Nick Filardo became the latest member of the Mineral Point Gridiron Hall of Fame at halftime of the August 18 home football game vs. Lake Country Lutheran.
Nick Filardo
Halfback/Receiver/Defensive Back/Punt & Kick Returner
1987-88
Nick is one of three Filardo brothers that graduated from Mineral Point. His older brother, John, set the standard for work ethic and success and Nick had the privilege to play two years with his younger brother, Gabe, who was the first player inducted into the Mineral Point Football Hall of Fame. Their father, Jack, was a true driving force that pushed Nick and his brothers to be the best athletes they could be.
Nick was a two year letterwinner for the Pointers. He was a key component to the new offense that was geared towards the pass in the 1987-88 season. As a junior, the 1987 team was the first team in Mineral Point to participate in the WIAA playoffs. In that game, the Pointers beat DeSoto where Nick had three touchdowns, an interception, made a game saving tackle to halt a sure score, and caught the winning touchdown in overtime.
Nick’s athleticism played a valuable role for the Pointers, enabling him to play many positions, which included wide receiver, running back, kick and punt returner, and defensive back. Nick was voted most valuable back by his teammates as both a junior and senior and named captain as a senior.
Nick made Honorable Mention as a junior and was named First Team All-Area his senior year by the Dodgeville Chronicle. Nick was the Dubuque Telegraph Herald First Team All-Area selection and named to the SWAL II All-Conference First Team as a split end.
In his career on defense, Nick racked up 52 tackles and had four interceptions. On offense, he had 100 catches for 1,230 yards and 391 rushing yards. He averaged 12 yards a return on punts and over 17 yards on kick returns. Nick secured 20 career touchdowns, 18 rushing and receiving, and threw for two touchdowns.
After Nick’s senior year was complete, he set five school records:
- Passes caught in one season – 78
- Receiving yards in one season – 846
- Passes caught in a career – 100
- Receiving yards in a career – 1230
- Career receiving touchdowns – 12
In addition to football, Nick also excelled at other sports earning four letters in basketball and track. Nick was a proficient shooter on the court which led to all-conference selections and ending his career with a 53% field goal percentage as a shooting guard. Nick was the first athlete in Mineral Point to make a 3-point basket when the 3-point line was introduced to high school basketball. In track, Nick won conference his junior and senior year jumping a personal best of 20’6 ½” in the long jump and also competed at the WIAA State Track Meet his senior year.
Nick is the owner of Badger Mats and currently resides in Mineral Point with his wife, Michelle, three sons–Joah age 13, Koby age 12, and Luke age 11 and two step-children–Payton age 19 and Wyatt age 16. Nick looks forward to watching his three sons continue the Filardo tradition on the football field.