Have you ever heard of Lou "the Toe" Groza? He retired from professional football in 2000 and set numerous kicking records along the way. Well, the Piedmont varsity has its own "Toe," Ale Chioda.
Ale is a 5'10", 175 pound junior kicker who wears #99. His secret to kicking? Soccer. Football is Ale's secondary sport - soccer is his first. He says, "When I kick for football I have to strike the ball in a way different than when I kick for soccer. I use the side of my foot more in soccer."
Well, whatever, he is doing, it works. In two games Ale has been 100% perfect on points after touchdowns and field goals. In the game Friday night (which Piedmont won, 28 - 25), Piedmont scored four touchdowns and Ale scored all the points-after. He also handles the kick-offs for the Piedmont Highlanders.
The next game is at Albany, a 15-minute drive from Piedmont. If you want to see Ale in action, come to the 5:15 pm varsity game at Albany High School on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012.
