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
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Brookfield's Livingston and O'Brien and Sharon's Senak announce future plans
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PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! -
Petty an all-around great athlete in track and gymnastics
When Mercer County’s contingent convenes at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships this weekend, it will be well represented
Clay Allen, Matt Bell, John Yohman, Johnathan Jacoway, Jeremy Jansco, Nico Zahniser, DeShawn Coleman, Dan Jaskowak, et all, should haul home some hardware. But with all due respect, the aforementioned young men may or may not be best athletes in the area’s aggregation that will assemble this weekend at Shippensburg University. -
Lubarski, Richards, Petty, Allen shine at D-10 Track Championships; Hickory girls, WM boys team champs
Hickory High’s high-jump state champion Lauren Lubarski suffered a severe blow to open her competion at the annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships Saturday at Hickory HIgh Stadium.
She failed to qualify for state in the event she had won the previous year. -
Baseball, softball D-10 playoff pairings
The District 10 pairings for the baseball and softball playoffs have been released. Five area baseball teams and four (possibly 5) softball squads have qualified.
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