Quakers Alumni Profile: John Pontillo

Each week we'll be taking time out to get to know an alumnus from the Moorestown High School Athletic Department. In this week’s segment, Moorestown Patch sports editor Jim Vassallo spoke with former soccer player and current Swarthmore student John Pontillo about his time at Moorestown, how special Swarthmore is, and how he decided to play only soccer in college.

Moorestown Patch: What is your major?

John Pontillo: I am a double major in religion and economics.

Patch: How did you choose Swarthmore?

Pontillo: Swarthmore is a very special place. I certainly did not recognize its value when I was applying to school. I knew of the stellar academic reputation and the ideas of Quaker-ism that pervade campus, but I really didn't know what to expect until I got here. Retrospectively, the love of learning is something that stands out. Everybody is passionate about learning, both in and out of the classroom. The diverse group of students, representing all 50 states and including a significant percentage of international students, fosters the learning of different cultures and lifestyles among students. It is fair to say I have learned just as much from my peers as I have in classes.

Patch: Do you play any other sports?

Pontillo: I do play other sports. I was recruited to play tennis at Swarthmore too. I played varsity tennis in high school and won two state championships at first doubles. I made the decision to devote myself to soccer when I got here because there are so many incredible academic opportunities I wanted to take advantage of, and I needed to have an "offseason" to really embrace them. Other than soccer and tennis, I've played on an IM basketball team the past two years, I swim a lot in the offseason, and play ultimate. I really enjoy switching it up and cross-training.

Patch: What stood out about the Swarthmore soccer program?

Pontillo: The reputation it was building in the few years prior to my coming to Swat. For many years, the team was mediocre. With the hiring of current coach Eric Wagner, the team began to see its most successful period in the past five years than in any other five-year period. Wagner and the assistants, as well as the guys brought in to play, have built this team into a perennial national power. I wanted to help further that reputation.

Patch: Is the speed of the game much different in college?

Pontillo: The speed of the game in college is much faster than in high school. I was fortunate enough to start at outside back as a freshman, and I can remember the first few games feeling overwhelmed at the speed of play. By midseason I had caught up, and now it isn't even something I think about.

Patch: How did (Moorestown) coach Mike Sutcliffe prepare you for college?

Pontillo: Coach Sutcliffe was a great coach. In my four years at Moorestown High, the coaching staff taught me a lot about the strategy and tactics of soccer. But the thing coach Sutcliffe taught me to do best was to be a leader. As a junior, I started at sweeper. He worked with me to develop a leader's mindset. He pushed me to push myself and my teammates hard each day in practice and in games. He allowed me to become a better player by pushing the right buttons, and then allowed me to help the team be the best it could be by affording me a measure of authority on the field to direct play. Now, as a junior at Swat, I am a captain, and my development in high school that was directed by him led to my emergence as a leader on the Swarthmore team.

Patch: What was your most memorable high school moment?

Pontillo: My most memorable moment on the field in high school is the SJ Coaches Tournament in 2008 when we made a magical run, culminating in a wild 4-3 victory over Rancocas Valley in the finals. At the time, they were ranked second in the nation by ESPN. It was an incredible game, and one I will never forget.

Patch: What has been your most memorable college moment so far?

Pontillo: In college, I have two memories from the field that stick out. The first was my freshman year when we won a thrilling 2-1 overtime game in the NCAAs against Hobart to put us through to the Sweet 16s. The other would have to be last year's Centennial Conference Championship game when we beat Muhlenberg 2-1 in double overtime to capture the Centennial Conference. It was the kind of game when you came off afterwards and you were proud to have played the game with your teammates, because it was a total and complete, hard-fought team victory.

Patch: What are your goals for this season?

Pontillo: We have a very talented team this year at Swarthmore. Seven of our 11 starters are seniors and have been playing together for four years. We are a very close-knit team. We have high expectations for ourselves. We hope to defend our Centennial Conference Championship title by winning the conference again this year. But also, we hope to break through to the NCAA Final Four. I believe we have the talent and desire to do so. Here's to hoping the ball bounces our way.

Patch: What aspect of your game did you focus on during the off-season?

Pontillo: In the off-season, I worked on all parts of my game. First, I wanted to feel just as fit in the first five minutes in the match as in the last five. So, I logged about four times as many miles this summer than I had the previous summer. Next, I wanted to gain size so I could be a dominant force in the back. I lifted several times per week, and put on a few pounds. Finally, whenever I could touch a ball and do technical work, I did. Even when I went on vacation to California, I brought a size-one ball and a hand pump and juggled and worked out on the beach. That preparation is paying off for me now, as I am the most complete player I have ever been.

Patch: What did you learn from your teammates while playing for Moorestown?

Pontillo: I learned the value of team chemistry. It's hard sometimes in high school to have a team where all kids get along. We had that my senior year, and it helped carry us to a Coaches Tournament Championship as well as a SJ Championship, and to the NJ State Group 3 final.

Patch: What attracted you to the sport of soccer?

Pontillo: The sport of soccer is so unique. I love it for many reasons. It has no timeouts, no breaks, and the outcome of the game really is dependent on the guys who are on the field, as opposed to football or hockey where there are set plays, breaks where coaches tell you what to do, and the like. To me, it is the ultimate athletic sport. You cannot get by on any one attribute. You must have speed, quickness, strength, vision, and the ability to think for yourself. Aside from corner kicks, you will never have the same situation twice in a soccer game. And as a player, you need to use all of your faculties in order to affect the game in the most positive way for your team. Also, I love the team aspect of the game. When I step out onto the field every game and look around before kickoff, I think about how badly I want to win for the guys surrounding me. These are my closest friends, and we all work so hard as much for the guys next to us as for ourselves. It's a joy to be on a team like this.

Patch: If you could give one piece of advice to this year’s seniors in the Moorestown boys soccer program, what would it be?

Pontillo: To Moorestown's seniors, I would tell them to push themselves as hard as they can go, and every once in a while, take a look around and enjoy what you are doing. For most players, this will be the last competitive-level soccer they will play, let alone the most competitive soccer they will play surrounded by their friends. So, work hard to achieve all you can, but enjoy the ride. When it's over, you will be glad you did.