‘He is great in everything he does.’ Ripon’s Ilardi excels in a variety of ways
Ripon High senior Nico Ilardi likes to stay busy.
He averaged 7.5 points per game for the Indians’ basketball team last year, was named the Trans-Valley League MVP for golf, plays in the school’s band, and has been in ASB all four years.
“I never have any down time and am always busy,” Ilardi said. “It’s comfort to me and when I have down time, I don’t know what to do.”
Oh, and to add to that, Ilardi is the Indians’ starting quarterback and was 6-for-6 for 153 yards and a touchdown in the second half of Ripon’s 21-13 victory over Center in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V Championship on Nov. 30.
It was the Indians’ first championship since 1996.
“He is great at everything he does,” Indians coach Chris Musseman said.
Ilardi and the Indians (12-1) will host Sutter (12-1) in the CIF State Division 4-AA NorCal Championship on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Downey High School.
Growing up, Ilardi played all the sports. When he was 3 years old, he hit golf balls in the backyard and eventually cleared the fence.
“It was golf and baseball early on and he threw every ball,” Nico’s mom, Karina, said. “He would be in the playpen watching my husband (Rome) swing golf clubs.”
In seventh grade, he gave up baseball to play golf.
Asked about his favorite sport or instrument, Ilardi said he could “never pick” and it’s always what season he’s in.
Football is in the fall, basketball in the winter, and golf in the spring with Musseman, who is also the school’s golf coach.
Golf, Ilardi said, has helped him control his emotions, which has led to remaining calm during pressure situations on the football field.
“I keep my emotions inside because if you shoot a bad shot (in golf), you can’t get mad because you have to shoot the next shot,” he said.
Karina said her son has a quiet confidence and rises to the occasion when the pressure is on.
A week before the championship game, Ilardi helped lead the Indians’ comeback from a 27-3 second-quarter deficit against Amador in the semifinals. He didn’t have a turnover and threw the go-ahead touchdown with 3 minutes, 30 seconds remaining as Ripon won, 34-33.
“He is calm and composed,” Karina said. “It’s a chess match and he wants to outsmart the other team.”
Off the field, Ilardi is a National Hispanic Scholar and said he takes pride in his academics.
He was recently awarded a full scholarship for all four years to Arizona State’s Barrett Honors College and is also considering San Diego State.
“Academics always come first before athletics,” he said.
Musseman said Ilardi could go to any college he wanted to.
In the school’s band, Ilardi plays the saxophone and piano and said his favorite part when he played during football games during his freshman and sophomore years was “being the heart of the student section.”
He also loves to listen to music on his record player and has over 100 records.
“Journey, Queen, and Billy Joel are my favorites,” he said.
Senior Troy Brogan, who said the two have known each other since birth, said Ilardi is the “most spirited” student at Ripon High.
“He is the guy who leads the chants in the rallies and pumps everyone up,” Brogan said. “Everybody on campus at least knows who is he because he is a very likable guy.”
When the two were freshmen, they raised over $22,000 to purchase new helmets for the entire team.
Nico had suffered a concussion and his parents bought him a new helmet.
However, only 10 of the 30 varsity players had Riddell SpeedFlex Helmets.
“It wasn’t fair for who gets to pick and choose the helmets and raising the money was a lot easier than we thought,” Ilardi said.
A quarterback has to manage multiple assignments like telling the offense the play-call and reading the opposing defense.
With the success he’s had throughout his high school career, it should come as no surprise Nico Ilardi has led the Indians this far.
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CIF State Division 4-AA NorCal Championship
Sutter (12-1) at Ripon (12-1)
Date: Friday, Dec. 6
Location: Downey High School
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices: Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for high school students (with a valid ASB card), seniors (65 years old and older) and children.
