Parisi primed to bring back success
Sam Parisi is a senior midfielder and captain for the Schalmont boys’ soccer team.
Competing in his third varsity campaign with the Sabres, Parisi has scored one goal and added four assists to help Schalmont produce a 2-0-1 record during the first three games in Colonial Council play.
In his most recent outing, Parisi registered an assist in a 2-2 tie against La Salle.
Q: How different is it playing soccer in March and April?
A: It is definitely weird and different. It feels weird, but I am just glad we got the opportunity to play. We weren’t sure we were going to have a season. Thankfully, we did. It’s not too bad.
Q: I have talked to a lot of different athletes from different sports that had their seasons pushed back from the fall. Did you even think there would be any season for you this scholastic year?
A: We heard a bunch of rumors leading up to the season. One week, we were having a season and the next week, we were not. As soon as it was final (we would have a season), we were really happy about that.
Q: Being a part of a Schalmont program that has enjoyed a lot of success, how much enjoyment is there knowing you are part of a team that will be contending for something — even if it is not a sectional title?
A: When I was first on varsity, we had that really great team (in 2019) that went to states. That was awesome. The next year, we really fell off and had a bad season. Schalmont is a winning program. It always has been. This year, we really had a chip on our shoulders. We’ve got to redeem ourselves from last year. We are trying our best.
Q: In covering your game against La Salle, I thought the play was pretty high level and it was entertaining watching two teams go end-to-end. How much fun was a game like that for you?
A: That game was intense from start to finish. In the first half, they had a lot of chances. They could have had four or five goals if it wasn’t for our keeper (Christian Tortorici) having a great game. In the second half,
we kind of shut them down a little more. They have a lot of great players. I know a lot of them. It was solid play from both of us and it was fun being out there and competing like that.
Q: Is soccer a sport you would like to keep playing after high school?
A: I love to play. I never want to stop playing. I love doing it.
Q: How old were you when you started playing?
A: I started playing rec soccer when I was in kindergarten. I was 6. I did not really play travel until probably 10th grade. I did not take it that seriously. Then I thought, ‘I am pretty good at this, so let’s stick with it.’ I starting playing travel and really stuck with it.