From Front to Back
September 22, 2004 04:34 PM | General
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| Pitchkolan |
While most would say that moving forward is the best way to get ahead in life, senior soccer player Aaron Pitchkolan has found moving backwards to get ahead works sometimes, too.
In three years as a Mountaineer, Pitchkolan has played just about every position, working his way from forward in 2002 all the way to defense in 2004.
“It kind of has depended on what the team needs,” says Pitchkolan.
The Aurora, Colo., native was originally recruited to play Division II soccer at the University of Tampa by then-assistant coach, and current WVU head coach, Mike Seabolt. Seabolt says that Pitchkolan had the attributes to put the ball in the net.
“When I first recruited him I did so more as an attacking midfield player,” says Seabolt.
After winning a national championship as a member of the Tampa Spartans, Pitchkolan decided he wanted to follow his coaching staff, which had just been hired at WVU. But leaving wasn’t as easy as telling the Tampa athletic department goodbye.
“I obviously wanted to follow coach (Keith) Fulk and Seabolt but it was tough to get my release from Tampa,” says Pitchkolan.
Despite the troubles Pitchkolan was permitted to head to Morgantown. In his first season as a Mountaineer he led the team in goals (five) and points (10) in 2002 from the forward position.
“When I came here we didn’t have a lot of attacking players so it was my role to help the team out more offensively,” says Pitchkolan.
Although it seemed the sophomore was on the path to be the premier scoring threat for the team in 2003, things would quickly change for him.
“Last year we got some better attacking players like Jarrod Smith and Devon McTavish moved up so I took a midfield role,” says Pitchkolan.
While Smith and McTavish combined for 12 goals in 2003 and Pitchkolan netted only three, he thrived in his new position. He proved to be one of the anchors of a young midfield with little collegiate experience.
During this past summer Pitchkolan played for the Boulder Rapids reserves, a Professional Development League (PDL) team in Colorado. With the Rapids he learned his third new position in three years, center back on the defense. He quickly took to the back line and actually found it to be not only his best, but favorite position. Once he got back to Morgantown he discussed the position change with Seabolt.
“I think Pitch moving to the back is a great move for the team,” says Seabolt. “He’s a leader in the back and I think he will add great stability and leadership.”
Along with helping the Mountaineers in 2004 Pitchkolan and Seabolt believe the position change will help him achieve his ultimate goal.
“I was talking to Seabolt and he said the more I move on towards the next level, playing professional, center back is probably going to be my position,” says Pitchkolan. “So I want to take that on this year.”
Pitchkolan says that his goal scoring days are not totally over. He will still have the chance to help the team offensively on corner kicks and set pieces. Three different positions in three years may be difficult for some players, but Seabolt says Pitchkolan is up for the challenge.
“He’s put in the work and soccer is the most important thing to him and it shows,” says Seabolt. “As a senior he has developed into a very, very good leader on this team and I expect him to have a great year.”
Pitchkolan can attribute last season for helping him develop into a leader. In 2003 the team only had two seniors and it required players such as him to step up and take charge. He also says that he learned a lot from his season in Tampa.
“I remember when I was a freshman at Tampa there were always some older guys to look up to and I always said to myself that when I get into that position I would really like to do the same,” says Pitchkolan.
Along with adjusting to new positions, Pitchkolan has had to adjust to the city of Morgantown. While he says that he never dreamed of ending up here when he was coming out of high school, Pitchkolan says the area and school have grown on him.
“I like it,” says Pitchkolan. “It’s a bigger school and you can go to football and basketball games with a really good atmosphere.”
Helping his adjustment has been the coaching staff who have recruited a handful of other players from Colorado to join the team. Pitchkolan and his fellow Coloradans currently all live together, which he says helps them deal with being so far from home.
“It definitely helps because we can all hang out and watch Bronco games,” says Pitchkolan.
Scott Castleman is a student assistant in the WVU sports communications office.
