The Northwest Conference named a Linfield student the football defensive student-athlete of the week on Sept. 11.

Linebacker Patrick Pipitone ‘19 was picked after his performance in the Wildcat’s first game of the season, against the Carroll College Fighting Saints in Montana. He led the ‘Cat’s defense with 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. He also helped set the team up to take the lead in the third quarter with an interception that resulted in a 10-yard return.

Kelly Bird, the sports information director at Linfield said, “This is really [Pipitone’s] year to be the captain of the defense.” He said Pipitone has worked extremely hard, especially in the weight room, to get to that point.

“He’s been three years an understudy, and now he has a starring role,” Bird said.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound linebacker played in two games as a first-year student, 10 games as a sophomore and all 11 games as a junior.

Pipitone’s former teammate and assistant coach, Jason Farlow ‘18 said, “Last year he was the fourth linebacker. Every time he went in, he could be counted on to do the job and to bring others up with him.”

“Pipitone is the only senior linebacker this year,” Farlow said. “His hard work and attitude reflect on the team. He said a lot of players have bought into what it takes to be a Linfield football player because of what they see in him.

Farlow said, “He is a great role model for the future of the program.”

Pipitone said he started playing football in eighth grade. “No one in my family is really an athlete. It was just kind of all on my own. I have never had family pressure to do it,” he said.

The linebacker said his grandfather, Phil Pipitone, is the one who inspires him—not just in football but in all aspects of life. The player said, “I grew up watching him struggle with and deal with Parkinson’s disease.” Pipitone said that is a “big factor” and “an inspiration in how I approach things.”

Pipitone said his personal motto is: “Just strive to be the best person, best version of you.”

Phil Rombach, assistant linebacker coach, said, “Pip is an outstanding linebacker, but more importantly he is a phenomenal young man. He experiences success on the football field as well as in other areas due to these qualities. I look forward to watching Pip graduate and succeed in life.”