Authored by Harrison DeChellis
Dean Pacini… one of a kind they say. Tirelessly working to become a better player, student, person or whatever it is Dean is always grinding to achieve his highest goals. Dean is a full- time student, two sport captain, YMCA trainer, and who manages to get to the gym everyday while also keeping his grades up. Mr. Pacini’s versatility is an astonishing piece and this student athlete has big things to come in his near future.
Oliver Ames senior #71 Dean Pacini is a football captain, and was named the defensive player of the team freshman year. Also, he is a wrestling captain, and achieving Hock-Allstar, Boston Herald all scholastic, Brockton Enterprise all scholastic, and team MVP all as a junior and still has this upcoming season ahead of himself. Dean knows he has the ability and willpower to take his talents to the next level.
“I first played varsity wrestling as a freshman, a 4 year starter, and I started to play football on varsity as a sophomore. I started both ways and appeared on special teams when I did not need a rest from the game,” he exemplified.
Dean is a different kind of breed of athlete; when it comes to your average high school senior he is no where close. Mr. Pacini is a 6’2 205 pound powerhouse that will do anything to get through you or use any strategy/power to physically and or mentally pound you into the ground. He will take no sympathy for any player so do not expect much because while one player is not working, Dean is at the gym just getting started.
On offense, Dean explains, “I have played tight end and tackle throughout half my career, while I was where they needed me growing up finding my position.” While on defense, Dean exemplifies, “I have been an outside linebacker for the most of my high school football career”. In addition, Wrestling Pacini weighs in at 195 after slimming down after the long football season.
In high school, Dean has bounced around through positions because OA’s lack of talented football players. Dean is very talented they have changed his jersey multiple times to get him off the line to a passing receiver. Dean Pacini is known to be one of the most versatile players in the league. His Coaches use his ability all over the field, but he is also wonderful off the field for his teammates and peers. Dean is the leader of team huddle and is in charge of hyping his team up before big games with motivating speeches. Oliver Ames head coach, Mike Holland believes that Dean Pacini is the most influential player on the team.
As the football season begins to wrap up Dean is getting ready for his extensive college search. When college comes to mind, Dean thinks football should go hand in hand with his academics. Once Dean commits to a New England football school he will be fully applied to making sure that the college that recruited him made the right decision.
Dean is hoping he can go to his preferred college Springfield College, that has been recruiting him throughout this season and the last. Of course Dean would want to go to higher division school, but he will stay in his reach coming from a lower D2 high school. Springfield College is a very good place for this young talented athlete because he can prove himself at a high D3 school his first year. If Dean does exceeds his expectations at Springfield, he can always transfer to a higher college or university after his first year of play. This does not come easy for any athlete. Dean is going to have to work his tail off to prove that he is at a level that is higher than his teammates at the D3 college level. This is even going to be harder for the man himself because Springfield College is one of the most premier D3 college football teams in the Northeast.
Although, no career in football is guaranteed for sure Dean just really enjoys to play the game for what it is. In addition, Dean is going to get hit and banged up over time, but the game of football is crucial to his success on and off the field. With the grit of football on his back it also helps him stay focused in the classroom and budget his time accordingly toward his success.
“I work out every day for the ones I love, that do everything to assist me along my journey to success” Dean expressed. For this kind of athlete, success is inevitable.