Student Shoutout: Hoover's Aaron Viscounte 'Leads by Example'

Consistent is the best way to describe Aaron Viscounte. In the weight room, he works as hard as anyone. In the classroom he has a 3.832 GPA that’s drawing attention from the Ivy League.

“He’s been a leader by example,” coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “He doesn’t say a lot, he just goes to work. He’s made football a priority in his life. Kids look up to him because of his work ethic — more doing than saying.”

Viscounte’s work paid off; he was named first team All-Federal League and first team All-Stark County by the coaches, first team All-Stark County by the Canton Repository and second team All-Northeast Inland District by the Associated Press.

His teammates also named him one of four team captains before the season began.

“That was an honor,” Viscounte said. “It was great to have all of my friends look up to me like that.”

It wasn’t always easy, went 3-7 this year and rode a five-game losing streak into their . But Viscounte kept his teammates focused.

“During all my practices and my games, even though we didn’t have that great of a season, I always kept a positive attitude,” Viscounte said. “I always told my teammates we had a great chance of winning the next game and teammates always believed we could win.”

It must have rubbed off. Even though Jackson still had an outside chance at a playoff bid and was heavily favored, Hoover ended those dreams with , sending seniors like Viscounte out in style.

Viscounte’s competitiveness is what drives his work ethic, even in the classroom. He’s been named to the honor roll each year at Hoover High in addition to being a three-time academic letterman. All his success has the attention from a number of Division I schools, but the Ivy League ones interest him the most.

“The academics are the main thing I’m looking for in my colleges,” Viscounte said. “The Ivy League has that and plays a very high level of football.”

Whatever school he decides to attend, he knows he wants to get involved in medicine — either sports medicine or pre-med.

“I’ve grown up with people helping me out and I’ve always wanted to repay them.” Viscounte said. “Anytime I’ve had an injury or anything, people have rushed over to get me back to on the field.”

He credits his choice in career path to Nick Plazak’s anatomy class, specifically the way his teacher helped prepare him and the other students for life after high school.

“He taught me everything I needed to know to make it in the outside world,” Viscounte said. “He gave us the opportunity to write out own resume, which helped us in finding a job and with college applications.”

Outside of school, Viscounte plays intramural basketball at and attends the Uniontown Church of Christ. He’s attended church his whole life.

“I go diligently every Sunday,” Viscounte said. “I believe that if you believe in God and that anything can happen, he’s going to help you accomplish that. That’s one of the main reasons why I go.”