The Times Athlete of the Week: Marquette’s Tom Durdan runs his way to this week’s honor

Tom Durdan has been piling up yards and touchdowns for the playoff-bound Marquette Academy Crusaders football team.

He piled up votes this past week, too, winning The Times Athlete of the Week honor with his 134 votes of a total of 301, narrowly defeating runner-up and Ottawa state-qualifying tennis ace Ella Marvel on a ballot that also included Fieldcrest cross country’s Mason Stoeger and Woodland volleyball’s Ella Sibert.

Next week’s ballot will be online Sunday, with voting open through midday Wednesday.

Here is a Q&A with this week’s winner:

Do you have any nicknames?

Durdan: “TD”

What is your favorite memory playing sports?

Durdan: Winning the IESA State baseball title in eighth grade.

How old were you when you started playing football?

Durdan: I played second and third grade, then quit until freshman year of high school.

What NFL player do you think your running style most resembles?

Durdan: Christian McCaffrey.

Who have been a few of your most inspirational coaches?

Durdan: Coach Jobst, coach Ramano, coach Kuhn.

What are your can’t-miss TV shows?

Durdan: ESPN SportsCenter.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Durdan: P.E.

What’s your pregame meal?

Durdan: Jimmy John’s.

What goes through your mind when a handoff to you is called in the huddle?

Durdan: Score a touchdown.

What has been the key to your team’s success this season?

Durdan: The offseason work we put in is transferring onto the field.

Do you have plans to continue playing football after high school?

Durdan: I’m not sure yet.