MLS Combine Special: Duke's Pav Castaneda

By Sean Grybos

Pav Castaneda used his versatility throughout his collegiate career. He was equally skilled playing in the midfield or in the back. His diverse abilities kept him on the field for long stretches of each game. In 2008, he led the team in minutes played and was second on the team in 2006 and 2007. With Pav’s help, the defense recorded 10 shutouts in 2008.

Castaneda has also competed for the United States U-18 youth team as a center back. Sean Grybos caught up with the young player.

You played the most minutes on the team this season.  How do you feel about that stat?

First and foremost I feel very fortunate.  Making it through the entire season without sustaining a serious injury of any kind is something I thank God for on a daily basis. Secondly, I take a lot of pride in it because it demonstrates a high level of consistency--to be able to go out and perform each and every time coach called upon me, regardless of the situation.  Lastly, I think it also shows a certain level of discipline; taking care of your body to make it through the grind of an entire season, as well as discipline on the field not to pick up silly cards and avoiding suspension.  There are a lot of variables that are tied into that stat, which is why I’m both proud and fortunate to have accomplished it this season.

Is your versatility going to be a major advantage at the MLS Combine and as a professional?

I think it will be.  There are several positions on the field that I can step into and feel comfortable playing in.  At the youth level I was a U-18 national team center back, but went to Duke and was a three-year starter in the midfield, until I went back to center back my senior year because of injuries to some of my teammates.  The main thing for me, is that yes, I have proven that I can play a number of different positions on the field, but more importantly, I embrace it.  Some players might take it as an insult to go from a midfielder to the less glamorous position of defender, but for me it's something I’ve always welcomed, and will continue to do so.

Why is the ACC the toughest collegiate conference in America?

 I think this year is a perfect example of how challenging it is to play an ACC schedule.  Through out the season there was a lot of talk of this being a down year for the ACC, with Wake Forest pretty much running away with everything and not much to choose from after that.  In this "down year," we had three teams make it to the final four, the two finalists, and the eventual national champion. UNC, a team that didn’t even finish in the top half of the ACC table in the regular season and lost in the first round of the ACC tournament, made it to the NCAA finals by knocking out everyone’s favorite, Wake Forest, in the semi-final. Almost every year, you take a look at the ACC from top to bottom, and there are about 4 or 5 teams that can legitimately make a run to the final four.  I don’t know much about the rest of the conferences in the country because I didn’t play in them, but I don’t think there are many out there that can say the same.

Are you excited to be traveling to Florida with your teammate?

I am very excited about that. It's always nice to go into a situation like the combine knowing that you'll be familiar with at least another player there.

Have you spoken to any former teammates about what to expect from the combine?

 Not recently, but I have had conversations with some of them in the past.  Joe Germanese went last year and he gave me a small taste of what it was like when he came back.  Mike Videira was around campus last year training so I tried to pick his brain a little bit.  Chris Loftus went a couple years back and has also been very helpful every time he has come back to visit.  It's always good to get a feel for what the experience will be like from others that have gone through it, but you won't be fully prepared until you're going through it firsthand.

Growing up in Babylon, New York, did you follow the MetroStars?

I did actually.  I was born in Colombia and lived there for four years before I moved to Babylon, so I began to follow them closely when they signed Colombian National Team players like "El Pitufo" Avila and Adolfo "El Tren" Valencia.  I also remember watching Gio Savarese score one or two acrobatic bicycle kick goals back in the day.  So yes, the MetroStars were definitely a part of my childhood growing up in Babylon, New York. Do you pattern your game after any current or former player? The player I have always admired and consider to be one of the greatest to ever play the game is Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama.  He was a player who only scored a handful of goals in his illustrious career, but was able to change the game in so many other ways.  When you watched him play it looked as if he wasn’t even trying, he always made the game look so simple even though he wasn’t the fastest or biggest guy out there.  His passing was absolutely impeccable and he had a real unique style of play.  Although it would be impossible to replicate all his talents and abilities, I have always tried to model my own style of play after his.

Sean Grybos is a regular contributor to Goal.com