Football And Service: Greenwich High Senior To Attend Naval Academy

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich High School senior football co-captain Peter Vomvolakis has always wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself, and on Wednesday inside the GHS Media Center surrounded by his family, coaches and teammates, he officially took the next step toward making that dream a reality.

Vomvolakis, a two-time New Haven Register First Team All-State player and two-time All-FCIAC First Team honoree, signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at the Naval Academy next year.

Donning Navy Midshipmen gear, Vomvolakis, a center and defensive tackle for the Cardinals, thanked all those who have helped him get to this point on Wednesday.

"I always wanted that brotherhood environment and I thought the Naval Academy just had that perfectly. Meeting with the players, they're all just really good people who have the same exact goal that I have. It's really just a family there. It was perfect to me," Vomvolakis told Patch. "I can't wait to take that next step in my football and educational [career]."

The Naval Academy requires five years of service before graduation, and Vomvolakis said that will be something he takes a lot of pride in.

"This country has given my family so much, and I wanted to serve for my country and give my time back to the country," Vomvolakis said, noting no other family members have joined the armed forces. Vomvolakis's brother, George, also plays football at Stonehill College.

Vomvolakis was recruited by several schools, but his mother, Ariadne, said she was "proud and honored" he chose the Naval Academy.

"It's a serious decision, it's a mature decision," Ariadne said. "He just really loved the Naval Academy and the coaches there and the program there. When we visited, he felt that was the right fit for him."

GHS Principal Ralph Mayo spoke briefly on Wednesday. A former offensive and defensive line coach, Mayo said he has a soft spot in his heart for the players who fight at the line of scrimmage on each play.

"The credit always went to the quarterback or the wide receiver or the running back, but our guys, the ones who were in the trenches doing all the work, never got any credit," Mayo said to Vomvolakis. "I'm glad to see we've got a real lineman here getting his credit and getting a Division 1 scholarship to Navy. It's really an honor for us to have you be a part of the Naval Academy, and I can't tell you how happy I am for you and your wonderful parents for this great accomplishment."

Mayo said Vomvolakis has been nominated for the Gatorade Player of the Year Award.

At 6-foot-2, 290 pounds, Vomvolakis has been a stalwart for the Cardinals in all four years at GHS, starting in 48 consecutive games - and counting - and leading the team to a CIAC Class LL State Championship in 2022.

Head coach Anthony Morello said Wednesday that his relationship with Vomvolakis "goes so far beyond the game of football."

"I've had the opportunity to coach this young man for four years and see him grow and develop not just as a football player, but as a human being. He always demonstrated great leadership skills, but he's really become the heartbeat of this whole program and football team. His leadership does not end with any kind of whistle," Morello told Patch. "He's the benchmark for the whole town and community. I'm just tremendously proud of him."

Vomvolakis made the decision to attend the Naval Academy this past June, and he'll report to Annapolis, Md. July 1, 2025, to prepare for the football season and take on the responsibility of service to country.

But first, he'll turn his attention to Staples High School and a showdown with the Wreckers in the CIAC Class LL semifinal scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8 in Westport.

Greenwich lost to Staples on Thanksgiving 27-0.

"We used that game on Thanksgiving as a learning experience. We're fixing things we made mistakes on," Vomvolakis said. "Let's hope we can get back to the state championship because that's our goal right now and that's our end goal. That's what we want this year."