Ukrainian Cowboy : Overcoming Obstacles, Chigrin Gets His First Start for Canyon High

“Quit” might never make its way into the ever-expanding vocabulary of Canyon High defensive tackle Konstantin Chigrin.

Chigrin, a native of Ukraine who moved to Canyon Country two years ago, has toiled through weeks of football practice--even though he has spent the season academically ineligible and has yet to strap on a set of shoulder pads on a Friday night.

He might just as well have walked away. Several Canyon players have this season. But Chigrin, whose academic struggles can be attributed in part to the language barrier, continues to suit up and sweat each day, just as he continues to improve on his halting enunciation of English.

Quit now? Nyet on his life.

“Why go all the way to the 10th week and then quit?” Chigrin said. “Those guys who want to quit, seriously, I don’t understand that. If I go, I’m going all the way to the finish line.”

Finally, he will get his chance. Chigrin, who gained academic eligibility this week, is scheduled to start tonight when Canyon travels to Torrance High for a 7:30 game against Peninsula in the opening round of the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Canyon (3-5-1) finished third in the Foothill League at 2-2 to squeeze into the playoffs in what has been a disappointing and tumultuous season. Seven players quit after a 13-13 tie against Alemany. Four returned within days. This week, tight end Rob Varnon quit for the second time, tailback Jeff McKinley was declared academically ineligible and backup quarterback Brian Bialas was voted off the team by teammates.

But attrition is not the reason Chigrin will play. Ability is.

“He is the best defensive lineman on the team,” assistant coach Paul Gomes said. “No question. That’s why he is going to start.”

At 5-feet-9, 175 pounds, Chigrin has impressed coaches and confounded blockers with his quickness and tenacity.

“Our guys can’t block him,” Coach Larry Mohr said. “So, (Peninsula) shouldn’t be able to stop him, either. He is just relentless.”

In what has become the highlight of afternoon practice, Chigrin squares off with senior tackle Mark Manskar (6-7, 250), who is ranked among the nation’s top 10 high school linemen by USA Today and is on every major college’s recruiting list. Chigrin gives as good as he gets in the matchups.

“He knocks the . . . out of me sometimes and I hear it from the guys,” Manskar said. “He’s short and solid and he hits like a rock. And he’s quick.”

Determined and opportunistic might be better adjectives to describe Chigrin, 18. He left his father and a steady girlfriend in his native Kiev to join his mother, who was divorced from his father when he was 13 and moved to Southern California in 1991.

“I saw opportunity here for a better life,” he said. “Some people just don’t understand how good they have it here.”

Academic shortcomings notwithstanding, he has made marked strides in learning English. Upon arrival, he could barely utter a word. Today, he sprinkles his conversations with bits of Southern California slang. “Some people here work really hard,” he said. “And others are just kicking back in L.A.”

As a former soccer player, Chigrin naturally gravitated toward the school’s athletes. He was surprised to learn Canyon had a football team.

“I saw a couple of games on TV,” he said. “I didn’t really understand it, but it was interesting.”

That led him to approach former Coach Harry Welch about a tryout. “He walked up to me in the weight room with a pocket dictionary sticking out of his jockstrap and said, ‘I play football,’ ” Welch said. “What he meant was, ‘I want to play football.’ ”

Said Chigrin: “I didn’t care that it was hard and we practiced five hours a day. I played because it was fun to hit someone.”

Chigrin made the team, but spent most of last season on the bench, playing sparingly on special teams. Confused by nuances of the game, he failed at tryouts at running back and linebacker.

“I tried to be fullback, but I didn’t learn the plays,” he said. “What’s this 34 left or 35 right? I kind of got pushed to the defensive line. It’s easier. Your role is just, ‘Get the guy with the ball.’ ”

Matters have been more difficult in the classroom. Last spring, Chigrin failed two classes--one an English course--and his grade-point average dipped below the 2.0 required of student athletes. He dropped out of the school’s program designed to assist students with native languages other than English. “I didn’t feel like it was helping me,” he said.

Chigrin attempted to make up the grades during summer school but fell short. This fall, he finally made the grade. “I just wanted to play so bad,” he said. “That’s why I was keeping myself in shape. I was thinking, ‘I’m going to to play.’ I’m going to play.’ ”