Prep football: Colony senior tackles new position

Oct. 20, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Nathan Kowalczk has found himself in new territory, anchoring the offensive line of the Colony Knights.

Kowalczk, a Colony senior, had spent most of his high school career at a variety of positions on offense - fullback, tight end, wide receiver - but never anywhere on the line. He had not regularly lined up in his three-point stance along the line of scrimmage since his days in the Mat-Su Youth Football Association. But earlier this year, the Knights had a need at center. Kowalczk stepped in, and snapped up the opportunity.

&#8220Being a back-up (on offense), I wanted to be back on the field,” Kowalczk said.

Kowalczk said the Knights lost their starting center to a major injury early in the season, and since the team has used a few different centers.

Kowalczk made his first start at the position against the Wasilla Warriors, during the seventh week of the season.

Since he has spent most of his high school career off of the line, there was certainly a learning curve. But with the help of Colony's seasoned veterans on the line, the transition was not as rigorous as it could have been.

&#8220I had to learn basically everything,” Kowalczk said. &#8220Moving in with a new group of guys, they took me in and taught me everything I needed to know.”

Not only did Kowalczk have to learn new technique, he also had to adjust to being the smallest player in the trenches.

&#8220I bring the average weight down by 75 pounds,” said Kowalczk, who stands at 6-feet and 210 pounds.

But as Kowalczk said, &#8220It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight of the dog. And I approached it like that.”

Football has long been a part of Kowalczk family tradition. Kowalczk's two older brothers each played for the Knights, and his father, John, has been coaching football for the last 17 years. Kowalczk said he always knew football would play a big role in his life.

&#8220Even before I could play, I always wanted to be out there,” he said.

Off the field, watching the NFL on Sundays and Monday Night Football is a ritual for the Kowalczk family, and he still talks to both of his brothers after each one of his own games.

Kowalczk has been coached by his father - John is now the offensive line coach at CHS - throughout virtually his entire career.

‘It's created a special relationship,” Kowalczk said. &#8220It does help to have my dad on the field for encouragement. But we do a really good job of splitting the coach and parent mentality. I know on the field, he's a coach.”

Kowalczk's greatest impact as a varsity player has come on the defensive side of the ball, and this year he has been rewarded with first-team All-Railbelt Conference honors at linebacker.

Kowalczk has been a member of Colony's varsity unit since his sophomore season. With the great depth Colony has enjoyed in the last several seasons, gaining varsity experience as a sophomore is certainly rare. And that's something Kowalczk has not taken for granted.

Kowalczk said one of his greatest high school memories came early in his sophomore season when Jamie Mayo, then the CHS defensive coordinator, told him he was being promoted to the varsity squad.

&#8220It was a huge accomplishment for me,” Kowalczk said.

Since, Kowalczk has played a key role on three playoff teams. Now as a senior, Kowalczk will have a chance to play in the title game after seeing his sophomore season end in the semifinals and his junior campaign finish in the quarterfinals.

Kowalczk said he still remembers how he felt as a sophomore after the Knights suffered a loss to West Anchorage in the semifinals.

&#8220I felt worse for those seniors,” Kowalczk said. &#8220For me, it was the end of that season. For some it was all over. Some would go onto college, and some never played again.”

Kowalczk said he hopes his football career extends past Colony's state championship bout with South Anchorage on Saturday. He wants to continue in the sport in some capacity.

&#8220Definitely in one way or another. I would like to try to go to college and play. I'm hoping for some sort of scholarship, or maybe walk on somewhere,” Kowalczk said. &#8220If that doesn't happen, maybe I'll end up as a high school coach?”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.