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Defensive stinger
Published 12:24pm Tuesday, October 16, 2012Although they just suffered a tough 36–28 loss to the undefeated Detroit Lakes Lakers, the Perham Yellowjackets are having a tremendous year at 6–1, thanks in part to senior wide receiver and strong safety Josh Nordick.
Just one interception away from tying the school’s career pick record, Nordick will have at least two more games to reach his goal.
Nordic said he has always been interested in football.
“I started when I was a little kid playing catch with my dad in the yard,” he said. “I played fifth- and sixth-grade flag football, and tackle started in seventh grade. I’ve always been decent at it, but I have really grown into it the last two years.”
When he isn’t on the gridiron, Nordic is playing basketball, spending time with friends or studying for school, he said.
Nordick played baseball through his sophomore year but decided to leave his spring open to focus more on football, basketball and academics, he said.
The Yellowjackets have a big game coming up Wednesday against East Grand Forks.
“They have a good, athletic quarterback, so we will need to contain him,” Nordick said. “We need to do the basics; put points on the board and keep them out of the end zone as much as possible.”
Nordick credits much of the team’s success to excellent coaching.
“The coaches do a great job working with us and breaking down film,” he said. “The coaches have such a passion for the game. You can tell in practice. They bring intensity to every practice and every game.”
Nordick isn’t sure what his plans are for next year, but he knows he wants to continue his education.
He said it would be fun to play football or basketball at the next level, but he doesn’t know if he will further pursue athletics.
Right now, Nordick is taking football one game at a time. His goal for the season is to make it to the state finals.
Last year, the team lost the first game of the state tournament, and even though a lot of good football players from that team graduated, Nordick thinks this year’s team could do better.
“We’re a tighter unit this year,” he said. “This is the closest knit group I’ve ever been a part of. We’re such good friends, and it makes it a lot of fun.”
