The brothers have been at the forefront of a recent winning spree at the school. With their profound contributions, the Trojans won the 2024 MHSAA Division 2 8-player football state title and captured two consecutive Division 4 basketball district trophies along with this season’s regional championship on their way to qualifying for the state semifinals at the Breslin Center.

Plus, both sons of Jackie and Gene Giuliani were given primetime awards after the football and basketball seasons concluded. Kevin, an 18-year-old senior, was named the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association 2024 All-U.P. 8-man lineman of the year and was selected to the Associated Press 8-man first team this season as well.

And in basketball, Vic, a 17-year-old sophomore, was selected by the UPSSA as a member of the all-class Dream Team and was named as the Division 4 player of the year. The younger Giuliani was also recognized by the state sportswriters as a Division 4 first-team selection.

Additionally, Kevin earned Division 4 all-U.P. first team honors in hoops and Vic was selected to the all-U.P. 8-player first team in football.

(Sean Chase photo) Forest Park senior Kevin Giuliani (42) tries to break free from Norway linebacker Landon Amundson’s (20) grasp during an 8-player football game at Dick Mettlach Field in Crystal Falls on Sept. 13.

A laundry list to be sure. But the 2024-25 season marks the final time the brothers will play together as Forest Park Trojans. Kevin is off to college in the fall as a Michigan Tech football recruit while Vic has two more seasons left at Forest Park.

Before they go their separate ways athletically, the brothers recently spoke with The Daily News about their individual and team accomplishments playing for the Black-and-Red.

Q: Kevin, you’ve grown up in an athletic family with your mom and dad both athletes and your younger brother Jon as a junior high up-and-comer. How has that helped you in your athletic development?

A: Just being in the gym with my mom being a (former Lady Trojans) basketball coach and my dad being a football coach. Lots of time at school. Five days a week in the weight room since I was a sixth grader.

Q: Vic, do you think that football success translates into basketball success?

A: For sure. Football only makes you a better basketball player, like with speed and strength. You’re not afraid to drive to the rim and you’re not afraid of contact.

Q: Kevin, same question …

A: The strength from football helps me. I’m very competitive, I don’t like to lose and when I get (to the court) I get my head straight and I go and I don’t stop.

Q: Kevin, what do you think of the team’s performance during the regular season in basketball? Was it what you thought it would be?

A: I thought we played really good. I didn’t think we were going to compete (so well) in those games against bigger division schools (Marquette, Escanaba, Kingsford, Menominee) but we had a good head on our shoulders and we all worked as a team.

Q: Vic, what did you think of playing against Marquette in their gym this season?

A: Marquette was crazy. That was a high school game like I’ve never experienced. It was a crazy cool atmosphere.

Q: Vic, what do you think was the difference in them winning the game?

A: They wore us down. We ran out of gas and we got in foul trouble, which they didn’t.

Q: Kevin, the year before your team was very deep and often substituted five for five. This year’s team wasn’t that deep, but the team advanced further. Why?

A: I think everybody was more grown up this year. Izaiah (Tarter) and Dax (Huuki), they really stepped up from last year to this year.

They were able to play in the flow of the game this year and not force things.

Q: Vic, last year, your team’s postseason journey ended in the regional final against St. Ignace. What was it like for you heading into this year’s regional final against Pickford?

A: Nerves were definitely there going in that game. I didn’t want to lose in that same exact game again.

Q: Kevin, what was that Pickford game like for you as they played with the lead most of the time?

A: Tournament games are a lot different than regular season games. Lot more speed, everybody’s just as good as you. They were a fast team just like us, they were putting up points on teams like we did.

Q: Kevin, were you nervous in that game?

A: I was definitely nervous knowing that game could be my last game. But it was definitely exciting after knowing we made it to the big show in my last year.

Q: Speaking of playing at the Breslin Center, what was that like you both of you.

A: (Kevin). It was amazing. I remember going there when I was little to watch Lexi Gussert play there. It was always my dream to play there and it’s something you can’t imagine. It definitely lived up to the dream I thought it would be.

(Vic) It’s a great feeling playing there, but it feels like everything’s right on top of you. It’s condensed. So it was nerve wracking.

Q: Vic, what about shooting there?

A: I felt like my best shooting of the season was there.

Q: Kevin, what about you?

A: I don’t shoot. I just shoot layups, so as long as there’s a rim and a backboard that’s all that matters.

Q: Let’s go to the game itself, which turned out to be a 67-46 loss to eventual champion Wyoming Tri-unity Christian. Kevin, how did you view the matchup going in and how things turned out?

A: I knew they were a very, very good team and we lost, but we played our hearts out. We played the best we could, but it’s also hard when they can recruit there. And we’re all kids from the same school.

Q: Vic, what was the game like for you?

A: My mind was racing. I was nine points away from getting to 1,000, so I was worried about that. And it was a huge game to be playing in and knowing that it could be my last game playing with Kevin and we were in the Breslin Center.

We just couldn’t get a basket to drop. We fell behind and they kept scoring and they couldn’t miss a shot it seemed like.

Q: Vic, do you guys have the typical sibling rivalry?

A: For sure. Everything we do. In one-on-ones, you don’t talk to the person for the rest of the day. Or the whole week.

Q: Why?

A: Just not wanting to lose.

Q: Kevin, is it still like this?

A: Not as much now.

Q: Kevin, did you feel the need to protect him sometimes in games?

A: I remember a couple of games. One was against Dollar Bay and Vic was going up for a dunk and one of their kids was going up to try to block him and I just got in right in the way and ran into the kid. And I got a foul called on me.

But I was like, it’s not worth it, him going up and tearing his ACL coming down on a kid because Vic would have (jumped) higher.

Q: Vic, what do you think of that?

A: He was definitely a security blanket.

Q: Kevin, you’re on to Michigan Tech now. Will you miss Forest Park?

A: Definitely I am going to miss Forest Park. It’s another big family, kind of, all the kids, all the teachers.

Q: Vic, you’ve got two more basketball seasons left at Forest Park. What do you think next year’s team will be like?

A: Our team is going to be very different next year without a big (player) but I’m not worried. We’re going to be just as good as we were this year.

Q: And what will the goal be?

A: Get back to the Breslin.