Posted: Aug 29, 2013

Sambola Featured in T&G

By Josh Bousquet, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

PAXTON — It is only about 10 miles from Worcester Tech to the Anna Maria campus in Paxton, but the journey felt much longer for Victor Sambola.

The former standout for the Eagles enjoyed a good career at the high school level, but found transition to the collegiate game challenging.

"This is longer than high school," Sambola said. "It's pretty hot out there in two-a-days."

The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder fought through the initial difficulty, however, and became a productive member of the AmCats' defense. Sambola played in nine games in his freshman campaign, recording 21 total tackles, including 1.5 for a loss.

Now entering his sophomore year, Sambola feels much more confident in his abilities.

"Last year, camp was pretty hard for me because it was my first year and I didn't know what to expect, Sambola said. "But this year I knew what to expect, I prepared for it and it's been going pretty good so far."

Sambola put together a couple of impressive games as a freshman. He recorded six tackles and recovered a fumble against Worcester State. He also had another six-tackle performance, including one for a loss, as the AmCats closed the season with a 44-42, triple-overtime win against Husson.

The Anna Maria program is entering only its fifth season, a situation that allows some younger players to play bigger roles than they may have been able to in other programs. It is a dynamic the coaches have embraced and tried to cultivate. Sambola has been impressed by the attention he has received from the staff, including head coach Vince Sinagra and defensive coordinator Andrew Dalton.

"Going to the meetings, step by step, helping us with different forms, the little things," Sambola said of the roles the coaches play. "If you have any mistakes, he corrects you. Even if you get it right, he's still gonna tell you you can do better."

The mindset has trickled down to the players as well, including senior Tony Valente, one of Anna Maria's leaders among its linebacker corps.

"We have to set the tone for everyone else below us to step up and be a leader," Valente said. "I feel we're obligated to show these younger guys what it's all about and the winning mentality to go forward."

Sinagra believes that being such a young program has led to his players being so open to embracing leadership roles and helping to bring along the younger players.

"They know when they were that young, they had no leadership, or the coaches led," the head coach said. "And now you're starting to see a lot of the upperclassmen taking it to heart."

Success hasn't been easy to come by for the AmCats. They went a combined 0-19 their first two seasons, and are coming off consecutive 2-8 years. That has not kept the team from developing a culture that believes it can be successful, though.

"My goal is to help the team be the number-one tackling team in the conference," Sambola said. "We just all have to work together and do our job."

That aim could be attainable, as Sambola is part of a linebacking group that includes senior Jordan Koehler (95 tackles in 2012), junior Kevin Card (92 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss including 2.5 sacks) and Valente (51 tackles, three fumble recoveries).

That doesn't mean that Sambola is content to sit back and let them lead the way, however.

"We upperclassmen have to step up," he said. "The freshmen have been pretty good this year."

Just like one who made the journey to Paxton last season.