by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
Since graduating from Sartell High School in 2004, Marshall Pantano’s advances in the field of football have been those of a virtual juggernaut.
He is now negotiating with an agent about the possibility of becoming a pro in the National Football League.
At 6 feet 4 inches and 170 pounds, Pantano is indeed a juggernaut on the field, one of the best tacklers in football history. As a recent member of the St. Cloud Renegades, Pantano scored 75 tackles in the 2012 season, not to mention five sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception. He was named most valuable player in the defensive category that year. He was awarded All-American honors for his time with the Renegades, a team that is owned by Brett and Danelle Weaver of Sartell.
When he played defense for three years at Crown College in St. Bonafacius, Pantano scored so many tackles he was named as one of the top 10 tackles in the nation.
Recently, Pantano played for the Casino Bowl for which he was awarded defensive MVP honors for his performances, which included three solo sacks in that game. He also played on Team USA in Costa Rica where he achieved 12 tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hurries, one pass defended, one fumble recovered and two catches for a total of 36 yards offensive.
Most recently, Pantano moved temporarily to Illinois to pursue his career in personal training. He just signed with the Chicago Mustangs for which he will play mainly defense as an end/linebacker hybrid.
Before leaving California for Illinois, Pantano was invited to work out with the New York Jets in training in southern California, which he did. He and his wife, Jessica, live in Vista in southern California. Pantano is living in Illinois currently for career purposes. Jessica, a native southern Californian, is a professional hair stylist. Pantano has a daughter, Madison, 5; and Jessica has a son, Austin, 8. The couple is currently expecting another child.
Football is most certainly a Pantano family trait. Marshall’s father, Ken, who still lives in Sartell with wife Jill, played high school football, as well as minor-league baseball. Marshall’s younger brothers, Mitchell and Mason, also played football when they attended Crown College, like their older brother.
Pantano joined the U.S. Marines in 2008 and played football for the All-Marine Corps Team and was its defensive captain for two years. From the very beginning, it was clear Pantano’s love of football has propelled him, like a juggernaut, to one success after another.
Looking fierce under his helmet, Marshall Pantano achieved a record number of tackles while playing for Crown College.
Marshall Pantano (number 47) has been speaking with agents from the National Football League. The 2004 Sartell High School graduate has been playing football for a number of teams ever since his high school years and is known as one of the best defensive tackles ever.
Marshall and Jessica Pantano, now expecting a child, live in southern California, although Marshall is temporarily living in Illinois for career purposes.