By Cary Shuman
Demetri Koutsouflakis of Winthrop, a running back and linebacker for the St. Mary’s High School football team, was selected to the 2024 Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment and a lot of hard work went into it this season and in the offseason” said Koutsouflakis. “I give big thanks to my offensive linemen. They blocked really hard for me all season. This was a group effort and a group award. It’s not just myself. It [being an All-Scholastic] was one of my goals before the season, and I got it.”
Koutsouflakis, whose nickname is DK (“Everybody calls me that,” he noted) undisputedly posted numbers that were worthy of earning one of the state’s most prestigious individual awards.
A 5-foot-10-inch, 195-pound senior. Koutsouflakis rushed for close to 1,200 yards and scored 12 touchdowns while leading the Spartans to a 9-2 record and a playoff berth. His longest touchdown run of the season was 68 yards. On defense at linebacker, DK had 56 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception for a touchdown.
Koutsouflakis was also named the Catholic Central League Offensive MVP, a Daily Item All-Star, and a Division 6 All-State Honorable Mention. He has been nominated to play in the Shriners All-Star Game and the Harry Agganis All-Star Classic.
A big welcome at his new school
Koutsouflakis began his high school football career at Catholic Memorial and played two seasons at Winthrop High School before deciding to transfer to St. Mary’s of Lynn.
“I appreciate Coach Sean [Driscoll] and Coach Dylan [Driscoll] and the coaching staff for bringing me into the program,” said Koutsouflakis. “The school welcomed me with open arms – everyone, from teammates to classmates, to teachers and coaches. It felt like family. It felt like home. St. Mary’s is a a great school, a great place. I’m very thankful that I’ll graduate from there.”
One other Winthrop resident, Jack Hurley, was an All-Conference player for the Spartans.
“We commute [to St. Mary’s] together, every morning,” said Koutsouflakis.
Coach Driscoll lauds DK on his All-Scholastic honor
St. Mary’s head coach Sean Driscoll of Winthrop said that Koutsouflakis was “a very good addition to our program.”
“DK had a nice year,” said Driscoll. “He’s doing great in school academically. UMass/Dartmouth likes him a lot. He’d be a great fit there because they run the option and he’d be a good fullback in that offense.”
Driscoll said DK worked hard in the offseason to prepare for his final season and the dedication paid off with a prolific senior year.
“He’s a big kid who’s worked hard at the game the last couple of years,” said Driscoll. “We were happy to have him in our program and we’re excited about his success.”
A tradition of athletic excellence
Koutsouflakis is carrying on a family tradition rich in athletic achievement. DK’s father, John Kuntz, played professional basketball in Greece for 11 years. His first cousin, Christian Kuntz, an All-American linebacker at Duquesne, plays for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers as their long snapper.
Another cousin, Tasso Sfanos, is a 6-foot-2-inch guard for the Division 2 University of South Carolina Beaufort men’s basketball team.
DK said he is extremely proud of his Greek heritage. “It’s a big part of my life. My whole family is Greek, and I speak Greek fluently.”
DK credited the support of his parents, John and Carol Kuntz, for being instrumental in his success.
“My dad played a big role in my athletic career, said DK. “He taught me to always work hard and own my decisions. Yes, we had some disagreements along the way, but in the end, it really paid off, and I appreciate him very much for that.”
Looking ahead to college football
Koutsouflakis is totally immersed in the college application and recruiting process. He has been in correspondence with Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, UMass Amherst, Endicott College in Beverly, St. Anselm, Assumption, UMass Dartmouth, and other Division 3 schools in Massachusetts. He has visited the Duquesne and Endicott campuses.
Koutsouflakis said his likely field of college studies, which is architecture, will have an influence on his decision. Endicott has an acclaimed five-year program in Architecture that would produce bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
“Architecture is something that I’ve been interested in my whole life,” said Koutsouflakis. “I can draw well, and I really like mathematics and science.”
Endicott’s football program is on the rise, having been a Top 10 nationally ranked team and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs this past season.
Koutsouflakis said he will be competing in the St. Mary’s outdoor track program, specializing in the javelin event.