Pitch and catch.
West Aurora junior Andrew Kolich has taken part in the age-old drill through much of his football life that started at age 4, usually on the throwing end since he mostly played quarterback.
In the past year, however, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound Kolich has found himself on the opposite end of it.
The good thing?
As a receiver, Andrew Kolich might be a natural.
“I really do think he could become a big-time wide receiver,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “He’s only a junior, and he’s starting to believe.”
Kolich, who also handles punting and holding duties, leads the Blackhawks with 34 receptions for 516 yards and four touchdowns.
His connection with fellow junior Gino Martino seems to be growing by the week for West Aurora (3-4).
“We’ve been close since eighth grade,” Martino said.
That’s when Martino moved from St. Charles to Aurora. Both Kolich and Martino attended Herget Middle School, becoming fast friends off the field.
On the field, they competed at quarterback.
“My freshman year, I was the starting quarterback for the sophomore team and he was the freshman team QB,” Kolich said. “Last year, we changed.”
The coronavirus pandemic delayed the fall season in 2020, but Eimer and his staff were able to conduct workouts. A growth spurt gave Martino’s game a boost, and he won the competition to be the starter.
That’s when Kolich was asked to switch positions.
His reaction?
“If it was best for the team, I’d do it,” Kolich said. “Whatever it took to get out there and play.”
He faced more challenges, though. Not only did he have to learn the new position, Kolich was behind starters in senior Matt Brown and junior Chris Stinson.
“I didn’t get the playing time I wanted, but I kept working,” Kolich said.
Whatever it takes.
“That’s two very good receivers he got to learn behind,” Martino said. “And then last summer, Andrew put in a whole bunch of work. A lot of hours, me and him.”
Pitch and catch. Again.
“I feel like you could see on the field a big connection between us,” Martino said. “We’ve always been really close off the field.
“Andrew was always showing up, putting in the hours this summer — before camp and after, before lifting, after lifting, throwing and staying after practice like we’re doing now.”
If Martino wasn’t available, Kolich had his brother Ethan, a freshman, throw to him.
Martino and Kolich, joined by the 6-5 Stinson, have continued that practice this fall, throwing and catching before and after team practices.
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“Every single practice,” Martino said. “Doing that builds a big connection. I feel like we’re on the same page when it’s Friday night.”
Stinson has 26 receptions for 268 yards, and the numbers for both receivers are likely to pick up in the final two games of the regular season with the loss of Jeremiah Johnson to a season-ending injury two weeks ago at Yorkville.
Johnson, who has a team-high 375 yards rushing, still ranks second in receiving with 28 catches for 277 yards.
Kolich, who doesn’t have a favorite route, has been working on his hands. He has turned into a reliable receiver, highlighted by seven catches for 160 yards and a pair of TDs in a 28-21 win over Plainfield Central.
“That was a coming-out party for Andrew,” Eimer said. “He has all the tools.”
Kolich, who also plays basketball and competes in track, attended several college summer camps and hopes to play at the next level. He said he will be sending out highlight tapes after the season ends.
“I knew he was good, but he did surprise me with how well he has come on,” said Stinson, who recently visited Illinois and has game-day visits scheduled at Northern Illinois and Cincinnati. “Kolich can block, and he can catch anything that’s thrown to him. He’s a true receiver, now.”
The Blackhawks finish at home against Plainfield North (5-2) and at Minooka (3-4). A pair of one-point losses severely hurt their playoff chances and still sting.
“Sometimes, we just don’t finish,” Kolich said. “It could have been totally different.”
But Eimer noted a number of teams with four wins could still get in.
“We’re going out every single day and giving it our best,” Kolich said. “It’s not done until it’s done.”