Seven Hills' Max Pochobradsky tabbed as an all-American

MADISONVILLE - When Seven Hills' Max Pochobradsky woke up Dec. 9, his mom offered him congratulations.

Problem was the Seven Hills senior didn't understand what she meant by that until she told him to check his phone. That's when he discovered he had been selected among 56 players to be part of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-American team. He was chosen as a midfielder.

"I was surprised more than anything. I didn't think I would (be on the team)," he said. "It was fulfilling, but at the same time I know there are a lot of players that, if games went the other way, they'd be in the same position."

Pochobradsky keeps his goals listed on the background of his cell phone and added that after being the Miami Valley Conference player of the year and Division III player of the year, becoming an All-American was the next logical goal for him to reach.

It was a fitting end to a high school playing career which also saw him on the all-conference and all-district teams the last three years, and named a second-team all-state performer his junior season.

He has done this all while switching positions on the field. He was a midfielder during his first two seasons before moving back to defense his junior year. He then split time as a midfielder before moving to center back because two defenders went down with injuries this season.

Pochobradsky finished with 14 goals and tallied 15 assists in 19 games this season.

"He is one of the most versatile players I've worked with," Seven Hills head coach Terry Nicholl said. "You can play him just about anywhere on the field."

Max's favorite moment this year came when they won the MVC to christen the school's new soccer field. The title was especially memorable because the Stingers defeated teams that feature a lot of club players such as Cincinnati Country Day's Nathan Gibson and Summit Country Day's Austin Smythe.

Pochobradsky currently is not signed to play soccer in college, though he wants to. He said he started the recruiting process early in high school, but has been stuck in a rut.

"There's an insane amount of competition and I think I went about it all wrong," he said.

He spent time communicating with schools, but stopped. In another instance thought he was close to making a decision, but the team went another direction with another player.

Now, he is nursing a sprained ankle but hopes to be back playing this weekend with his club team that's also coached by Nicholl. The team is playing in its final opportunity to qualify for nationals and it's also one of the last opportunities coaches will have to see him play before he has to turn in applications the first of the year.

"Wherever he winds up, he will be a great asset to that team," Nicholl said.

Wherever he chooses, more goals will sure follow and be kept on his cell phone's background.

"I've accomplished everything I put on my background, now I need to find something else," Pochobradsky said.