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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.
During his Trojans’ tenure Zahniser voluntarily vacated the quarterback position — moving to wide-out — so as to allow best friend Tyler Gentile to orchestrate the offense. He also experienced the disappointment of a debilitating injury, learning the price to be paid via rehabilitation and an improved work-ethic. And during each of his years, Greenville’s grid program garnered District 10 playoff berths.
“It was a great time,” Zahniser recently reflected. “I played with, pretty much, four different teams from my freshman year to my senior year. I played with some teams that were really good ... some bigger, stronger teams ...”
The move to receiver reaped dividends for the Trojans and Zahniser.
During the first 4 weeks of the 2011 season the Trojans were tattooed by eventual postseason qualifiers North East, Wilmington and Grove City (sandwiching a triumph at Titusville) by an aggregate 130-34 margin. However a Week-5 trip to Albion provided an ephiphany.
As Greenville knocked off Northwestern that night (32-29), Gentile and Zahniser collaborated 7 times for 229 yards and a trio of touchdowns, including a pair of 80-yard scoring strikes that sandwiched a 46-yarder. Both Zahniser and Gentile — who completed 9 of 15 passes for 389 yards and 4 TDs — etched their names in D-10 and school single-game record books.
Considered dead in the water owing to that 1-3 start, the win over the Wildcats jump-started the Trojans to a trio of triumphs in their final 5 games and a playoff spot.
Gentile blossomed into the area’s most prolific passer (1,703 yards, 20 touchdowns), while Zahniser led The Herald-coverage area in receiving (48 catches, 858 yards, 17.8 yards/catch, 13 TDs). He tallied a total of 14 TDs, plus a 2-point conversion, for 88 points.
St. Francis has shown some improvement during former NFL offensive lineman Villarrial’s 1st 2 seasons. The Red Flash finished 2-9 in 2011 (with wins over Morehead State and Central Connecticut State), in spite of a setback at Stambaugh Stadium to Youngstown State (49-23). Quarterback John Kelly completed half of his 260 pass attempts for 1,677 yards and 12 TDs last season, and 3 of his top 4 targets — leading rusher Kyle Harbridge (1,430 yards) and wideouts A.J. Alexander and Ryan LaDuke will return in 2012. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Zahniser would seem to provide a physical wideout. He said St. Francis utlizes a pistol-spread formation.
“With my size, frame and speed, (St. Francis coaches) think if I play as well as they think I can, I can definitely work my way into the starting lineup,” related Zahniser, who considered Buffalo, Duquesne, Mercyhurst and Clarion.
“ ... I went down there for a visit, not knowing a lot about it,” Zahniser admitted. “ ... But it’s a young program on the rise, and they want me to be part of it because they feel they’ll be in the mix for (Northeast Conference) championship.”
“I think it’s a very good fit,” Trojans’ taskmaster Brian Herrick assessed. “They told him he would be able to compete (for playing time) right away, though he knows it’ll be hard for a freshman. But he has a good work-ethic, and I’m looking forward to watching him contribute down there.
“He’s a super kid, a very good student, a good role-model for our younger athletes,” Herrick continued. “He put in the hard work — he was a regular in the weight room and improved his body in the past twelve months.
“He was hurt a lot as a junior — he had a high-ankle sprain — and was not able to do what he wanted. But I think he gained some confidence last spring in track,” Herrick noted.
Zahniser currently serves as a frontliner for Greenville’s basketball team, then will transition to track come spring to work on his speed. However Herrick said athleticism is only part of Zahniser’s package. His willingness to move to wideout ... “ shows how unselfish he is. He and Tyler Gentile were best friends and played the same position their first year or two. But we thought, with his athleticism he could help us at wideout-slash-rumning back. He was willing to make (the move) and it was a big benefit for our program this year,” Herrick praised adding,
“He’s a great all-around kid, and well deserving of his scholarship offer.”
“ ... Coach Herrick is one of my mentors now. He’s like a father figure to me,” Zahniser responded in kind, continuing,
“Hgh school was a great learning experience. I learned how to deal with adversity, overcome things. ... My dad (Greg, a former Trojans’ two-way standout) was there with me every step of the way, from last year when I was injured and really down (emotionally). But he was there for me and told me to pick my head up. And my mom (Christine), too. My family have been my number one supporters,” Zahniser said. “Also my teachers, the whole school. I’ve had a great cast of people surrounding me, including my friends.”
Zahniser is planning to major in international business at St. Francis, and while he’s relieved to have made a decision on his immediate future, he’s aware of his status come August.
“ ... I’ve been working for this since seventh grade, to get a (NCAA) Division I offer. It’s kind’ve a surreal moment,” he admitted, adding,
“I’ve been used to being at the top of the totem pole. (At Greenville), everybody knows me. But as soon as I get (to Loretto) I’ll be starting at the bottom and working my way back to the top.”
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Related Photos
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Greenville's Nico Zahniser breaks up a pass intended for Wilmington's Donnie Watson this past season.
Greenville's Zahniser headed to St. Francis
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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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