OPINION —
BEING A GOOD athlete is a wonderful thing. But being a good student as well is much, much better.
Mixing academics and athletics — and performing at a high level in both — should be the goal of every student-athlete at every level. After all, sports teach you a lot of great lessons, but they only take you so far.
What you learn in school will carry you for the rest of your life.
The true student-athlete gets just as much satisfaction from an “A” on an algebra test as he or she does making a game-winning basket or winning a 100-meter dash.
That’s why every year the Mercer County Hall of Fame presents the Tom Burns Academic All-Star Awards to honor the graduating male and female athlete at every local school with the highest grade point average.
The awards are in memory of the late Tom Burns, former educator and coach and long-time member and president of the Hall of Fame board. Hall board member Nick Marnejon coordinates the annual awards.
This year’s award winners were:
ä Commodore Perry — Steven McDowell, Dallas Knierman
ä Farrell — Quentin Malloy, Jalisa Archie
ä George Jr. Republic — Quran McNish
ä Greenville — Timothy Fraser, Catherine Hogan
ä Grove City — Joseph Hoffman, Kelly Baglia
ä Hickory — Jared Baughman, Malia Voytik
ä Jamestown — Colton Randall, Taylor Brooks
ä Kennedy Catholic — Jonathan David, Brianna Dalessandro
ä Lakeview — Bradley Ferguson, Jazmyne Sasse
ä Mercer — Joel Solomon, Grace Leuenberger
ä Reynolds — Matthew Tofani, Kaitlin Zoccola
ä Sharon — Trevor Meeks, Jenna Williams
ä Sharpsville — Jarred Gerasimek, Renee Cantrell
ä West Middlesex — Chase Whelan, Katheryn Willey
When I go to speak at area schools, especially at the elementary or middle school level, I usually ask kids how many of them want to play professional sports. Most of them raise there hands.
I tell them that while it’s a nice dream, it’s not realistic. Only about 1 in 10,000 high school athletes will become a pro someday.
And that’s why I love the TV ad put out by the NCAA about college sports. The theme is that while there are 400,000 college athletes, most of them will be going pro in something other than sports.
Yes, if you are good in sports you have an opportunity for a college scholarship. Or you can simply enjoy it at the Division III level while you go to college.
But your future in all probability lies in something other than sports. This needs to be driven home for every high school student so they understand that hitting the books is even more important than a linebacker hitting a running back.
Lynn Saternow is sports editor of The Herald. Email: lsaternow@sharonherald.com
Sports
SPORTVIEW: Burns Award winners are true examples of student-athletes
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Hickory boys edge WM for D-10 Class AA Track team title
HARBORCREEK — Hickory High co-head coach Mark Slezak referenced the term “exponential” in explaining the four-fold heart-felt feeling of having a relay team qualify for the PIAA Championships.
That sentiment seemed to summarize Mercer County’s performance during Saturday’s annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships. -
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track meet set Saturday at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
Roundup: Sharon baseball squad edges Sharpsville, 5-4
It was a tense Tuesday in Tiger-town.
Twenty-four hours removed from a 1-run Region 2-AA loss at New Wilmington, Sharon High’s baseball team could not afford another setback, otherwise its postseason aspirations were alleviated.
Conversely, region pacesetting Sharpsville could have secured the crown with a win, and the Blue Devils dashed to an early 3-0 lead. - More Sports Headlines
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