After an exciting football season last year, many Washington Commanders fans are feeling optimistic for this upcoming season. Northern Virginia Magazine spoke with punter Tress Way about his thoughts on last year’s performance and life in Northern Virginia.
What’s the best part about being on the team after last year’s dynamic season?
I’m so thankful I’ve been part of what I guess I would call a transition — a transition in how excited the fans are. I’m just proud to be part of that transition when we won the fans back, won the excitement back, got the fire back, and made our home games totally different than they were in the past.
How’s off-field life in Leesburg?
My wife [Brianna] and I have four children. We’ve got boy-girl twins who are 7, a daughter who is 5, and a little boy, 8 months. We have some incredible neighbors. There’s four houses in a row, and there’s probably 10 kids, all sandwiched together in ages. So Wiffle ball, kickball, parents versus kids — all that stuff, and it’s a lot of fun.
Where are your favorite spots to eat in the area?
Brianna and I are adamant that we always find time to have our date nights. And man, we love trying new places to eat. We go from Alexandria to the Wharf [in DC] to Purcellville. Every time we have a big crew from out of town, we love to hit a few of the breweries and wineries, like Harvest Gap Brewery, Bear Chase [Brewing], Bleu Frog Vineyards. Our favorite go-to places are Magnolias at the Mill, Tuscarora Mill, and Fire Works Pizza. Anytime it’s just the fellas, we’ll go to King Street Oyster Bar, where we wind up ordering every appetizer on the menu.
We’re told never to challenge you in cornhole.
[Laughs] Yeah, well, one of my favorite things DQ [Washington head coach Dan Quinn] says about us is that the NFL calls us “professional athletes.” But really, he says, “You guys are professional competitors. It doesn’t matter what you do, you try to figure out how to win.” I can tell you, as one of the oldest guys in the locker room, and as a father of four, I can hold my own in all the dad games — cornhole, ping pong, all that stuff.
Feature image of Tress Way courtesy Washington Commanders
This story originally ran in our August issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
