Beyond the X: Ponderosa High's Zach Pickett is more than America's only paraplegic high school water polo player

So does Jaehn.

"He's such a great kid, so nice, so smart and he's still an athlete," he said. "He's still in the pool every day and every day you see some sort of improvement from him.

"Never once have I heard him have a bad attitude about his injury. Not one day. And that's the most impressive thing to me."

It has made Jaehn's life easier when trying to motivate the Bruins. He doesn't need to say a word.

"To think last year at this time, Zach was in a hospital bed and not walking and unable to use his legs or do anything. And to think all that he's done since then: He's been on the swim team, done the Paralympics, maintained his grades and now this — be on the water polo team.

"For the kids who grew up with him, to see Zach in the pool, giving it his all, they know they can't slack off. They know if Zach is in here doing the work, then they can do it. If Zach's not complaining, then I'm not complaining. If Zach can score a goal, then I can score a goal."

Zach scored his second goal in an Oct. 16 match at Union Mine (El Dorado), the location that Ponderosa uses as its home pool. In a 16-5 win over Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), Zach played most of the match and the Bruins constantly set him up for point-blank shots.

Only one of six got through — a shot to the top left corner — and it sent the sparse but enthusiastic crowd into a frenzy.

"It's very nice to score a goal," Zach said. "It's fun to do that. It's weirder when everyone is cheering for you every time you get the ball."

It was odd for the Monterey Trail players to watch Zach maneuver into a wheelchair after the match. When his condition was explained to Monterey Trail's Andrew Schiele, the senior shook his head.

"Wow, that's amazing," he said. "I mean, he's a really good player. He's got an excellent shot and he was aggressive. That's inspiring."

Schiele noted Zach was also a great sport.

"After I made a goal he told me ‘Great shot,'" Schiele said. "You don't hear that often from an opponent in a water polo match."

But Zach has a different perspective on sports and competition since the accident. He smiled often during the match, even when he missed shots or lost the ball. Winning and losing, scoring and failing, they're all relative terms. 

"There were a couple of other shots I probably should have scored on," Zach said. "Before (the accident) I probably would have got benched," he said, smiling. "That's all right. It doesn't matter too much anymore. It's just about being out here and being with everyone. And being a part of a team."

But clearly, Zach stands out, even if he has to sit much of the time.

Like FDR, he has a much to accomplish in his lifetime.

He raised his 3.95 grade point average to a 4.17 showing last semester. He'll continue swimming for the school and Paralympics and he'll certainly attend college.

His college major?

"I have no idea," he said. "Maybe marketing."

Whatever Zach is selling, people will no doubt buy it because it will be real, earned and something of substance.

"With what he's done in the last 14 months, in my eyes, the sky's the limit," Tod said. "As long as he sees it and wants it and puts his mind to it, he can do anything."