Sophomore Marc Pagnucci was selected to be a captain of the boys soccer team this fall when the coaches recognized his leadership skills.
Pagnucci has been playing soccer since he was about four years old and has been waiting for this moment since he first started getting involved with the team, a whole year earlier than the rest of his grade.
He couldn’t practice with the high school team yet, but he would be on the sidelines getting involved with the team and their coaches during home games, along with attending the games from the stands at away games. His connections with the team sprouted very early, likely from his two older siblings, Marc and Paolo Pagnucci, whom he would watch at the team’s games.
This has allowed him to build a special relationship with not only the team, but with the coaches and he could see what it is like to be on a high school team; something many don’t get the chance to experience prior to ninth grade.
“He’s just a soccer genius…He was in the running (for captain) and I knew that from the get-go,” junior captain Aiden Pagnucci said.
Captains are picked by the coaches based on how they recognize leadership
“It’s not about trying to be a captain, it’s just holding yourself as a leader. Like, everyone has to be a leader, even if you’re not a captain,” Aiden said.
Marc had a great opportunity to be with the team in the year prior to his inaugural season, and he wants the same for newcomers too. The captains are currently talking to the coaches, pushing for younger guys to get involved in the program sooner, and Marc is excited to do the same that was done for him.
“It’s just a big opportunity for me to help build the youth so they can have the chance I had to be a sophomore captain,” Marc said.
His experience of playing high level soccer sets Marc apart from many. His brother plays with him on multiple teams, and his leadership skills stem from his knowledge and understanding of the game.
“I’d say he just commands himself well,” Aiden states. “Like he knows the sport well, and he knows himself well, and he knows pretty much anything there is about the sport. So I’d say he’s a good leader as far as the game goes, because he just knows more.”
The pressure of being a role model and a captain is stressful, especially for someone particularly new to high school, but Marc claims he stays composed from previous experiences.
“I’ve played for so many years on so many different teams. I had an opportunity to play with Minnesota United and an ODP (Olympic Development Program) team…that’s just really high level and I feel playing with them brought me to the level where I can be a high level high school player,” Marc said.
The soccer team is on a roll this year with a 8-2-1 record and an LSC conference win as of Oct. 1. Spartan fans can catch them at their upcoming games as they finish out the year and make a push for a deep and promising playoff run.
