College Commits: Hunter and Reece Mallinger

Photo submitted by the Mallinger twins.

Hunter and Reese Mallinger, twin brothers who are currently seniors at Hamilton, started playing tackle football their freshman year of high school. Recently, they committed to playing D1 football for the Wisconsin Badgers at UW-Madison.

Coach Gumm, Head Coach of Hamilton Football, shares these words of praise: “Reece and Hunter are elite football players. Everyone sees that. What makes them part of the 1% is that they are even better human beings. They are great teammates, hard workers, excellent students—just awesome all around young men.”

Read more to hear from the Mallinger brothers:

How long have you been playing?

*Photo submitted by the Mallinger twins.*

Hunter: I have been playing tackle football since freshman year. I played flag football throughout elementary school, but I stopped and played volleyball up until high school.

Reece: I started playing football freshman year.

What is your favorite memory from football?

Hunter: My favorite memory from football was beating Kimberly in week 1 my junior year. Kimberly has always been this big and successful school and we destroyed them and set the tone of our season.

Reece: My favorite memory has to be getting my first offer in spring after my sophomore year.

What do you think is your favorite/best football goal you've accomplished?

Hunter: My most proud football achievements include getting 18 D1 offers, committing to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or getting Ffirst Tteam Aall Sstate my junior year.

Reece: My most proud football achievement has been watching my little brother improve this season.

What will you miss most about playing for Hamilton?

Hunter: I will miss my teammates the most. Playing high school football is very special. Getting to work out and practice with the people you've grown up with is really special. This is the last year we will all play together.

Reece: I'm going to miss playing with all my friends, they’re like family to me.

How has football impacted your life?

Hunter: Football has impacted my life in so many ways. It has given me many friendships that I will keep for the rest of my life. It has taught me many life lessons like leadership, consistency, and dedication. It has also given me the opportunity to get a free education in college while playing football for my dream school.

Reece: Football has taught me many lessons and skills that will help me throughout life. Football is also what we will be pursuing in college, so it is our future.

What is one lesson you've learned from football?

Hunter: I've learned how to be a leader, how much the little details matter, and how to play as a team.

Reece: I’ve learned that in order to be successful, it doesn’t come easy;, you must put in the work.

What was the recruitment process like for you?

Hunter: My recruitment process picked up my sophomore year. I went on three game day visits to Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Indiana. I got my first offer in May before my junior year. I accumulated 18 offers before my senior year where I committed on the April 1st before my senior year.

Reece: Recruitment was slow since I was out my sophomore year, but picked up during my junior year. I ended my recruitment with 15 p4 scholarship offers.

What is one thing that a coach has told you that you will carry into playing in college?

Hunter: "You don't have to be an upperclassman to be a leader." My head coach said that and it really opened my eyes;, that I was that person in my freshman and sophomore year. I was afraid to be a leader because I thought I was going to be judged. In college, I want to be the opposite and be a leader right when I get there.

Reece: Probably the most impactful thing a coach has said to me is that good teams are teams that coaches lead, but great teams are teams that players lead.

What advice do you have for younger players?

Hunter: The work you put in outside of football will be the greatest contributor to your success.

Reece: You have to learn to put in work early, w. Whether that means extra work before or after practice. You don’t improve in games;, you improve in practice. And take the weight room seriously! It is a game changer.

What are you most excited about next year playing for the Badgers?

Hunter: I am excited to start a new chapter of my life in college and get the opportunity to be coached by the best, and hopefully have the best opportunity to make it to the NFL. I also get the opportunity to play for my home town school.

Reece: I’m excited to play with all these other in-state commits. We’ve developed an awesome relationship with some of these guys and I can’t wait to play with them!

Is there anyone you’d like to give a positive shoutout to who has been instrumental in your journey?

Hunter: My head coach deserves a lot of credit. He helped jump start my recruitment. When I started getting interest from colleges, he set up workouts before school where college coaches could come in and watch. This helped get my name out there and I started receiving opportunities to play in college. My mom also deserves a lot of credit. Without her unwavering support, I have no clue where I would be right now.

Reece: Coach Gumm has been the man. He’s made us the players we are today.