Paxton Pomykal is a local favorite. An explosive FC Dallas midfielder, he’s fun to watch on the field and entertaining off the field, too. Paxton talks to Hustle and Pro about his return from hip surgery in the fall of 2020, and how he’s managing the minutes as he eases back into a full 90+.

We talk about the mustache bros, Paxton’s dad, and where he sits with goals to get back to the USMNT.

Enjoy this episode and other episodes of Hustle and Pro in our archives.

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Show Notes

[00:48 ] Growth since he signed in 2016

[01:47 ] Approach to training and game minutes returning from injury

[06:54 ] Paxton’s role in the locker room

[08:56 ] USMNT & Europe

Resources within this episode: 

• FC Dallas:  Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook


• Paxton Pomkyal: FCD Bio | Instagram @paxipomy| Twitter @PaxiPomy


• Kelly Walker: Bio | Instagram @kelly_walkertexas |  Twitter: @kelly_walker_TX

Connect with Lifestyle Frisco: 

• Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | LinkedIn 

Transcript: (machine-generated):

Welcome to Hustle & Pro. I’m your host, Kelly Walker. Paxton Pomykal is our guest. He’s a big guest, very excited to welcome the FC Dallas, home-grown to the show. Hi, Paxton. Hey, Kelly. How are you? I’m great. Well, like I said, I’m excited to have you on, so this is your first time officially here on Hustle & Pro. Um, I have interviewed you before, actually, for a few years, kind of going back to the very beginning. Um, you, you won’t remember, but it was one of your first days after you signed with the first team and you were in the clubhouse back when, when people like me could walk around the halls and ask you guys questions. And so, um, I have been following your career for a couple of years now. So, it’s great to finally have you on here. And speaking of that, so we’re all kind of watching you grow up through this system, obviously, um, you know, you signed in 2016 and so you’re several years in. I just kind of want to hear it from your point of view. Like, what do you feel like the areas of your own growth have been since you got here?

Yeah. No, that’s fair. It’s it has been a long time. Uh, like you said, 2016 was when I first signed. So we’re on technically Year 5, but pretty much Year 6 ’cause I had a half-year. Yeah. A lot, a lot has changed. I’ve definitely matured. Not only in the way I play, but also just as a person naturally. When you’re 16, you’re not as mature as a 21-year-old and you have to learn how to grow up pretty fast. But I feel like my game has matured a lot as well and in a way where I’m not chasing the ball as much,.and I’m finding better pockets and not- understanding when to exert more energy and just playing as a, as an older, more mature player.

Yeah, absolutely. It makes sense. Um, as you come back from your hip injury, that was fall of 2020, right. Um, so now when we talk, it’s almost summer of ’21. So I’m curious. When you, um, as you approach like training, for example, each week, do you approach that with the goal right now of earning more minutes for each game? And then also when you’re getting into the game scenarios, are you- because you’re coming back- are you approaching games with the feeling that like you have to make those minutes count more than when you’re a starter because you’re trying to earn more of them?

Yeah, I mean, that’s a great question. For me right now. I’m going into training every week. I think I’m at a point now where it’s been over two months. Actually, not over two months, about two months since I had my last scar tissue break and I’ve been feeling really good medically and been coming in games and making an impact and making a difference. So for me right now, it’s, it’s- I’m feeling fit. Um, my numbers are good and training and even in the games, GPS numbers and whatnot. But I’ve also not played 90 minutes since 2019, which is a long time. So I understand getting eased back into things after two major surgeries, not really getting many minutes last year, but I’m, I’m fighting to, to be able to get more minutes, like you said, and start. And coming into games, it’s been a little bit different this year for me, because I know in the first, at least for the first, what are we six games in so far, I knew I was going to be coming off the bench. Um, kind of having that mindset of reading the game and figuring out what the game needs and analyzing where I think I might go in whether it’s winger or in the midfield or how, how I can improve the quality of, of the game and make an immediate impact as soon as I get on the field. Because whether it’s 15, 20 minutes, you don’t have 90 minutes to solidify yourself in the lineup and impact. So you have to kind of come in and be buzzing right away and give the game what it needs.

So, it seems like when you have, um, come in and get those 15, 20 minutes in, that you’re more active. I know although you said you settled down and can see things different, but I feel like because your minutes are limited, I, and you are watching to see what the game needs, like, you are everywhere. Um, probably because you have the energy, you know, you only have 20 minutes. Yeah, exactly.

I mean, it’s, it’s natural, like, right. It’s, it’s natural. If you’re only going to play 15, 20 minutes, that you’re going to be able to put out, uh, more minutes or meters per minute than a guy that plays 90 minutes. Uh, my goal is to be tired by the end of the game, you know, I don’t want to have to save energy. There’s no point. And so to, to give exertion that at that level for 20 minutes, that obviously it’s going to look like I’m running everywhere and trying to do everything. Don’t get me wrong: it’s great. But sometimes that sometimes that’s exactly what the game needs, right? When it’s the 60, 65th minute, and guys start this, you start to see a little bit of tired legs, sometimes, uh, subs just need to bring the energy and it’s contagious. Right. So if I come in and I started running everywhere and sprinting everywhere and making plays, then it kind of gives hope to the rest of the team and brings them up. And I’m a big believer in like contagious energy. And if somebody’s gonna to do it, then the rest will follow.

Yeah, for sure. I mean, there’ll be a need maybe all of a sudden there’s a play on the backline and like, “oh, that was Paxton. He, what is he doing back there?” But it’s great. It’s been fun to watch. So then what is your personal timeline on getting back in the starting 11, even if it’s different from your coaches? Like, what is your hope?

My, my goal personally is, is to be starting. Um, I I’d like to end the next few games, like potentially, maybe this weekend. Obviously I have to do well in training and prove why I should be out there, but, um, physically I’m feeling great. Everything’s been going well. And so sometimes it’s also like, even if I’m managing minutes still, it’s like maybe I get a start in play 50, 55 60, not have to go the full 90, which I I’d assume when I get my first start, that’s probably how it’s going to be, unless I’m just flying, feeling great out there and I still have a lot of energy, but most likely it’ll, it’ll a planned substitution, but hopefully that comes pretty soon. But obviously form is a big thing as well