SIMONS' THINKING PUTS HIM A LEG UP.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer NEWHALL - Will Simons is one of those guys who seems to know everything. Make that almost everything. The Hart High senior's knowledge has earned him a 4.6 grade-point average and aspirations aspirations npl → aspiraciones fpl (= ambition); ambición f aspirations npl (= hopes, ambition) → aspirations fpl of attending Princeton. His brains are evident as a football player, too, as the kicker Kicker A right, warrant, or some other feature added to a debt instrument to make it more desirable to potential investors. Notes: The ability to trade a bond or other debt instrument in for stock may entice investors, if they feel the stock will appreciate. rattles rattles vernacular for purulent bronchopneumonia in foals with pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi; name derived from the moist, loud crackles heard on auscultation of the lungs. off tips about technique and factors that need to be taken into consideration. But what Simons doesn't know is what it feels like to let down his team. He has made both of his two field-goal attempts this season, is perfect in extra-point attempts and consistently puts the ball in the end zone on kickoffs. ``I've gone over it thousands of times in my head, what I'd do if I missed, the big game, championship on the line,'' Simons said. ``But you don't do yourself any good thinking about that. Hopefully, I'll never know what it feels like.'' One of the biggest kicks of his career was in this year's season opener. Hart scored as time ran out to close within one of Los Alamitos Los Alamitos (lôs ăləmē`təs, lŏs), city (1990 pop. 11,676), Orange co., NE of Long Beach, S Calif., in a suburban area; inc. 1960. Los Alamitos Racetrack and U.S. military installations are nearby. . The Indians INDIANS. The aborigines of this country are so called. 2. In general, Indians have no political rights in the United States; they cannot vote at the general elections for officers, nor hold office. were so excited, they drew a penalty for excessive celebrating, requiring a 35-yard extra-point attempt by Simons. Simons' kick was good and the game ended in a tie. ``I like to go in there with the pressure and the crowd yelling yell v. yelled, yell·ing, yells v.intr. To cry out loudly, as in pain, fright, surprise, or enthusiasm. v.tr. To utter or express with a loud cry. See Synonyms at shout. n. and everyone counting on you,'' Simons said. ``But so many of our games last year were blowouts, it didn't really matter what I did most of the time. I like it when I do get those situations. I think of it as just another game.'' The Indians agree he's hard to rattle and didn't notice any sign of nerves even against Los Alamitos. ``He seemed fine to me,'' teammate Paxton Howard said. ``I'm sure he had major butterflies but·ter·fly n. 1. Any of various insects of the order Lepidoptera, characteristically having slender bodies, knobbed antennae, and four broad, usually colorful wings. 2. going through him, but he was calm and did what he always does. ... We're always confident in him because he always comes through.'' Simons, who has been on varsity since the middle of his sophomore season, has been a kicker since he started playing football in eighth grade. Simons, 17, grew up playing soccer and, although he does not play competitively anymore, likes to play for fun. The soccer background helps ``immensely,'' he said in regards to developing his kicking motion and leg strength. He's not sure much else carries over, though. ``It's actually more like golf than soccer,'' Simons said. ``There's a lot of thinking and technique involved. You have to keep your head down and follow through and things like that. Kicking a soccer ball is much easier, you can just kick it as hard as you can.'' Simons works on his craft year-round. Since he is also a backup receiver, he does drills with the rest of the team during practices, but estimates he spends at least a half-hour a day during the season working on his kicking. The kicking sessions are less frequent in the offseason, but he remains a student of the game. He attended camps and made some of his most significant strides by taking lessons from former UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and current arena league kicker Chris Sailer Sail´er n. 1. A sailor. 2. A ship or other vessel; - with qualifying words descriptive of speed or manner of sailing; as, a heavy sailer; a fast sailer s>. . ``He's got a strong leg and a great work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work ,'' Hart coach Mike Herrington said of Simons. ``He's real valuable. When you have someone who can consistently put the ball in the end zone, the other team always has to start from the 20. That's a great weapon for the defense.'' Simons hopes he can be a great weapon for a college team, too. He calls Princeton ``by far my No. 1 choice'' of colleges but is also considering Stanford, USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. and UCLA, schools where he figures he would have to walk on as a football player. ``Education is my top priority by far,'' Simons said. ``If I had to pick between academics and football, I'd definitely choose the school with the best academic opportunity. But I would like to do both if there is that opportunity. ... ``Until this year, I never even really thought about (kicking) beyond high school. Right now, I think I could be competitive anywhere I go.'' SIMONS FILE Name: Will Simons Team: Hart football Position: Kicker Year: Senior Quote: ``(Kickers kickers See bells and whistles. ) probably don't get as much attention as they should. It can be a one- or two-point game and it all comes down to them. He doesn't get a lot of credit, but he definitely deserves it.''- Teammate Paxton Howard, on Will Simons CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Hart High's Will Simons is not only one of the area's top kickers, but he's also an excellent student. Simons is leaning toward attending Princeton next fall. John Lazar/Staff Photographer Box: SIMONS FILE (see text) |
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