Douglas High's Christian Janota makes a tackle during a contest against Carson High in his junior season. Janota signed his Letter of Intent to continue playing football at the University of Mary (ND) last week.
Douglas High teammates Cameron Swain and Christian Janota have both found football as their calling.
Though they’ve made their respective marks on different sides of the ball, the duo will get to continue playing on the same field as they head off to college.
It won’t be a short trek for the two future Div. II players as both have committed to the University of Mary, in Bismarck, N.D.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to go play football, but also get my education paid for,” said Swain. “The biggest goal is to get out there and make an impact right away.”
“I’ve been talking to the coaches for a couple months and it felt like a great fit,” said Janota. “Oh, this will be a new adventure.”
It’ll be quite the experience for both players, but the future Marauders – and current neighbors – are likely to be sharing a plane flight or two to Bismarck over the coming years.
Swain’s determination
Douglas head coach Ernie Monfiletto had plenty of praise to heap upon his outgoing senior.
“His potential is unlimited,” said Monfiletto. “I think that kid is going to be great. … He’s got some tenacity that you wouldn’t anticipated from a clean-shaven, good-looking kid like that.”
Swain checks in a 6-foot-3 and has put on 40 pounds of muscle between the end of junior year and now, tipping the scales north of 230 pounds.
His frame and determination will likely see Swain used as a tight end and wide receiver hybrid.
As a junior, the wideout posted 33 receptions for 651 yards along with four touchdowns. Over the course of the season, Swain averaged nearly 20 yards per catch.
Swain’s adaptability was something coaches were constantly talking to him about in his recruitment. He’s even let it serve a further purpose, if needed.
“(I’m) An extremely versatile player, and a big athlete who can stretch the field but also get down and block if he needs too,” Swain said. “If they’re short on a position, on defense or something, I could be a guy who could step in for them.
“I’m open to anything. If they want me to play defense, I’m up for it.”
His goal is to walk in and play as a freshman, but he’s fully aware the work he’s expected to put in to make that happen.
In his eyes, that determination stems from his mother, who raised Swain as a single parent.
“I had to become a man a lot sooner than I wanted to be. I had to be a role model for all of my (younger) siblings,” Swain said. “Other people in my family have not succeeded, so I’m one of like the first kids to go out. I’m pretty excited to do this for my whole family.”
Janota’s path
For the soon-to-be Douglas High grad, Janota said his biggest challenge on the football field has been adapting to different positions, especially on the line.
“When I was a sophomore I just wanted to continue playing,” said Janota. “Junior year, when I started getting recruited, I was like, ‘OK this is for sure going to happen. This is what my goal is.’”
When he steps foot on campus, Janota and the Marauders expect him to play on the defensive line where he excelled in Northern Nevada.
His junior year, Janota put together 34 tackles over the course of the season, produced 26 hurries and forced and recovered a fumble.
“The satisfaction of beating the guy across from you, that’s always great,” Janota said about enjoying his time on the defensive line.
“The amount of work that he has put in from his junior year to right now is commendable,” said Monfiletto. “He has created this opportunity. His assets are his hands and his foot movement.”
Academic pursuits
Both Tigers have had a chance to see their future home and know their pursuits in the classroom in high school will only push them further in the Midwest.
Their talents on the field haven’t been the sole recognition for either player as Janota was an honor roll student and a member of Nevada’s all-state academic team. He plans on studying criminal justice in hopes of becoming a U.S. Marshal one day.
Swain stated his plans were to major in business with an emphasis in marketing.
Editor’s note: This is the first of several stories for Douglas High football collegiate commitments. Monfiletto said the Tigers have other players that have signed and are expected to sign. Coinciding stories will be in a future edition of the Nevada Appeal and Record-Courier.
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