Balancing two sports with academics is always a tough act, especially being successful at both sports.

Rob Dvoracek mastered that craft, while still being a level-headed student his senior year Parkland High School. For these accomplishments, he is named the 2011-12 Parkland Press Male Athlete of the Year.

On a team known for its run-first style of play, Dvoracek was the go-to-guy on the Trojan attack this past season. His numbers were incredible, rushing for 1,246 yards and 27 touchdowns his senior season. Overall he amassed 2,221 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also didn't take any breaks after a touchdown, lining up in the middle of the defense at linebacker trying to stop the opposition's tailback.

"I just worked hard every day," said Dvoracek. "When I first played varsity as a sophomore, I looked up to the older guys and they really helped me out."

The answer was always football in the Dvoracek household. Almost as soon as he could walk, Rob was going to be playing football.

"My dad always watched football," said Dvoracek. "I grew up watching games with him. I would start playing with my neighbors and just wanted to keep playing."

Dvoracek puts the right meaning to the word athlete. As soon as he reached fifth grade, he was playing football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring. He said that sports were always a part of his life, and he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

"I made a lot of great friends playing the different sports," Dvoracek said. "Our basketball team [last year] was just a group of close friends. We played hard because we liked winning. It was great that we were so successful."

While the Trojan football team was knocked out in the District 11 semifinals to eventual champ Nazareth, Dvoracek and the Parkland boys basketball team reached the district finals and qualified for the state tournament, a year after missing out on post season play altogether.

"Parkland has meant a lot to me," Dvoracek said. "I learned a lot, met a lot of great people. As a young kid, all of the older kids helped me out a lot, whether on the field or the classroom. The school does a great job preparing you for college. It was a huge part of what I am now."

Dvoracek credits his parents and his coaches for his success. "Without them," he said, "I wouldn't be where I am now."

He also gives some credit to his favorite athlete, Emmitt Smith, who he looked up to as a kid who liked and watched the Dallas Cowboys regularly. Dvoracek and Smith share a similar running style and winning mentality, so he picked the right role model.

After his junior season, Dvoracek accepted a scholarship to Temple University. He will major in Sport Management and will compete for the starting tailback position.

"I liked [head] coach Steve Addazio a lot," Dvoracek said. "When I went on my official visit, the players really tell you how it is and I like that. I actually stayed with Andy Reid's kid. Everyone was nice, I just felt at home there."

Dvoracek has been down at Temple taking summer classes and preparing for upcoming fall practice since a few weeks after his Parkland graduation. The city life is something new to him, but he's adapting as each day passes.

As a writer that has covered him this year in both sports, Dvoracek will have one more set of eyes watching him succeed on the college gridiron. He was more than grateful to accept the honor of Parkland Press Male Athlete of the Year.

"It feels good," added Dvoracek. "It's nice to know we have good coverage and that our teams were so successful to warrant this award."