you will never see Duke take a play off,” said high school teammate Steven Ricciardi. “We could be up by 21 in the 4th quarter and he would be trying to fire up his team as if we were down by 21. If everyone on a team had the heart and soul that Duke does I don’t see how that team could ever lose to anyone.”

Before graduation Alvora was offered the opportunity to play college athletics at a variety of schools in each sport. He was recruited by schools including Alfred University, Stony Brook, Georgia Southern, and Salve Regina, but in the end went with Maritime.

“The reason I picked Maritime was because the school has so much to offer, one hundred percent job placement, a very high average starting salary, and it’s a regimental school so all I would focus on is school and football,” Alvora said. “Athletically because their program is on the rise and they wanted me to play 'backer for them.”

Head Coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes and the rest of the coaching staff are looking at Alvora as a linebacker, and that played a big part in him heading to the school. While other places were looking at him as an offensive linemen, Alvora liked Maritime because they want him to play middle linebacker. With his high football IQ he said he thinks this position is the best fit for him going forward.

As a freshman, Alvora understands he is starting from scratch with his new team. But the challenge of competing for playing time and establishing himself as a college athlete are ones that he is ready to meet head on.

“It's college, no time was promised me,” Alvora said. “I have to start from the bottom and prove myself.”

In the short term, Alvora is hoping to just earn his time on the field, but in the future the linebacker has his sights set on much loftier goals.

“Immediately when I start playing football there I'll be bringing 100 percent to everything I do so hopefully that brings something to the team,” Alvora said. "Hopefully in the future I stay healthy, play very well and become a captain.”

Maritime has the best ranked recruiting class in the football team’s history coming in this year, and expectations are high for the future of Privateer football.

With the off-season winding down and opening day right around the corner, Alvora will get to prove to his Maritime teammates just what he can do in no time.