Like many of the area's athletes, Selinsgrove defensive end Spencer Myers has no plans to become a one-sport athlete.
In an era where many high school students, often at the urging of their parents who see dollar signs (i.e., college scholarships) in those muscle tones, Myers is a three-sport athlete (football, wrestling and track & field).
So it was not surprising that after the Seals' disappointing 13-7 loss to Archbishop Wood in the PIAA Class AAA Eastern final, Myers wouldn't even consider taking time off from wrestling.
Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that his father, Todd, is the head wrestling coach. But, somehow, I doubt it.
Myers was emotionally drained like most of his teammates after seeing their 13-game winning streak and a chance at a state title come to a sudden end on the HersheyPark Stadium turf.
Yet all he could think about was getting into the wrestling room.
He was suddenly even more motivated than he might otherwise have been to take that next step as a wrestler -- to qualify for the state tournament, also in Hershey.
The junior insisted he didn't want to take any time off. "I'm going to take out my frustration (from the football loss) on the mat," he said.
And with most of the team returning in 2009, he also said the Seals will hit the weights and do everything possible to get better for next year. If things go well, Myers could spend at least two championship weekends in Hershey next year.
OFFENSE TAKEN: My comments in last week's column about the very real possibility that the Archbishop Wood football team consisted of athletes recruited from the tri-state area was met with numerous e-mails from supporters of the District 12 team from Warminster (Bucks County).
As I pointed out, it seems odd that, if they don't recruit, the school's Web site inviting football players to contact them if they are interested in playing for the school contains a question about the player's current school. It surely sounds like they are looking for more than just those already attending the school.
Nevertheless, the fans who took offense insist that most of the players on this team, which will take on Thomas Jefferson in tonight's AAA state title game, are second- and even third-generation Archbishop Wood players.
I have long maintained the private schools, because they often pull athletes from multiple school districts, should be required to bump up in class, just like the PIAA deems necessary for the likes of East Juniata (Class AAA in football because of its Midd-West players) and Newport (AA because of a smattering of Greenwood athletes).
I still believe that.
But, if the Vikings are all local players who grew up in the shadows of the school for which they now compete, more power to them. And good luck tonight. As talented as they are, they will certainly need it against the juggernaut from Pittsburgh.
LAST WEEK; FINAL OVERALL RECORD: 4-3; 268-82, .767.
n E-mail comments to hraker@dailyitem.com.
Sports
Harold Raker's column on high school football: No rest for the driven
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