Mt. Lebanon running back to play football at U.S. Naval Academy
Alex Tecza
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Alex Tecza helped lead Mt. Lebanon to conference, district and state championships in football.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Alec Tecza led Mt. Lebanon’s rushing attack. He rolled up 2,079 yards rushing on 259 carries. He scored 25 touchdowns and did not fumble once.
For Alex Tecza, choosing a college required restraint.
Mt. Lebanon’s standout running back took nearly a year to accept an offer to play football at the U.S. Naval Academy.
“Put a pizza in front of me and I’m not such a patient person. I’m going to devour the food,” he said. “This (commitment), though, was a huge decision. Nothing to be rushed.”
The Midshipmen came calling last winter after Tecza averaged 7.8 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns his junior year. In September, he paid an official visit and watched Navy fall to the Air Force, 23-3.
In the interim, while Tecza was helping lead Lebo to its first PIAA title and 15-0 record, he paid visits to Dartmouth, Harvard and Holy Cross. He also entertained offers from Delaware, Army, Colgate, Fordham, Robert Morris and Duquesne.
“I held out because I had to see what was out there and based on the topic I had to do what was best because this decision impacts the rest of my life,” he said.
A regimented life has always been a part of Tecza’s family. One of his grandfathers was a U.S. Marine. The other was a product of the U.S. Air Force. An uncle also attended the U.S. Air Force academy. Currently, a cousin is serving the United States in Germany.
“I absolutely enjoy hearing all their stories about the military,” Tecza said. “I also think it’s time that I should give back as well.”
Tecza also had a familiarity with Annapolis because his lacrosse club often competed in the region. Tecza is a defenseman for the Lebo lacrosse team, which is a perennial WPIAL championship contender.
“I’ve grown up loving Navy because we would go down there for tournaments,” he said. “I loved the city, Navy lacrosse and football. It grew on me.”
The brotherhood of the players and the community among the classmates appealed to Tecza. He said it was a reminder of what he shared among his teammates as they captured conference, district and state championships last fall.
When he visited the Naval Academy, Tecza said he fell in love with the facilities and the atmosphere. It felt like home and he was treated like family.
“I met the coaching staff first and got to know them and the impact that had on me helped solidify my decision,” he said. “The way they treated me and how they treated their players was the biggest decision-making piece for me.”
The career opportunity also attracted Tecza. Whether he studies engineering, electronics, math or business, he will graduate as a commissioned officer with the rank of captain.
“It’s a great opportunity. I will be the boss and in control of something for 30-40 years or if I decide not to serve after my five-year commitment I will be able to use my degree and experience to get a great job,” Tecza said.
Tecza said he is leaning toward a career in cyber security.
In the short term, Tecza is slotted as a running back for the Midshipmen, though, he also excelled as a safety on Lebo’s defensive unit that limited its opposition to 11.5 points per game in 2021.
Tecza managed 32 tackles, 18 solo and 14 assisted. He had two interceptions.
Tecza dominated Lebo’s ground game. He rolled up 2,079 yards rushing on 259 carries. He scored 25 touchdowns and did not fumble once. He also caught 27 passes for 209 yards and four more scores.
“My goal is to get on the field as early as I can either on special teams or as a freshman starter,” Tecza said. “I believe I have the versatility and background to help make the team better.”
Navy was 4-8 last season but finished the campaign with a 17-13 victory against Army. Under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, the Midshipmen have won six Commander-In-Chief Trophies in 13 years and his six bowl wins are the most in school history.
Navy competes in the American Athletic Conference, which includes Cincinnati.
“I’ve been to three Army-Navy games and it’s one of the best experiences. It’s hard-nosed, old-school football,” said Tecza. “I hope to help Navy win games like that, win championships and go to bowl games.”
Tecza says his days at Lebo have prepared him for this major transition in life.
“It’s been a huge help,” he said. “I have been a running back since first grade so I’m happy to be playing that position and Lebo is known as a really good school academically. It’s also a no-brainer that we had the best coaches. They work as hard, if not harder, than anybody else. So I think it’s going to be an easier transition than most especially with balancing all aspects of my life.”
When Alex Tecza committed to the Naval Academy, he became the second member of Mt. Lebanon’s championship team to accept an offer to play football at Annapolis.
His life-long friend, Eli Heidenreich, will also attend the Academy and play for the Midshipmen.
Don’t expect either to be roommates during their Plebe year, however.
“I would love to room with Eli,” Tecza said. “It’s super hard to do though with football guys. For your first year, they put you in divisions and you room with those guys in your division.”
Tecza is okay with the policy. He says it’s not the worst-case scenario.
“I think it’s important to start a new life and meet new people,” he said.
Tecza hopes the pairing brings success similar equal to that produced at Mt. Lebanon.
Tecza and Heidenriech captained the Blue Devils to a 15-0 record that featured a conference, WPIAL and state championships. Both gained all-conference and All-State honors as All-Almanac acclaim.
Tecza earned Pennsylvania Class 6A Player of the Year accolades by rolling up 2,079 yards rushing on 259 carries. He scored 25 touchdowns and did not fumble once. He also caught 27 passes for 209 yards and four more scores.
Heidenreich caught 54 aerials for 1,330 yards and 20 touchdowns. Plus, he threw for one score out of the Wildcat offense. He rushed for an additional 647 yards and seven more scores.
Both excelled in Lebo’s defensive secondary.
Tecza managed 32 tackles (18 solo and 14 assisted). He had two interceptions.
Heidenreich recorded a team-high 60 tackles. He had four interceptions, including one Pick-6, and added a fumble recovery.
Before either graduates this June, Tecza and Heidenreich have aspirations of winning more titles.
Heidenreich starts at second base on the baseball team that also features starting quarterback Joey Daniels as well as star linebacker and Harvard recruit Jack Smith.
Tecza is a defenseman on the lacrosse team that also features among others Cooper Austin, a standout lineman. The Blue Devils were WPIAL semifinalists last spring.
“I know the lacrosse teams wants to win a WPIAL title. I think the baseball team does too,” Tecza said. “It would be crazy if we won state titles, too. I think this class can go down as one of the most historic in Lebo.”
He also noted that his girlfriend, Ashleigh Connor, and Smith’s sisters, Gina and Jenny, have the girls’ basketball team in a position to vie for the WPIAL championship. The Lebo ladies are undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the state.
“They’re good,” Tecza said. “We help manage the team and participate in live drills against them to help them improve.”