By Tom Williams

Springfield’s Visingardi brings sense of relief

The 3-0 Tigers depend on the 5-foot-10 senior for their sure points.

1That’s because Evans has faith in teammate Bryan Visingardi’s powerful kicking leg.

“He’s money,” Evans said. “It would be fun to see what he would do if he [played] college.

“I’m anxious to see if he does go to college and kick. I’d watch every single one of his games.”

While college coaches have made inquiries about the Tigers senior, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Visingardi said he’s only concern with the present.

“It’s the first 3-0 team that I’ve ever been on,” said Visingardi of the Tigers’ best start in quite a few years. “We’re in a better spot to go into [league play].”

Friday, the Tigers face their toughest test of the season when their archrival — South Range — comes to Springfield High to open the Inter Tri-County League Tier One season.

“We’re always excited to play South Range,” said Visingardi who already has three letters for placekicking. “They are always a good team and they are always a challenge for us.”

The Raiders (2-1) haven’t lost a league game since late in the 2004 season.

Visingardi’s leg will be a factor. He’s averaging 36.25 yards per punt. Of his 14 kickoffs, six have gone into the end zone for touchbacks. His three field goals include a 32-yarder in the final minute of an 18-15 win over Youngstown Christian plus a 48-yarder.

“He can pin their offense inside the 10 or not let them get a return,” said Evans, Visingardi’s holder. “That’s big; that helps our defense a lot with field position.

“I’ve been holding for him for three years,” Evans said. “And he’s gotten better and better each year. He doesn’t just kick extra points any more, he can do everything.

“It’s really nice to know as a quarterback that if we stall out within the 30 or so, [we’ve] got that weapon where he can hit that field goal. It takes a whole lot of pressure off of me and the offense.”

After last year’s 2-8 season, Springfield coach Sean Guerriero challenged Visingardi to add punting and kickoffs to his placekicking responsibilities.

“That’s one thing about his character — whatever you challenge him to do, he’s going to step up and do it,” Guerriero said. “So if we need him for an onside or a pooch, Bryan never turns down the opportunity.

“For a kicker to be that consistent and be so good as what he does, it’s unbelievable.”

Visingardi wasn’t always a kicker. Growing up in Poland, he played tight end when he was on Little Bulldogs teams and the middle school’s eighth-grade team.

He also played soccer and that influenced him to try placekicking when he was a freshman at Springfield.

Now that he punts, Visingardi has to remain alert when the Tigers’ offense has the ball. But he chooses not to go overboard.

“I try not to think [too much] about [what’s next],” Visingardi said. “I don’t want to get nervous so I try to block everything out.”

He credits lessons from assistant coach Jim Schuler and Thunder kicker Derek Schorejs for helping improve his hang time and distance.

Visingardi says the game-winner against Youngstown Christian “was probably my most exciting kick. It was my most important kick because I was under pressure so it felt real good.”

Guerriero credits Visingardi (3.86 grade-point average) and Evans (3.72) for hard work that has elevated their skills.

“Bryan works on all the little things a kicker needs to work on,” Guerriero said. “He’s very critical of himself, which I think a kicker needs to be to be a good kicker.

“He works on a ton of little things,” the Tigers’ second-year coach said. “He talks about his foot placement, his alignment, timing with the snaps and the holder. He’s just so hard on himself but I think that’s what makes Bryan a player.”

About his quarterback, Guerriero said, “He works on the little things, too. Matt put in a lot of time in the summer to get where he is at right now.”

Evans has completed 18 of 31 passes for 273 yards, two touchdowns and three pickoffs.

Evans appreciates that his teammates’ hard word in the offseason has paid off in the victory column.

“It was a tough winter and it made me better,” Evans said. “I think it made our offense better. Some of the receivers came in and threw with me. We really got a connection there, a chemistry. That was big.”

Guerriero is pleased to have senior leaders who excel in the classroom, saying they “put the extra mile into it. That’s important to our kids, that’s something that I preach, that you are on time, that you are doing your work.”

In the spring, Visingardi is a third baseman for the varsity baseball team and Evans runs track. Neither is certain where they will be next fall.

“I want to play a sport,” Visingardi said. “Either one would be OK with me.”

At 5-8, 165 pounds, Evans doubts he will be behind a center.

“Being a quarterback, you kind of have to be tall or fast. I’m neither of those,” he laughed. “If I do [play football], maybe I’ll just be a holder. I’m enjoying high school. I haven’t really thought about it.”

Perhaps it’s because he’s busy focusing on the Tigers’ biggest game of their varsity careers.

williams@vindy.com