By Joanna Chadwick
It doesn’t matter the moment, there’s little question for the Paola football team on who will bring energy.
It’s Sasha Pichnenko.
“Whether it’s making a big play or just encouraging my teammates, I try to keep the energy high every game,” he said. “I want to be someone my teammates can count on to make something happen.”
It’s an interesting contrast to what coach Mike Smith says – Pichnenko is a man of few words.
But he makes plays.
“And he leads by example,” Smith said.
Pichnenko also puts in the work.
“(He had) 100% attendance at summer football weights and activities two seasons in a row,” Smith said. “He is always looking to improve his game, either in the weight room, catching extra balls or attending camps.”
The offseason workouts paid off for Pichnenko.
“I’ve been playing pretty well, making plays whenever my team needs it and doing whatever it takes to help us win,” he said. “I’ve been more consistent and explosive this year, and I feel like I’ve stepped up as a leader, too.”
Because of his improvement, Pichnenko said he felt as though everything slowed down.
“I’ve grown a lot mentally and physically,” he said. “My route running, speed and confidence have all improved. I’ve learned how to read coverages better and turn small plays into big ones.”
The goal is winning, after all.
“I want to help my team finish the season strong and make a deep playoff run,” he said. “For me, it’s about competing every week and showing what we’re capable of as a team.”
