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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Adi Pinkston was a crucial player for the Lady Blues during their recent game against Burkburnett. Pinkston brought three points on the board for the team during free shots and helped lead the team to a 5-0 blowout victory. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Victor Pardo is in his first year with the Graham soccer program and has fit in with the other players despite being a foreign exchange student from Spain. During a recent game against Burkburnett, Pardo brought two of the five points made by the Steers during the game.
Graham’s soccer programs have broken into their district schedules and student athletes are making crucial moves on the field to lead their teams to victory.
While the weather has been on a rotating schedule of warm to cold, that hasn’t stopped Graham’s students from giving their all on the field or court the last week.
This week, The Graham Leader recognizes Adi Pinkston of the Lady Blues and Victor Pardo of the Steers as Athletes of the Week.
Adi Pinkston, Lady Blues soccer
After a tie game to Bridgeport in their season opener, the Lady Blues brought a 5-0 blowout Friday, Feb. 7 over Burkburnett Three of the goals made in that game were off of free kicks by Pinkston.
The first score from Pinkston came only six minutes into the period on a huge free kick shot over 25 yards away from the goal. The shot curved into the left side of the net and met with the roars of applause from the crowd.
“She was extremely dangerous on free kicks,” Lady Blues head coach Casey Weil said. “She controlled a bunch of the play for our team through the midfield.”
Pinkston came back with full force for another free kick shot and made another goal, hitting the left side of the net with only 8:41 left in the period. The final score for the team was from Pinkston who once again pushed it past the goalie on a free kick.
“Adi is a very composed player. She has the ability to play multiple positions on the field which make her a huge asset to the team,” Weil said.
After the team plays Friday, Feb. 14 against Mineral Wells, it will move into the second half of its district schedule.
Victor Pardo, Steers soccer
This is the first year for Pardo in the Graham soccer program, who is attending the school as a foreign exchange student from Spain. Head coach Tim Wankowicz said Pardo has fit right in with the other players and been a blessing for the team.
“There are several things about Victor that stand out. He has unbelievable vision on the field, incredible ball control, he's very versatile, as he loves playing striker, but he's played all over,” Wankowicz said. “I've played him outside midfielder, center midfielder, and defensive midfielder, but mostly I think he takes a lot of pressure off Easton (Hedge) from defenders and that allows us to be more dynamic in our attack.”
During the Friday, Feb. 7 game against Burkburnett, Pardo was part of the comeback the team created from its previous 5-1 loss to Bridgeport.
“He scored two goals and his ability to hit gaps with his passes on attacks were perfect, creating many scoring opportunities,” Wankowicz said.
Pardo is a crucial part of the Graham team, a team that Wankowicz said is different from the competition by not giving up on each other.
“Even when we were getting beat pretty good against Bridgeport they just kept pushing each other to never stop,” he said.
