Two Sports, One Role: Leadership and Stardom Define Johnny Duranso

TOWN OF MERTON — Diligent work and resulting success are two concepts very familiar to Arrowhead two-sport star Johnny Duranso, whose accolades on the football and baseball fields speak for themselves.

Duranso, a senior who is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh next year to play both sports, is ready to finish his high school career off strongly as he looks to parlay a strong junior campaign in baseball into a stellar final year. He chose UW-Oshkosh because of the high interest level of the coaches in both sports and because he is fond of the football and baseball program operations. After meeting the coaches and some of the players for the Titans’ football and baseball teams, Duranso knew he wanted to go to Oshkosh.

UW-Oshkosh had to have really been impressive and a perfect fit for Duranso because he spurned a few Division 2 football offers and even a Division 1 football offer from Drake to play for the Titans.

A right fielder who has been a varsity starter since his freshman season, Duranso batted.477 in 2015 en route to earning 1st-team all-state honors. He has accomplished this despite baseball not being his top preference and him being much more well-known in the area as a football star.

“I like football probably a little more, but I do pretty good at baseball,” Duranso said.

Duranso has a highly competitive spirit. Because of his involvement with arguably the state’s top football program and one of the better baseball programs, he knows that he must stay on top of his game to remain at the level of his teammates abilities and coaches’ demands.

“We have so much talent on this team,” Duranso said. “I just want to keep up with them. That kind of motivates me to be the best I can be.”

As an outfielder, Duranso models his style of play after current Houston Astros and former Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez, whose fiery spirit and flair for the dramatic are two characteristics that the Arrowhead star admires.

“He’s always energetic and trying to make a big play,” Duranso said of Gomez.

“He’s always one of those guys that’s ready to go,” Warhawks head coach Vince Mancuso said regarding Duranso’s energy. “He’s very loose, but yet at the same time, he knows what needs to be done to stay on top.”

Being an all-state baseball player requires a high level of play in the field and at the plate. The latter, however, is Duranso’s biggest strength, according to himself. His statistics from last year certainly back up that claim. He only had one home run, but he labels himself as a contact hitter. However, that lone homer was a big one, as it was a game-winner against Oconomowoc.

The Warhawks were the outright champions of the Wisconsin Little Ten last season, finishing 26-2 and 18-0 in conference play. The team lost a game before the state tournament against Milwaukee Ronald Reagan. Duranso sees this as motivation to work harder this season to get over the hump. Arrowhead has not been to state during Duranso’s time in the program, so he wants to make that become a reality in his swan song. Mancuso speaks very highly of his senior captain, saying that he has embraced a leadership role. Duranso cites his playing quarterback on the football team as the reason for his becoming a better team leader. In addition, his throwing the football helps to strengthen his arm for the outfield.

“He has high expectations of himself, along with his teammates,” Mancuso said. “More of a lead-by-example, but, at the same time, holds his teammates accountable to perform at the highest level both on the practice field and on the game field.”

In addition, Duranso’s talent is not seen very often at Arrowhead.

“He started as a freshman, so he’ll be a four-year starter,” Mancuso said. “That doesn’t happen a whole lot at a school our size.”

Duranso’s experience of going to four consecutive state title games in football makes him very seasoned when it comes to playing on the big stage. Mancuso sees that as the primary way that his star’s football experience has translated into success on the diamond, as he is a composed competitor who always comes through in the clutch. The coach notices that Duranso plays much better when more of the spotlight is on him.

“I think him being a multi-sport athlete and having the success he’s had on the football field, playing in the games that he’s played in, have really carried over well into baseball, transitioning to our spring season,” Mancuso said.

Duranso’s standout abilities in both sports may result from his athleticism and hard work, but his experience is certainly helpful as well. He has been a quarterback since he was 6-yearspold and an outfielder since seven during his days playing for the GRB Rays Little League club. He plans on playing both positions at UW-Oshkosh as well.

Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers has always been a dream of Duranso’s. Whether or not that comes true, his success at Arrowhead and potential success at UW-Oshkosh as a multi-sport athlete will certainly be something he remembers fondly as an adult.