For those watching in the stands, those 4th and long punts are watched with bated breaths and anticipation. To Parker Pastorello, our athlete of the week, it’s second nature.

Pastorello is a native of Mandeville, Louisiana, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. As a punter and defensive back for Mandeville High School, he helped lead his team to the 5A State Semi-Championships for three years, and achieved a First Team All-District spot to cap off his high school career.

One of Pastorello’s teammates at Mandeville High was Parker Orgeron, the son of now-famous LSU head coach, Ed Orgeron. Coach Orgeron took notice of Pastorello’s talent all through his senior year, and gave his personal reference to the coaches at his own alma mater, our Northwestern State University.

In his time here at NSU, Pastorello has not only excelled in school and on the field, but also in campus leadership organizations. He is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, and has dedicated many service hours to helping coach young children, cleaning up the community and assisting in disaster relief in the Southern US.

Now in his senior year, Pastorello has high hopes for the Demon football team as they adjust to their new coaching staff. He sees this team as having the potential to clinch a conference championship, and he’s doing his best to contribute to this atmosphere of success. He has consistently averaged over 40 yards per game, with eight punts going over 50 yards last season and a career-long staggering 71-yard punt against Nicholls University last fall.

One of Pastorello’s most memorable accomplishments, however, is the game against UCA last fall. On a fake punt play, Pastorello threw a 58-yard touchdown pass, which demonstrates his range and flexibility as an athlete. In recognition of his leadership, Coach Laird appointed him to sit on the teams Leadership Committee.

Pastorello plans on graduating this spring with a degree in Health and Exercise Science, with a concentration in Kinesiology. He then wishes to pursue a graduate program in Sports Administration, with the goal of becoming an Athletic Director at a university, and eventually owning his own sports complex.

Photo by Chris Reich.