Max Bershadskiy used to play quarterback.
Now he’s a quarterback’s best friend.
Bershadskiy is a senior at George Washington High School, and when he got to school as a freshman, he wanted to play football.
He never played organized football, but during his days at Baldi Middle School, he threw the ball all over the place when playing with friends during freetime.
So when he started playing in high school, he naturally went out for the only position he had any experience playing.
“I thought I was pretty good when I got here and it was really the only position I knew how to play since I never played football before I got to Washington,” Bershadskiy said. “Quarterback was the only position I really knew.
“It was difficult, it’s a lot harder to play high school football. I had to learn everyone’s job, I had to execute, I had to remember all the plays. But I did it until sophomore year when I realized I wasn’t good enough to play quarterback at the varsity level. But I knew I could play something else, so I asked if I could move and I started playing tight end. It was better for my size, it was better for everything.”
But Bershadskiy didn’t stop there.
He learned how to play many positions, and it’s what makes him such a valuable player for the Eagles.
He can still play quarterback. His natural position is tight end. When the Eagles use a fullback, he lines up there, and he’s also able to play wide receiver. Oh, and on defense, he plays linebacker.
While Bershadskiy admits he had a lot to learn to be able to play all the positions, he credits the Eagles coaching staff with helping him learn what he needs to know to stay on the field.
“It’s a lot to learn, but we learn everything step by step,” Bershadskiy said. “And since we’re learning it step by step, it’s easier to learn that way. When I learn what every position does, it’s easier to understand. The ins and outs of every play. I love it. I love learning about things.
“If I could study anything, I think it would be football. I know it’s not something you study in school, but I love learning about football. I love learning new things. I like breaking it down. I think that’s why I like playing other positions, you have to learn before you can play them and I like learning about them.”
He’s also learning to be a better teammate.
Not that Bershadskiy is a bad teammate, he’s always been one of the best and most likable guys on the team, but now he’s taking on a role of leadership. That can be tough at times, but Bershadskiy is finding his voice.
He’s also found other ways to set an example.
“I am kind of a leader that leads by actions. I’m not a very vocal leader on the field, but I try to set a good example for the younger guys and really everyone,” Bershadskiy said. “I’m a captain. That means a lot. I’ve been putting in work nonstop for four years, so it was great to be recognized by players and the coaches. I wasn’t thinking about it too much and the day before our first game when we were getting our jerseys, I found out. It means a lot.”
So does Washington football.
Washington started the season with an ambitious schedule. It opened with games against Parkland, Chester, Martin Luther King and Appoquinimink, based in Delaware. The Eagles’ only win of those four games was against the Public League squad, but playing tough competition will only help
“We have a tough schedule, and we have the right coaches and players to have us learn from tough games,” Bershadskiy said. “It was fun playing against other teams (outside the Public League). It’s not the same as going against rivals like Northeast, but it’s fun. When you play tough teams, it gets you better. And we want to get better.”
Next year Bershadskiy hopes he can continue to get better while going to college. He’s unsure about playing.
“I love football, but when you play college football, it gets very serious,” said Bershadskiy, who could also play basketball in college, his other sport. “I’m not sure about that. I want to go to college, maybe study sports management.”
Luckily, he has all the support to help him.
He credits his coach and his family with helping him get to where he is.
“Coach (Austin Brasche) is helping the most,” Bershadskiy said. “I come to practice, he’s there every day helping me, helping everyone. He provides me with great opportunities. I’ve met a bunch of people and got to go to a bunch of places because of him.
“My family has been a huge part, always been supportive. I wasn’t allowed to play until high school, but now they take me to 7-on-7 camps, take me to practice, they talk to the coaches, work through problems. They’ve been a huge part. It’s mostly my mom and my dad, but my sister does, too. She helps a lot. She is very helpful, but she lives in Boston now. I have a lot of support.”
