Clint Thompson
CNHI
THOMASVILLE —
A pair of soccer standouts are proving their worth on the gridiron this season.
Anthony Pistelli and Joseph Fennelly, members of the Thomasville soccer team that won the Class AA championship last spring, have seen playing time this year on the Bulldogs football team. Both have been used in the kicking and punting game. Both have enjoyed the experience so far.
“I’ve been kicking by myself since I was in ninth grade,” said Pistelli, whose Bulldogs host Mitchell County tonight. “My soccer coach for my club team in ninth grade, his son is the kicker for Lowndes, he just said, ‘You’ve got a really strong leg. Come kick.’ At that time Daniel (Anders) was kicking. I came out here and they said I would have to play junior varsity. I wasn’t really interested. When Daniel graduated, I was like, ‘Why not (now)?’
“It’s pretty fun. I like it.”
Pistelli quickly discovered the biggest difference in kicking in a soccer match and kicking in a football game.
“It’s all on you. Everybody’s watching you (in a football game),” Pistelli said. “You can mess up in soccer and somebody’s there to have your back.”
Fennelly played on the eighth grade middle school team and, according to Bulldogs coach Richie Marsh, was used as a wide receiver and cornerback. Fennelly’s return to football can be attributed to him just wanting to be a participant, rather than just an observer.
“Just having so much fun during the games in the stands, I thought it would be pretty awesome to be on the field, too,” Fennelly said.
Marsh added, “Joseph is one we’ve always wanted to come out. Joseph played middle school football for us and he was a cornerback and receiver and was a starter for us. We’ve always tried to talk him into coming back out. I think him and Anthony are pretty good friends. I think Parker Bush had a lot to do with Anthony coming out, knowing Anthony had kicked some in the past and was looking forward to coming out.”
Both started this year, mainly working on field goals, extra points and kickoffs. But when punter Bradley Weatherspoon was lost for the season following Thomasville’s game against Thomas County Central, Pistelli and Fennelly had to focus more in the punting game. They excelled last Friday against Pelham.
“With the loss of our punter, both of them have stepped in. Joseph kicked some and Pistelli kicked some Friday,” Marsh said. “It’s been a blessing having them guys.”
Fennelly added, “I think we’ve both have gotten better. We’ve definitely gotten better since the first day. It’s a lot of fun.”
