As he prepared for the last home game of 2016 at Mount Si High School, senior and varsity football team captain Max Bonda looked back on the year, his four years playing football and the lessons he has learned.

“It was my sophomore year, it was my first game playing on varsity,” Bonda said. “I missed the first half of the season due to injury so it was Homecoming game. It was the first time ever playing on varsity under Friday night lights and I scored my first touchdown then and I still remember the feeling. I went out off on the sideline and got emotional because this is the beginning of something great.”

Bonda is a running back and defensive back for the Wildcats and has been playing football since the third grade.

“This is my 10th year playing football,” He said. “I started playing football in third grade and I’ve played all through Junior Wildcat programs and all the players I’m playing with right now are people I grew up playing with.”

Mount Si football head coach Charlie Kinnune said that because the Valley is a relatively small community, he has known players for many years since they began playing football in the junior programs. Bonda is one of those players Kinnune has known before he played for Mount Si.

“I meet these kids many times when they are 7 and 8 years old in our speed camps, through junior football,” Kinnune said. “I’ve known Max since he was 8. That’s nine or 10 years I’ve known Max and his family. They are great supporters of us and Max rarely misses and opportunity to get better and I love that.”

Bonda has been playing on the varsity team since his sophomore year, but has faced difficulty playing full seasons due to injuries. He said he has suffered from injuries in his sophomore, junior, and senior year. Despite missing games due to injury, he has been one of the team leaders and a strong player.

At the beginning of his senior year, Bonda was chosen as team captain of varsity football by his fellow teammates.

”I was voted captain this year by my teammates which is a complete honor,” he said. “It gives me that leadership role, if we might be down in the game, I’ve got to rally the team together pick everyone back up, there is no getting down on ourselves and we always have to keep our heads up.”

Bonda says his experience in leadership roles in football have translated into his daily life as well and he feels that many of the communicative skills learned through the sport have been beneficial.

“Football translates into the real world completely, because of leadership skills and communication skills,” he said. “In anything your leadership role will help you in the long run.”

After graduating a large senior class the previous school year, this season has been a time of rebuilding, with many tough matches, but during the Homecoming game, Mount Si finished with their highest score all season, 63-21. Bonda contributed three touchdowns to the final score.

“I love the game so much and it’s an honor to be on that field playing for Coach Kinnune and playing with all my teammates out there,” Bonda said. “Football is a lifestyle. I love the game and I always want to have it in my life.”

Evan Pappas/Staff Photo Bonda at practice the day before the homecoming game.