For Nick Palodichuk, the tough decision came early in his sophomore year at Camas High School. In January of 2009, the Battle Ground native chose to leave home to spend a year in Florida, training with the United States under-17 men’s soccer team.
The easy decision was returning to play again with friends at Camas High School.
Palodichuk, who in the fall scored a goal and played every match for Team USA at the under-17 World Cup in Nigeria, was the most decorated member of a Papermakers’ team that this spring reached the Class 3A semifinals and lost only once all season.
Along the way he scored 26 goals and had 11 assists. He is on the cover of the Parade Magazine in today’s Columbian, honored as that publication’s national player of the year. He was also Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year. He has a scholarship offer from Duke University, and plans to graduate from Camas next winter to enter college early.
To that modest list, Palodichuk today adds another honor: The Columbian’s All-Region Player of the Year.
How do you feel about being The Columbian All-Region player of the year? “As with all of them, it’s a great accomplishment. I’m honored, I thought I worked hard for it. I wish we could have finished the season off (with a state title). It would’ve made it a bigger accomplishment.”
What did it mean for you to play for Camas? “It meant a lot. It’s part of our community. It’s not just recognition for myself, but for the whole team as a group. Camas has qualified for something like 12 state tournaments in a row.
“It was about following that tradition and being on a team with all my friends, and also participating in the Camas pride thing. I just wanted to go out there and play for my school. And, obviously, the soccer was fun, too.”
Was the high school soccer experience what you anticipated? “High school (soccer) was different (than playing for the USA at the World Cup), but in a way, it was just as big to me. The World Cup’s on the biggest stage, but Camas High School soccer in this community, it still has a great environment. It’s more tight knit.”
Who’s going to win the World Cup? “The best team has to be Spain … or Brazil. Those are the teams that have the best chance of winning. If I wanted to see one team win, it would either be USA or Ivory Coast, because I like (Didier) Drogba so much. And I’d like to see one of the African nations move on.”
What will you remember most about this season? “Getting back with my friends. That’s what I went (to Camas) for, was to just have fun and try and win. We had a great team. All the kids were great. There was no negative other than losing (in the semifinals).”
Was it a relief to be home after a year away? “It felt like a long time that I was gone. Now that I’m back here, it seems like I haven’t ever left. But when I was gone for that year, it seemed like I was never going to be home again.”
What advice would you give to a younger player? “Work on the little things. Everyone teaches the most important aspects of the game, but it’s the little things that make you a different player that can get to the next level … touch on the ball, keeping possession, ball tricks and moves, and just being able to play faster.
“Always thinking ahead to the next play also makes you a better player.”
Plans for the summer? “I’m not sure what’s up with the national teams.”
Palodichuk said he might be going to France with a team from Colorado.
His Tacoma-based Washington Premier FC club team is going to North Carolina on June 21 for USSF Development Academy club playoffs, with a chance to advance to the championship round in Carson, Calif.
One of his teammates on Washington Premier is Darwin Jones, who scored twice as Mount Rainier beat Camas 3-2 in the state semifinals.
“I think we thought we had (the state title won),” Palodichuk said, reflecting on the unexpected loss. “We just came out really flat against Mount Rainier. I still think we were the better team, but we didn’t win, so … ”
Your most embarrassing moment in soccer? “First off, it’s all the finishes right in front of the goal where you kick it over from two feet away in a big game. I’ve done that a couple of time.
“One of the worst though, was losing to Darwin (Jones, in the state semifinals). He said: I told you we’re not bad. We’ll be in the finals. Have fun in that third-place game. For me it was, ‘Oh, my goodness. I can’t believe we just lost.’ ”
Was the artificial surface at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood as worn down as it looked?
“We’ve practiced on it for club soccer and it’s usually not that bad. But when we got there (for the Final Four) it was terrible. I wasn’t expecting the ball to bounce as much as it did, and once it got wet you couldn’t do anything.”
“Our game with long balls playing up the field was ruined because the ball was just rolling out of bounds because (the surface) was so fast.”
What is one big goal you have for yourself in soccer in the next few years? “I want to win a national championship with Duke. I think we’re going to have a real good team.
After that, I want to be able to go pro. I don’t know where I’m going to go yet. But I want to be sure that I’m ready to do that, and I want to be one of the better players in MLS.”
Have you felt any pressure to meet lofty expectations from yourself, coaches, friends, the media? “I put pressure on myself to do good. I feel like I have to perform every time I’m out on the field, and if I don’t I feel like I’ve failed. But I think that’s pressure I need because that’s the only way to get better.”
“My coaches don’t really put any pressure on me. They know what I can do, and it’s up to me to do it.
My parents are just really supportive. They’re kind of there for me no matter what happens.
I am feeling a bit of pressure now to make some decisions and to keep improving. I think Duke will really help make me mature.
I’m either going to end up with a great education, or be playing soccer — or both.
What’s a big goal away from soccer? “I want to graduate from Duke. I think that’s a great opportunity for me to get a scholarship to play there, and then to get a degree from one of the best schools in not only the nation, but in the world.
Do you know what you want to study? “I’m thinking business and marketing. I would really like to do something with Nike or Adidas, like design or in marketing their products.”
How did playing for Camas High School help Nick Palodichuk? “It keeps me fit, keeps me playing, so that helps. And (Roland) Minder’s a good coach. I was able to experience different positions. I played forward a lot, and also on the wing and attacking mid.”
What is the most interesting thing about Minder’s approach to soccer? “Probably his desire to win.”
Palodichuk added: “His philosophy is all-out attack. I wasn’t used to that. It was interesting to try to play that style.”
Given your soccer résumé, did Minder put any added demands on you? “Obviously, he wanted me to show what I could do and reach my potential. He just encouraged me to help the team by using what I can do and my ability. He never tried to force me to do anything I didn’t want to.”
How did you get your start in soccer?
“The first year I played I think I was 4 years old when I started kicking the ball around. I think 5 was when I started playing rec (recreation soccer).
“My mom (Linda) taught me to be a really good player. She played basketball for Battle Ground, and she actually knew a lot about soccer somehow.
“After a couple of years of rec, I went and played on a U12 team. I was playing up (in age) two years, and I think that’s really where I knew I had to develop to play with older kids so I started training harder.”
Most influential coach? “It’s really hard to say one coach influenced me, I’ve had a lot of very good ones, including Minder. I’ve taken all their styles and used all their techniques and put it all together and was able to make it to the national team.
The national coach (Wilmer Cabrera), obviously, he knows a lot. I think he really helped me with my game, just with his presence and going over things all the time.
“Biniam (Afenegus, current Clark College coach) was the first coach I had (on a competitive U11 club team). Alberto really helped me a lot with the technical part of the game. And from there, (Washington Premier coaches) Jimmy McAllister who played for the Sounders a long time ago. And Gary Heale (who played professional soccer in England and the old NASL).
“I’ve had great coaches, I just can’t say any one of them has been most influential.”
What is one thing most people don’t understand about soccer? “How difficult it is. A lot of people tease that soccer is like girls football and stuff like that. I think the fact that soccer has the most injuries in it, people don’t know that.
What’s the worst injury you’ve seen? “A broken leg — a bad broken leg. And that was just playing indoor, and someone landed on someone whose leg was just done.”
