Football
Favorite athlete: Patrick Willis, Linebacker of the San Francisco 49ers
Favorite team: Philadelphia Flyers
Favorite memory competing in sports: Getting big hits every time I step onto the field
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: Earlier this season, while at a passing scrimmage, a teammate of mine pooped his pants because he was unable to hold it in!
Music on iPod: Everything from rock to country, I like all genres
Future plans: I plan to attend college, majoring criminal justice and to join the ROTC program. After college, I plan to pursue my career in the United States Army and to hopefully one day be very wealthy and have a family!
Words to live by: ‘Victory is reserved for those who want it the most.’ – Ken Nase, my first ever football coach
One goal before turning 30: To be ranked as an Army Ranger
One thing people don’t know about me: Most people don’t know that I only started playing football a few years ago. Prior to football, I was an ice hockey goalie from ages 4 to 15.
Zakk Hecht was on his way to a promising career as an ice hockey goalie.
Until, that is, the Souderton senior – at the encouragement of his friends - decided to try his hand at football when he was in eighth grade.
“I found out I was pretty good at it,” Hecht said. “My coach liked me, and it was a lot of fun.”
Coach Ed Gallagher is glad that Hecht – the third in a line of brothers to play at Souderton – opted for the gridiron over the hockey rink. Hecht has been a fixture at linebacker the last two seasons for the Indians.
He’s a really good kid,” the Indians’ coach said. “He runs well to the ball, he’s got good instincts for a linebacker, and he’s a strong, fast, physical kid.”
Beyond the ability he brings to the field, Hecht, according to his coach, is a positive role model for the young players.
“Zakk has acted as a leader,” Gallagher said. “In spite of not being a captain, he’s taken it in a positive way, and he’s also been a good leader for the team.
“A lot of the younger kids really look up to him. He’s involved in a lot of activities here at school, and he’s just a good person. He really is. He’s good to be around.”
Hecht is a member of student council, he is a leader of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and he is a member of the yearbook staff.
He carries the leadership qualities he uses off the field onto the field as well.
“Being a senior linebacker, I know a lot of people look up to me,” he said. “If I do what I’m supposed to do, everyone else will follow my lead also.
“I just try and keep my composure and do everything the best I can – don’t let anything get to me.”
Hecht was having a strong senior season when he was injured during practice several weeks ago. The diagnosis – a strained MCL.
It could have marked the end of Hecht’s final high school season, but he wasn’t about to let that happen.
“It’s my senior year, so I convinced the doctor to let me play again,” he said. “I have a big brace I have to wear. I’d say I’m about 70 percent.
“Because it’s the MCL, it has to heal on its own – I do rehab and ice it constantly.”
Although he hopes to continue his football career at the collegiate level, Hecht acknowledges that he also considers the possibility that this could be his final go-round on the gridiron.
“I think about it a lot,” he said. “I’m just trying to make the most of my senior season and try to do everything I can and not really let it get to me.”
Hecht came from a long line of football players. His brother Kyle played until he was a senior and Nick went on to have a collegiate career at West Chester University.
Zakk, however, opted to follow in the footsteps of his oldest brother Kevin, himself an outstanding ice hockey player. Hecht began play ice hockey when he was four years old and developed into a standout goalie. He played for several travel teams and had a bright future in the sport.
Until football entered the picture.
“I actually was contemplating quitting hockey,” Hecht said. “It just happened that football was starting up at the same time, so I decided to go out and try football.”
It turned out to be a natural fit.
“I’m really not sure what I liked about it,” Hecht said. “I guess I had the knack for football. My coach always says I have a nose for the ball.
“I really liked the hitting aspect of it. I really didn’t get to do much of that as a goalie.”
Not even a broken collarbone that required surgery midway through his first season could deter Hecht, and by the time he was a sophomore, he was seeing some varsity action. He insists he felt no pressure following in the footsteps of an older brother who received a scholarship to play at the collegiate level.
“I used his accomplishments as a goal of mine to match or maybe break,” Zakk said. “Obviously, he was an outstanding player, and I always looked up to him on the field, so I always wanted to play just the way he did.”
As a junior, Hecht became a fixture in the lineup and served notice that he was a force to be reckoned with in the Indians’ district playoff loss to Council Rock South last year.
“He got better as the year went on last year,” Gallagher said. “He had 12 tackles against Council Rock South, so he finished on an upswing.
“I thought he started this year off really well.”
The injury was a setback, but Hecht is playing through it. The Indians – who boast a 4-4 record after eight games – are a long shot to make the playoffs. Two of those losses came in non-league games against perennial district powers Neshaminy and Abington.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating, but the good teams always have the better linemen, which makes me better as a linebacker because I’m constantly having to shed them,” Hecht said. “As a whole team, I think we get better and improve because of the teams we play in our non-league schedule.
“It’s very frustrating to know we might not get into districts because we play tough teams, and we’re better than some of the teams that will. It’s just that they have a better record because they took it easy with their non-league schedule. I believe we’re capable of being a top seed in District One, but those two non-league losses dropped us down a lot.”
Ask Hecht what he’s enjoyed most about playing football, and he points to the friends he’s made.
“I have a group of friends, and we’re all football players, which really made us close,” he said. “I pretty much hang out with all the football players in and out of school.”
Away from football, Hecht has volunteered at summer camp for young children through his church, BranchCreek Community.
His college choice is contingent on whether or not he plays football. While Hecht acknowledges that his first choice is to play at the collegiate level, he is looking into attending a school with an ROTC program. He plans to major in criminal justice.
“I have always been really interested in the army,” he said. “It’s always been a dream of mine. I always wanted to enlist, but my parents wouldn’t let me do that.
“My best possibility is to attend college and also do the ROTC aspect. That’s the best I can get with a full education and a future in the army as well.”
Topping Hecht’s list of potential schools are West Virginia, Toledo, Akron, Maryland and JMU. That list is subject to change.
“If I get offered a (football) scholarship, I would definitely consider it,” he said. “If I was offered a chance to play, I would probably take that offer also.”
Gallagher believes Hecht has a future at the collegiate level.
“He’s a quality young man,” the Indians’ coach said. “He will be someone who will find a home somewhere in college football to play. He’s just a really good kid.”
