Three Queen of Peace grads throw ‘Hail Marys’ in high school

By Gina Keating, The Catholic Sun
December 7, 2006

MESA — Queen of Peace School lists on its Web site 23 compelling reasons why children should go there, but they forgot one: they churn out high school quarterbacks.

Best friends since elementary school, Patrick Miller, Greg Djinis and Tony Gallegos are all quarterbacks at three Valley high schools.

The boys, who graduated from Queen of Peace in 2003, are now seniors at Seton Catholic, Horizon and Mesa high schools, respectively.

Could the water in the drinking fountains hold the secret?

Nah. It’s just good, old-fashioned Catholic education, according to vice principal and school counselor Betty Nardelli.

“See what a foundation at Queen of Peace did for those boys?” Nardelli said. “It doesn’t surprise me that this would happen to them. They have an innate ability to be motivated.”

Nardelli, who taught Miller and Gallegos in kindergarten and second grade, remembers their creative book reports and big smiles.

The boys became a trio when Djinis joined the class in fifth grade.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Recess was filled with football games. They hardly noticed the day when the field at school was torn up. They simply moved the game to the basketball court.

“It could be pitch black outside, and we would be playing football. It was all we ever did,” Miller said.

Consequently, the three amigos played on the same Pop Warner team, but not before converting Miller from a baseball player to a lineman.

Their 2002 team won the national championship in its weight division.

“They were good teammates,” said Patrick’s father, Dick Miller. “They didn’t like to lose, period, but they never competed with each other.”

Au contraire. Halloween dished up a healthy serving of childhood rivalry.

Each year the boys would go to Miller’s neighborhood dressed in horrible costumes and carrying huge pillowcases.

“Tony always managed to get the most,” Djinis said. “He ran the fastest.”

Too bad that didn’t translate to the football field. Gallegos said when the three of them played ball, he could never run around or past Djinis.

“And Pat always played smart,” he said.

The camaraderie between the three quarterbacks extends beyond goal lines and touchdowns.

They communicate via phone and text messaging. They check on stats, size up each other’s competition and offer advice and encouragement.

Miller was there when Djinis started in his first game as quarterback in his sophomore year.

One of Djinis’ favorite memories is also an unfortunate one for his career.

During the third week of the season, Horizon hosted Mesa. It was the first time Djinis and Gallegos were pitted against each other, with the win going to Mesa.

“When you’re around other guys who are athletes, you rub off on each other,” Djinis said. “We have always supported each other. No matter what happens, we always know we have each other’s back.”

Immediately following the game, Gallegos walked to the other side of the field, and into Husky territory, to greet his best friend and football adversary.

“I found him and I hugged him,” Gallegos said. “Greg played a good game. He played better than I did.”

Djinis said he gets “bummed out” thinking about the future without his two buddies, but said they would always be close.

Djinis hopes to continue his football career in college. He returned recently from a trip to California Lutheran University.

Seton head coach, Pete Wahlheim, called Miller “smart” and “coachable.”

“You only have to tell him once, and he makes the adjustments for us,” he said.

The gridiron was never first choice for Miller. He played baseball until his buds convinced him football was the ticket.

And now, he could be trading in the pigskin for a Ping golf ball. Miller has been the top golfer at Seton since his sophomore year.

Miller is content and counts his blessings, especially for playing on different teams.

“If we all went to the same school, I wouldn’t be a quarterback right now. I’d be a fullback getting hit at every play,” he said.

Away from the bright lights of the stadium, the cheering crowds and the rush of adrenaline, Gallegos is philosophical and pragmatic about his feelings.

“It doesn’t matter how far they go, we’re life-long friends,” Gallegos said. “I love them, and if they ever need anything I’ll be there for them. Our friendship is everything.”