Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics
throughout your life?
throughout your life?
Drew Dittman: The process. Preparing mentally, physically, and spiritually to
compete. I always believed in the adage that practice was work and the actual
game was my paycheck. I felt football was ultimately a physical chess match.
The guy across from me could be bigger, faster, stronger, quicker but I could
still beat him by outworking him, outthinking him. That meant not having a social
life and watching film at every break, every lunch, studying my opponent, finding
his tendencies, knowing the opponent’s playbook, what they liked to do at this
down and distance, etc. and then shutting that play down. I guess playing
defense is kind of like life, it’s all about how you react.
compete. I always believed in the adage that practice was work and the actual
game was my paycheck. I felt football was ultimately a physical chess match.
The guy across from me could be bigger, faster, stronger, quicker but I could
still beat him by outworking him, outthinking him. That meant not having a social
life and watching film at every break, every lunch, studying my opponent, finding
his tendencies, knowing the opponent’s playbook, what they liked to do at this
down and distance, etc. and then shutting that play down. I guess playing
defense is kind of like life, it’s all about how you react.
D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?
Dittman: It’s been a bit of an odyssey. I headed off to play at Willamette University
after Justin, got hurt a couple times, left after three semesters. To be honest I
didn’t get it done there and let myself and a lot of people behind me down.
after Justin, got hurt a couple times, left after three semesters. To be honest I
didn’t get it done there and let myself and a lot of people behind me down.
Moved back to Napa, did the full time JC student/full time work grind for a few
years, finished a couple of A.A.s and the military came calling. I was 22 and had
to look take a hard look in the mirror and realize that I thrived most in a structured
environment with discipline, so I enlisted in the Navy in May 2008.
years, finished a couple of A.A.s and the military came calling. I was 22 and had
to look take a hard look in the mirror and realize that I thrived most in a structured
environment with discipline, so I enlisted in the Navy in May 2008.
As a Navy Corpsman I spent over half my time in with Marine Corps Infantry
(USMC doesn’t have their own medics, Navy does it for both branches). I loved it,
best job I ever had. First deployment was to Japan/Philippines, mostly training
exercises, came home, my unit (2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Fox Company) was
asking for volunteers for Afghanistan. I wasn’t going to let another Doc work on
my guys in combat, so I went. Shipped out with the toughest brothers I’ve ever
known in February 2010 for Marjah, Helmand Province, did the combat deal, came
home, volunteered for a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan from 2011-2012 with
RCT-5.
(USMC doesn’t have their own medics, Navy does it for both branches). I loved it,
best job I ever had. First deployment was to Japan/Philippines, mostly training
exercises, came home, my unit (2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Fox Company) was
asking for volunteers for Afghanistan. I wasn’t going to let another Doc work on
my guys in combat, so I went. Shipped out with the toughest brothers I’ve ever
known in February 2010 for Marjah, Helmand Province, did the combat deal, came
home, volunteered for a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan from 2011-2012 with
RCT-5.
After completing some advanced training, I finished out my time in the Navy at
Naval Medical Center San Diego as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist and got
Honorably Discharged in July of last year and moved home to Napa.
Naval Medical Center San Diego as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist and got
Honorably Discharged in July of last year and moved home to Napa.
Nowadays I’m working in South San Francisco as a Project Manager for Central
Concrete/U.S. Concrete.
Concrete/U.S. Concrete.
D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Justin-Siena High?
Dittman: This question isn’t fair. There’s three that come to mind. Human
Physiology with Ms Birkmeyer, U.S. History with Tom Bonfigli, and of course,
Honors English with Mr. Morrish.
Physiology with Ms Birkmeyer, U.S. History with Tom Bonfigli, and of course,
Honors English with Mr. Morrish.
D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Justin-Siena High?
Dittman: Favorite athletic moment? Scoring exactly one point my senior year on
the basketball team. So for Justin’s scoring leaders there’s guys like Chad Lichau
and Garrett Halverson….and I’m at the complete opposite end. But that free throw
was a swish I think.
the basketball team. So for Justin’s scoring leaders there’s guys like Chad Lichau
and Garrett Halverson….and I’m at the complete opposite end. But that free throw
was a swish I think.
All joking aside…the 2003 title run in football. We had lost in the section
championship game the year before, and there was something very personal for me
about those 3 playoff games my senior year. Middletown gave us a bit of scare late
in the game, and I remember we stuffed them on 4th down close to the goal line to
seal it.
championship game the year before, and there was something very personal for me
about those 3 playoff games my senior year. Middletown gave us a bit of scare late
in the game, and I remember we stuffed them on 4th down close to the goal line to
seal it.
D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating
from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?
from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?
Dittman: Playing football at Justin, with those coaches, those teammates, that family
environment, was a game changer for me in life. I was an outsider coming in from
public school, and I’m still close with so many people from that period in my life-
Coach Cotruvo, Uncle Varg, Coach Shanks, and then my buddies from those teams
are still the people I’m closest to. As for personal growth, well I’m 32 going on 60 it
feels like in terms of life experience, but it’s a blessing. The circuitous route I’ve had
in life I wouldn’t change, as it’s blessed me with so many great people and
experiences that have taught me so much about life and about myself. At 18 I knew
everything. At 32 the only thing I know is that life just doesn’t quite work out like you
plan it, and that’s actually the beauty of it.
environment, was a game changer for me in life. I was an outsider coming in from
public school, and I’m still close with so many people from that period in my life-
Coach Cotruvo, Uncle Varg, Coach Shanks, and then my buddies from those teams
are still the people I’m closest to. As for personal growth, well I’m 32 going on 60 it
feels like in terms of life experience, but it’s a blessing. The circuitous route I’ve had
in life I wouldn’t change, as it’s blessed me with so many great people and
experiences that have taught me so much about life and about myself. At 18 I knew
everything. At 32 the only thing I know is that life just doesn’t quite work out like you
plan it, and that’s actually the beauty of it.
D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?
Dittman: My mother has always been my super hero/role model. I hope one day I’m
half the person she is. She has just taught me so much…just the most
selfless, wise, amazing person I know.
half the person she is. She has just taught me so much…just the most
selfless, wise, amazing person I know.
D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would
most like to meet.
most like to meet.
Dittman: Hardest question yet…but I have to be honest and say Doc Holliday. I’d
have to find out if his portrayal in the movie Tombstone is accurate, because if it is,
I’d think we’d have a lot in common and a stimulating conversation.
have to find out if his portrayal in the movie Tombstone is accurate, because if it is,
I’d think we’d have a lot in common and a stimulating conversation.
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