Merrillville tackle makes most of move to inside

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Merrillville defensive line coach Derek Thompson will never forget what Aaron Kaczmarski told him as a freshman.

Thompson said the Pirates' defensive tackle uttered four words he still finds difficult to believe.

"Aaron told me, 'I don't like hitting,' " Thompson said. "I looked at him, and, really, didn't even know what to say."

Now one of the key performers for the Merrillville defense, Kaczmarski not only likes to hit, he loves it.

"I don't know anything else," said Kaczmarski, who leads the Pirates (9-3) into Friday night's Class 5A Regional against Penn (9-3).

"I love doing the dirty work -- whether it's getting double-teamed, or stopping a short-yardage situation. It's all about getting low, getting through someone and helping your team. You're setting it up so someone else can make the tackle."

Kaczmarski makes his fair share of tackles, as well.

He's recorded 58 tackles, including 36 solos, in addition to forcing 20 quarterback hurries. He's also made five tackles for loss totaling 25 yards, broken up three passes, made two sacks and forced a fumble.

Kaczmarski, who earned a full ride to Central Michigan, had to make an adjustment earlier in the season when head coach Zac Wells and Thompson made the decision to move him inside and put James Travis back outside.

After toiling as a defensive end since his days as a sixth-grader at Pierce Middle School, it took the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder a little time to adjust.

"It's worked out for me, and it's worked out for the team," Kaczmarski said. "Each week that goes by, I'm getting better. It's something that's just really worked."

Kaczmarski believes he was always a good defensive end, but noted he likes playing defensive tackle more.

"If I had to play any position, I'd stay down low with the big uglies," he said. "I've been one of the big uglies, and I like it, because you're in the middle of everything. I like playing up front and moving people -- moving bodies -- and doing the dirty work."

Wells said the switch not only helped the Pirates' defense, but Kaczmarski, as well.

"It's forced him to have to play a little bit lower, but it really has improved his game," Wells said. "He's progressing and his game is progressing. He's gotten more and more consistent."

Thompson said Kaczmarski's work ethic and leadership qualities have impressed the coaching staff.

"From what I've seen, you're going to have to look far and wide to find a more dedicated guy," Thompson said. "He's one of the hardest workers I've ever seen."

What Kaczmarski could likely use, though, is a little bit better footwork.

"Aaron has big feet and runs in concrete, but he does his best," Thompson said.

As one might suspect, Thompson, and some of Kaczmarski's teammates, like to pick on Aaron's supposedly slow feet.

"We were doing bag drills one day," Thompson said. "I through it down and he tripped over it. I told him it was coming again, and did it again. He tripped over it again. He couldn't get his feet over the bag. I think he was mad at me for about 30 minutes. He told me later he was mad at himself, because he couldn't get his feet up even when he knew it was coming."

What Kaczmarski and this band of Pirates are really up for is Friday night's regional showdown with the Kingsmen.

"I don't want to stop playing now," Kaczmarski said. "I want to keep it going. It's my last year. I don't want the train to stop."