Dominant linebacker played through pain

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 | 10:21 a.m.

The stoic expression on Chad Pool's face belied the pain in his shoulder as the Las Vegas High defender exited the field during a week three win over Cimarron-Memorial in September.

Holding one arm in the other, the junior inside linebacker came to the bench after aggravating a near-separation of his shoulder, an injury that flared up the previous week against Clark.

For many players, such a condition might have been season-ending, at the very least enough to keep them from returning to the field that night. For Pool, the emotional leader of the Wildcats' defense, it was merely another obstacle to overcome.

"It gave me problems throughout the season, but I've always thought you could play through the pain," Pool said. "If it wasn't dragging off the side of me, I wanted to play."

Pool went on to anchor the Wildcat defense from his spot in the middle, helping the unit become one of the area's best by season's end. Perhaps more than any other player, he epitomized Las Vegas' tough "no-excuses" attitude, earning him the Sun's 2001 State Defensive Player of the Year award.

"Excuses don't do you any good," said Wildcats coach Kris Cinkovich. "We talk about how we live in a result-oriented society, and excuses are an easy way out."

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Pool refused to let the injury, or a perceived size disadvantage, slow him down, the same way his team refused to let an eight-hour bus ride to Reno or unfamiliar near-freezing, windy conditions affect it in the 4A championship game. Las Vegas defeated McQueen 17-10 in overtime to claim the title on Dec. 1.

"We had a no-excuses thing going on this year," Pool said. "Coach Cinkovich made it clear excuses weren't going to get it done. We knew the northern teams usually win with toughness, so coach Cinkovich wanted to instill that in us."

Of course, Cinkovich and his staff kept a close eye on Pool's shoulder throughout the season, making sure their top defender wasn't endangering himself.

"He was hurt seriously, but he wasn't injured," Cinkovich said. "What I watch for is whether it's affecting a kid's technique, because that's when you worry. But in Chad's case it never did. He never flinched."

Far from it, Pool consistently showed an ability to find the ball and bring down its carrier, racking up a whopping 132 tackles, including 74 solo takedowns and 16 for losses. He also had six sacks.

He played the role of quarterback for the defense, reading opposing offenses and calling out plays for Cinkovich and defensive coordinator Chris Faircloth.

Best of all for the Wildcats, after physical therapy in the offseason Pool will be back next year for his third varsity season. He will try to lead Southern Nevada's oldest high school in its hunt for a second straight state trophy.

"I would worry about a kid getting this kind of notoriety (as a junior), but first, he deserves it all," Cinkovich said. "And second, it won't make him complacent, just more hungry."