Homer’s Jackson Snaric seals state championship victory with interception despite disability
Athlete of the Week
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Homer’s Jackson Snaric is like any other athlete.
“He’s a huge energy player, he brings a lot of energy to this team, especially on defense and it’s great having him,” teammate CJ Burns said.
Snaric competes in multiple sports, including football, basketball, soccer and track. He also goes through highs and lows like other athletes.
”Toward the end of the season, I was definitely in my head a little bit, because I was getting really tired,” Snaric said. “But when it came to game days and close to games, I got out of that mentality and wanted to really play and just go out there and ball.”
The only visible difference is Snaric was born with Poland Syndrome, a birth defect that impacts the muscles and use of one side of the body.
”It happens in the womb, just a lack of circulation and then just causes deformities in the arm, and just like left upper body,” said Snaric, who plays with casting wrap over his left forearm and hand.
However, it did not stop him from coming up with the biggest play in the Division III state championship game Saturday against the Kenai Central Kardinals.
In the fourth quarter of a one-possession game, the Homer cornerback used his right arm and body to intercept a Kenai throw with four minutes, all but securing the state championship.
”I’ve been waiting to make a really good play this season, and [I] got the opportunity in the fourth quarter, sealed the game,” Snaric said.
”Jackson has been doing that all season," Homer head coach Justin Zank added. “He did it all last year as well, when we needed a big-time play, the defense came up with it.”
Snaric isn’t just another player, but an impact player for the state-champion Homer Mariners.
”It doesn’t even really come up in practice and hasn’t since he started playing for us,” Zank said of Snaric’s disability. “People will underestimate him, and they’ll kick to him — he’s one of our kick returners — and they’ll throw on him, and he makes them pay.”
A championship moment Snaric has been preparing for all his life.
”Don’t give up and put in the hours off the field, even if nobody is watching, because I know I definitely put in some hours when there’s nobody else really there to watch,” he said.
It was a moment that ended with him helping hoist the championship trophy.
“I want to prove that I can be just as good — or better — than everyone else even with the disability, and I think I can prove that pretty well,” Snaric said.
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