Quite a few two-sport athletes that earn a scholarship to a big-time college program in their primary sport don’t always excel in their second sport, or simply play a second sport to stay in shape, but not Nate Rutchena of Monte Vista-Danville.

Rutchena starred in football and basketball at Monte Vista, and while he was a major contributor to the Mustangs basketball team this past season, it is on the gridiron where he really excelled and earned a scholarship to Cal where the 6-3, 200-pounder is ticketed for inside linebacker.

His overall excellence in two sports earned him the honors as the Prep2Prep Northern California Male Athlete of the Year.

“Oh wow, oh man, that is awesome. Thank you so much,” said Rutchena when told he was being honored.

“Honestly, it brings me back down to earth and humbles me,” continued Rutchena. “I’m a bit shocked but it’s awesome. I’m honored.”

Rutchena adds the Prep2Prep honor to several other awards for football, including Prep2Prep all-NCS first team, co-MVP of the East Bay Athletic League–Mountain Division, Cal-Hi Sports Grid-Hoop all-state first team and State Athlete of the Year Division I Athlete of Honor, San Francisco Chronicle all-Metro all-purpose first team, and Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area first team all-purpose.

In football Rutchena played both defense and offense. Last season on defense he was second on the team in tackles with 105, tied for first with three sacks, plus two interceptions and a fumble recovery he returned 29 yards for a touchdown in a big win over EBAL rival Clayton Valley Charter. On offense as a wide receiver, Rutchena led the Mustangs with 53 receptions for 709 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Over the course of his varsity career, Rutchena compiled 122 receptions for 1,762 yards and 22 touchdowns.

The basketball season came right on the heels of a grinding football season that ended in a loss to De La Salle in the NCS Division I semifinals, and Rutchena was a bit banged up after going both ways in football, but as the season went along he proved himself on the hardwood in helping lead Monte Vista to the NCS Division I semifinals. For the season he averaged 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

“I think Nate benefited greatly from being a multi-sport athlete. He was also the best basketball player at Monte Vista,” said Mustangs football head coach Matt Russi. “After every basketball season he came back a better football player, mentally and physically. All the extra in-game reps he got, dealing with successes and failures made him a better football player. The athletic skill set used in basketball such as change of direction, jumping, shuffling, etc. made him a better football player.”

Although Cal wants him for defense, he really didn’t play much of it in his first year on varsity as a sophomore and didn’t have a single tackle. He really didn’t even play linebacker, but more of a hybrid position of linebacker/defensive back so the coaching staff could utilize his skill set and move him around. Despite that, in a three-year varsity career, Rutchena still had 151 tackles, eight interceptions with one he returned for a touchdown, the one fumble recovery he returned for a TD, and one forced fumble.

“Having a player as talented as Nate on the team for three years is just fun,” Russi remarked. “Offensively and defensively he routinely made our coaching staff look good. We knew where we were going when we needed a play on offense. Defensively, he did so many things well we could move him around to different positions (opposing teams had to know where he was, this made us much harder to attack), and he made plays at every one.

According to Russi, Rutchena had many other attributes and his coach was quick to point them out to the college coaches and scouts.

“His best attributes are football IQ/football sense,” Russi said “I told every college that came by that he has always done great stuff on the field that we didn't teach him. That to me is hard to find. He has always had a tremendous understanding of what other teams are trying to do and how to defend or attack that. Also, he he’s incredibly versatile. Nate could play any skill position on the field and has the athletic skill set to play them all, and like I said above, the football IQ to play them well.”

“On top of all the football stuff, he is just a great kid to be around,” continued Russi. “Always has fun, has a smile on his face, and had fun with his teammates and coaches. That was the real pleasure of having him on varsity for three years.”

Rutchena had played both football and basketball since he was a youth and that’s what he wanted to do in high school.

“When I started high school my father told me I might want to consider choosing one sport,” Rutchena said. “I loved watching and playing both sports growing up. Once I got to high school, I figured why not play both.”

“The conditioning part of it was very difficult,” continued Rutchena on the challenges of playing football and basketball. “Having to go from football shape to basketball shape and then back into football shape was a challenge. The basketball skills were also a challenge to stay up to par with considering I was focusing more on football.”

When asked about the biggest moment in his high school athletic career Rutchena did not talk about something a personal accomplishment, but instead the consummate teammate referenced a team achievement by the football team against cross-town archrival San Ramon Valley. It came when the Mustangs earned the right to face De La Salle with a 9-6 victory in the NCS D1 quarterfinals on a last second field goal and one of three converted by current junior Nathan Price in a defensive battle of all three-pointers. For Rutchena it was the end of three years of futility.

“Definitely the win over San Ramon Valley,” Rutchena responded. “When I saw the ball go through the uprights it was the greatest feeling. My friends at San Ramon Valley were saying our team sucked because we hadn’t beaten them since I was on varsity.”

What made it even sweeter was the week before they had lost to the Wolves 17-16 in double overtime, a loss that cost them the outright league title.

With football being postponed by the Pac-12 for the fall, Rutchena will take a half-semester grey shirt allowed by the NCAA and not enroll at Cal until January. In the meantime he will take online classes at nearby Diablo Valley College and continue his workout regimen.

"I did discuss with Cal coaches about my grey shirt commitment and after conversations with them and my inner circle, I felt it was the best option for me because it was best for my development as a linebacker,” he said.

“At Cal, 6-3, 200 pounds won’t make it as a linebacker,” Rutchena continued. “So my goal this fall before going to Cal is really focusing on getting bigger and better while maintaining and increasing my speed, getting even faster, and improving my footwork. That is what I’m trying to improve the most.”

With the pandemic making working out a challenge, Rutchena has a pretty solid program in place to stay in shape physically and mentally, and achieve his goals for improving.

“Gyms being closed was frustrating whether it was at a local gym or at school. Not having the equipment to stay in shape was aggravating,” explained Rutchena. “Mentally, it was being able to motivate myself to get out of bed and getting some work done.”

“At the moment, I've been working with Nate Kenion with KT Prep and Thomas DeCoud,” he continued. “Training usually consists of speed and agility work in the morning and weight lifting in the afternoon on a daily basis.”

Not surprisingly Rutchena comes from a family of athletes. Both his father and mother, Robert and Kelley Rutchena played sports in high school at Fremont Christian. Kelley was involved in competitive cheer and gymnastics. Robert played baseball and basketball, and after high school he enlisted in the Marine Corps and during his service he played football. Older sister Alyssa Rutchena, age 21, played soccer until she tore her ACL in her sophomore season in high school. Younger brother Drew plays football at Monte Vista and is in his senior year.

Just about every player that gets a major Division I college offer has an ultimate goal of playing professionally and Rutchena is no different. So, what are the short and long term goals and is there an alternate plan? The answer is yes and both involve sports.

“My short-term goal is to try and make the best impression on the coaches and the other athletes at Cal, and show them what I am capable of,” answered Rutchena. “My long-term goal and my dream has always been to play in the NFL and be the best that I can be. My major at Cal will be journalism. If I can't play sports then I want to be able to talk about it.”

Right now there is a lot of uncertainty in the future for athletes at all levels, including Rutchena, but for now Nate and his family can bask in a little glory of his being chosen as the Prep2Prep Northern California Male Athlete of the Year.