When thinking of Sweden, football probably is not the first thing that comes to mind. ‘Is football even played in Sweden?’ you may ask. If you’re looking for the answer, look no further than exchange student Lex Fondelius, a Quince Orchard High School senior tight end. Fondelius, born and raised in Sweden — to a Swedish father and an American mother — started out playing the more conventional sports of soccer and hockey in his home country. At age 10, he was already bigger and more athletic than most of his competitors. It was then when his mother, who had found home in Sweden through teaching English abroad, suggested he give football a try. The rest was history.
“I tried football and I had a great time,” Fondelius said.
Of course, the culture surrounding football in Sweden is very different than it is here in the US. Generally considered very dangerous, football has always been categorized as a “niche” sport in Sweden, as Fondelius described. Time zone differences did not help the sport’s popularity in Sweden either—Fondelius’s home of Stockholm is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. This made it difficult for Fondelius to watch NFL games live, but whenever his favorite team, the New England Patriots, were competing in the Super Bowl, he would find a way to watch at 12:30 in the morning.
“I’d go to bed really early, sleep for a few hours, wake up, watch the game,” he said.
All this considered, it was tough for football coaches in Sweden to scrape together a team. With smaller rosters, most players played offense and defense; they did not leave the field all game. In America, high school football is sponsored by the schools themselves, but in Sweden, players have to join club teams in order to play. With limited fields available, these club teams are only able to practice a few times a week.
When Fondelius arrived over the summer to start Quince Orchard football practices, he noticed some major differences from back home in Sweden. Right away, he felt that stark climate difference. The Maryland summer heat was an adjustment coming from the more temperate weather in Sweden. Despite the high temperatures, he was still able to appreciate the excitement and attention that football received here in America.
“One thing that’s really fun in football here is the fact that since you have more time, you have more coaches, you have more kids, and you have more resources,” he said, “The football—as in the game that you’re playing on the field—it’s a lot more fun.”
Fondelius came over from Sweden for many reasons. A birthright US citizen, he is strongly considering going to college in the US, potentially at an Ivy League institution. He also has the option of going to university back in Sweden—for free. Nevertheless, he wanted to come here to get a sense for the standardized testing environment and the American high school experience. Although he had been to America to visit a few times before, leaving all familiarity over 4,000 miles away was anything but easy for Fondelius.
“I don’t have my mom, I don’t have my people. [I’m] at a new place. And honestly, I thought it was gonna be more jarring than it has been,” he said. “I do really miss my friends and like hanging out with my people.”
While homesick at times, moving halfway across the world has also had its excitement for Fondelius.
“I’m having a good time here and meeting new people [and] experiencing new things,” he said.
Living with his mother’s college roommate, Fondelius has now found a second home here in Montgomery County. Per MCPS rules, he has had to fill his schedule with many of the required classes needed to graduate. Although he currently has no electives in his schedule, taking classes at Quince Orchard has given him the opportunity to gain AP credits and explore new subject areas, such as computer science, which he has taken a liking to.
With so many moving parts involved in coming to the US, adjusting to his new environment has taken some time. Luckily for Fondelius, his football teammates have become important friends for him, helping him acclimate to America. The support he has received from his football peers on and off the field has been extremely valuable for Fondelius.
Just a few weeks ago, Fondelius and the Quince Orchard Cougars had their home opener against Walter Johnson. For Quince Orchard fans, coaches, and players alike, the atmosphere at the Cougar Dome was electrifying. For Fondelius, playing his first home game as a Cougar, it was special.
“Running out through those banners on Friday night, seeing everybody, watching people taking pictures, the flags being waved, the smoke, the band’s playing – I took the moment to like, stop, look at the crowd. Smell the air. It was just a really cool experience.”
Written by Sammy Krimstein of Quince Orchard High School
Photo courtesy of Sammy Krimstein of Quince Orchard High School