Dijak Finds Success at Bridgewater State

By Ross Edwards,  Sentinel & Enterprise

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- It has been a long and winding road for Lunenburg High School graduate Chris Dijak, but the Bridgewater State College gridiron star says the end result has been worth the journey.

In high school, Dijak towered above the competition — both literally and statistically. The 6-foot-5, then-250-pound superstar led the Blue Knights football team to a Central/Western Mass. Division 3 Super Bowl; he was named the boys’ basketball Mid-Wach C MVP after averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds per game in his senior season; and he was a standout on the track and field team.

For his efforts, Dijak, who was the Sentinel & Enterprise 2005 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, was rewarded with a partial scholarship on the UMass-Amherst football team.

Dijak appeared to be on top of the world, but he wasn’t happy.

The UMass coaching staff asked him to put on 30 to 35 pounds to play on the offensive line. The extra weight made him feel unhealthy, and the large class sizes at the school were causing his grades to slip.

That’s when Dijak made the difficult decision to rethink his plans and enroll at Bridgewater State. Fast forward to this season, where Dijak is terrorizing opposing defenses, excelling in the classroom and truly enjoying the college experience.

“You’ve just got to do what you like,” Dijak said. “Don’t take the pressures of coming out of high school so seriously.

“I came out of high school and was recruited by a lot of schools and I ended up going Division I, but if it’s not for you, that’s not your fault. It’s just a part of what makes you you. I came here, now I get to play two sports, now I have a lot of friends and a lot of fun.”

Dijak has been a beast on the Bears’ defensive line this season. He leads the team in solo tackles (36), total tackles (51) and sacks (11.5). He has recorded at least one sack in all but two games.

More importantly, Dijak said, the Bears are winning. Bridgewater State stands at 6-3 and has won five straight.

Two weeks ago, Dijak was part of a Bears defense that held Westfield State to 9 rushing yards on 26 carries. In that game, he recorded two sacks that pushed the Owls back a combined 16 yards.

“He’s a ballplayer,” Bridgewater State head football coach Chuck Denune said. “He’s Mr. Intensity.

“The funny thing about Chris is he’s so passive off the field. Besides his size, there’s not a whole lot that gives off the persona of a football player. But when he gets on the field and puts a helmet on, he morphs into something completely different. We nicknamed him Dinosaur because he’s like a T-Rex out there. … He plays the game the way it’s meant to be played.”

Bridgewater State associate head coach Joe Verria, who also serves as the team’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, described Dijak as a tireless worker who puts everything he has into every snap in practice.

“He’s a good kid to coach,” Verria said. “He’s hard working, tough.…We’ve been lucky to have him.”

Both coaches praised Dijak for his leadership skills. Of course, both also noted his incredible physical talent.

“He’s at least 6-5, probably 270, but he is extremely quick for his size,” Verria said. “He’s just a massive kid. For a big kid, he moves better than I’ve seen in a long time.”

Dijak’s success on the field, however, is only half the story. The junior is also excelling in the classroom as he pursues a criminal justice major. He said he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and work for the federal government. He said his parents haven’t missed a game since he started playing for the Bears.

“My grades do take a lot of time. I have a full course schedule right now. … I’ve got a full plate of criminal justice in front of me, but it’s something I enjoy.”

Dijak said he has heard about the Blue Knights’ success this season. The Lunenburg football team is 8-0. While he hasn’t been able to take in a game, he said he’s glad to know the team is doing so well.

When asked if he had any advice for the high school athletes of today, Dijak explained how important it is to find your own way to happiness.

“I’m really enjoying it (here),” he said. “It’s fun playing at this level because everybody I’m playing with, they’re all my friends. … It’s just a fun situation to be in.”