Athlete Feature:
Noah Palmeri
Football: some say it is the other most notable “denomination” in the South, second only to Methodist and Baptist. Every Friday night, students, parents, teachers, and in some cases, entire communities loyally rally around their teams as they match up with their rivals. Friday night’s game against East Rutherford was no different.
Before the game even began, CHASE High students and faculty tailgated in the parking lot just below East’s field to “get hype”. Corn hole boards and Frisbee goals could be seen, as well as a spread of pizza, cookies, and bubbly sodas. Everyone was sporting their camouflage, and a group of girls lined up to show that their shirts spelled out “BEAT EAST!”
The game brought a 55-30 win for CHASE and added a seventh win to the season, making them 7-2 for the season. Although many great players showed off their capabilities during the game, one player showed his abilities during practice. Noah Palmeri (58) was named the Practice Player of the Week before the game on Friday evening. When asked what he had to accomplish to be the player of the week, Palmeri objectively stated, “You have to put in the most work at practice and show that you put in the work behind the scenes”.
Palmeri does not only have what it takes on the field, but he takes his classwork very seriously as well. “I am a student athlete,” he said. “Grades should be first.” He also has a great support system at home. Of his parents, he stated, “They want me to have good opportunities out of high school in college.”
Head coach Court Radford had much to say about Noah and his abilities. “I think Noah is very self aware and he cares,” Radford said. “He is a very smart kid and recognizes when he has a weakness and works very hard to try to turn that weakness into a strength.
Noah is clearly a team player, and he doesn’t complain when he has to do less-than-glorious work in practice. “He has been continuously working hard in practice,” boasted Radford. “He also does things in practice that [aren’t] the most glorious like running scout team running back.” Radford explained that this is a drill in which Noah simulated the running back for the opponents against CHASE’s starting defense. “If it can help the team[,] he does it,” beamed Radford. “He has come to work every day and not just shown up but actually worked and that is why he was chosen.”
Not only does Noah work hard, but he pushes others to work hard as well. “Hard work is contagious. Lazy people don’t want to be around hard workers and hard workers don’t want to be around lazy [people],” explained Radford. “[His teammates] see him working and trying to get better and that puts pressure on them to keep working and get better. It’s contagious.”
Although it has not been an easy road for Noah, he is determined to succeed and get better. “He has made up his mind that he wants to be a good linebacker and his progression from the beginning of the year to now is amazing. He is not even remotely the same player,” said Radford. “He still has a long way to go but he is starting to figure it out.”
His self-awareness does not stop him from realizing what a privilege it is to be part of CT Nation. “Being a Trojan is something I take pride in,” he proudly proclaimed. “Having a high standard is one [reason] I believe Chase High is the best school in the county, not only in sports, but in academics. [W]e have staff that actually care about your well being and want you to do good in life.”
The Trojans take on South Point this Friday, November 1 at Allen Stadium at 7:30 PM where they hope to add another win to their record. A Trunk ‘R Treat event will be held prior to that from 5:30-6:30 PM.