Randy Clark continues to build Brookfield High’s football program in terms of Warriors’ wins, but Clark can take justifiable pride in perhaps a scholastic coach’s most meaningful statistic:
“In the last three years, these are our (7th and 8th) kids attending college for academics and to play football,” Clark confided.
Seniors Devin O’Brien and A.K. Livingston announced they will continue their educations and gridiron careers at John Carroll University and Westminster College, respectively.
The pitch-catch combo were Warriors’ weapons in ’07. Last fall O’Brien orchestrated the offense by passing for 762 yards and 11 touchdowns, the majority of which were hauled in by Livingston (31 receptions for 455 yards, 14.6 yards/catch, and 4 TDs). O’Brien also rushed for 791 yards and 6 scores, and defensively was credited with 64 tackles. For his efforts, he was rewarded with 1st-team All-Trumbull Athletic Conference laurels.
Two years ago the versatile Livingston led the TAC-8 in interceptions (7) and was named to the conference’s 1st team as a safety. Last season he was the loop’s 1st-team wide-out, Clark noted.
Regarding his choice of JCU, O’Brien wrote to The Herald: “I love the campus and the academics will be a challenge, because I know it is a tough school. I want to major in business management with a minor in marketing.
“I really liked the coaches,” O’Brien continued regarding the Blue Streaks. “They run a spread offense, similar to the University of Florida where the QB can move around, roll out, run the ball and throw on the run, which I like to do.”
As a youngster, O’Brien was part of St. Joseph’s Parochial state championship basketball team, coached by his father Chris; Kennedy Catholic High’s ’05 District 10 football championship team, coached by Mike Donato, and was an accomplished roller- and ice-hockey player in the western Pennsylvania/Northeast Ohio circuit.
O’Brien, who also considered Waynesburg, Gannon and the University of Central Florida, concluded, “I want to thank my dad, my step-mom Laura, my mom Heather Wassil, and coaches Mike Filipovich, Walt Nogay and Randy Clark.”
According to Clark Livingston maintains an impressive 3.4 grade-point-average at Brookfield, while O’Brien has a 2.7 GPA.
ä Alex Senak, Sharon High senior southpaw pitching ace, signed a letter-of intent to play baseball at Malone College, Canton.
A son of Gayle and Stan Senak, Sharon, he is a 3.20 GPA student and has been flawless thus far tossing for 5th-year Tigers taskmaster Bill Dorfi. Senak stands 4-0 on the mound with an earned run average of approximately 2 and has 23 strikeouts. Offensively, he carries a .381 batting average with 1 home run, 5 RBIs and an outstanding .857 OBP (on-pass percentage). He also played basketball for Sharon bench boss Brian Hoover.
“Alex is a top-notch kid in the classroom and personally,” Dorfi praised. “Last year he was our most improved player. Beteen his sophomore and junior years he worked his rear-end off and improved his baseball skills.
“Then last year (when the Tigers clawed their way to the District 10 title) he practically drove us to the playoffs on the mound. And so far this year, he’s taking charge.”
Ed Farrell is assistant sports editor for The Herald
Sports
Related Photos
Brookfield's Livingston and O'Brien and Sharon's Senak announce future plans
- Sports
-
-
Roundup: WM, Sharpsville, Lakeview grab region wins
When in doubt, defer to Dogan.
West Middlesex High junior point guard Matt Dogan dominated the 2nd half of Friday night’s District 10 Region 1-A contest with visiting VisionQuest.
Dogan deposited 18 of his game-high 27 points after intermission, converting 12 of 16 free-throw attempts, leading the Big Reds to their 9th consecutive conquest, 56-41. -
Greenville's Zahniser headed to St. Francis
Nico Zahniser believes four years of scholastic football prepared him for the next level — and learning how to win and lose was only part of the process.
The Greenville High senior committed to St. Francis University of Loretto earlier this week, where he hopes to become part of a Red Flash resurgence under coach Chris Villarrrial. -
Belichick: Indy friendlier after failed '09 call against Colts
Coach Bill Belichick jokes about the welcome he has gotten since arriving in Indianapolis -- where Colts fans are less-than-friendly toward his New England Patriots -- for Super Bowl XLVI.
-
SLIDESHOW: Super Bowl by the numbers
The nation's biggest sporting event produces some staggering statistics, from the number of chicken wings consumed -- 1.25 billion -- to the amount of money some people plan to bet on the game.
-
Roundup: Hickory, Sharon, GC boys grab 6-AAA wins
The District 10 Class AA Team Dual-Meet Championships have been owned by Reynolds and Fort LeBoeuf since its inception, with the Raiders winning 10 titles under now retired coach Brian Hills and the Bison winning the other 3.
The two teams are heavily favored to meet again Saturday in the finals of the tourney at Edinboro University’s McComb Field House which expands to 8 teams this year for the first time. The top 2 teams advance to the state tourney the following weekend. -
HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS: Sharpsville matmen roll
Coach John Whalen's Sharpsville High wrestlers warmed up for this coming weekend's District 10 Dual Meet Championships with a 58-12 victory over Jamestown.
Following are results on all high school winter sports reported to The Herald.
-
10 area athletes make college choices
The National Letter-Of-Intent Day Wednesday saw numerous local athletes making their college choices.
Hickory High football players Matt Bell and Andrew Smith signed with Youngstown State University and Edinboro University respectively to continue their careers. Hickory running star Morgan Richards inked a letter-of-intent to compete at North Carolina-Charlotte.
Wilmington High lineman Bryn Kaufman and versatile Greenville gridder Nico Zahniser signed with St. Francis University.
Five Brookfield gridders made their choices, led by Aaron Gillis who signed with Division II Slippery Rock U. Headed for Division III schools are: Mike Johnson and Mark Hiner, Bethany, and Cory Mild and Brandon Mosora, Hiram. -
Roundup: Hickory edges Farrell, 63-62, in Region 6-AAA clash
It’s been that kind of a season for Farrell High boys basketball team.
The Steelers played, perhaps, their cleanest contest of the campaign in terms of minimizing miscues and converting offensive opportunities.
However Hickory’s Marcus Sonoga sank a pair of free throws with 2.9 ticks to play Tuesday night, hoisting the Hornets to their 2nd 1-point Region 6-AAA road win in a week, 63-62 at E.J. McCluskey Gymnasium. -
Giants' Manning emerging from brother's shadow
Giants quarterback Eli Manning has a chance to outshine his more famous brother in Sunday's Super Bowl.
-
Roundup: Sharon, Sharpsville, Farrell girls grab wins
ä Sharon 61, West Middlesex 49 — At West Middlesex, coach Gene Sarazen’s Lady Tigers (13-4) rallied from an early 17-point deficit and rolled past the Ms. Reds (9-7) in the non-region game.
Mallory Torr scored 14 to lead Sharon, which is an honorable mention team in the latest Class AA state rankings from The Harrisburg-Patriot News. - More Sports Headlines
-
