SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of Sept. 21, 2016)
Stephanie Wolf could well be a poster child for the ideal student-athlete. Just listen to her coaches. “She is amazing – you want 25 of her,” field hockey coach Kayla Kowalick said. “She’s a leader on and off the field. The girls follow her and they feed off of her. She cares about her teammates, she cares about Truman field hockey. She puts in time on and off the field. She’s so coachable. If something is wrong – how do I fix it? She’s always looking to improve.” Kyle Hoffman echoed similar sentiments about the Truman senior. “She’s the kind of kid every coach wants,” the Tigers’ softball coach said. “She always wants to be on the field and will do everything she can to help her team win. She’s been a leader on our team since she stepped on the field, and she takes the younger kids under her wings. She leads by example. She wants her grades to be right, she does what she needs to do, and she picks up people’s slack. She’s a great kid.”
As impressive as that high praise might be, what’s even more impressive is Wolf’s remarkable attitude and the perspective she brings to sports. As a senior at Truman, Wolf’s teams haven’t always had the easiest time competing in the large school SOL National Conference. This year’s field hockey team has won just one game, so it would be easy to understand if Wolf – a four-year starter in two sports – would be frustrated. She’s not. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she said “People are like – why do you play there? I tell them, ‘It’s my home. I want to be here, no matter if we fail 100 games or we win 100 games. Whatever the case is, I wouldn’t trade it in for the world. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. I love my coaches, I love the girls, I love my school.”
Wolf has been an impact player since she walked on the field for both sports as a freshman, earning a starting position in the defensive backfield in hockey before moving to the midfield last year and anchoring center field for the softball team since ninth grade. While Wolf - a second team all-league selection in softball as a junior – always assumed she would play collegiate softball, she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of playing hockey. Wolf may be uncertain about her choice of sport, but she is firm on her major – medical imaging/radiology. Bloomsburg is at the top of Wolf’s college list, but for now, she’s focusing on her final high school season, and her approach will always be the same. “I go out there every game with the same attitude and the same mentality,” Wolf said. “Whether I come out with a win or I come out with a loss, I know that I still have my team, I still have my school, and we have another game ahead of us.”
To read Wolf’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/stephanie-wolf-0064705
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Sept. 21, 2016)
Ryan Cuthbert grew up on the gridiron. Now a Pennridge senior, he was likely wearing shoulder pads in his crib. His dad, Randy, was a standout at Central Bucks West in the glory years under legendary coach Mike Pettine. A fullback, he went on to star at Duke and then played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers before embarking on a coaching career. “I grew up on the sidelines,” said Cuthbert, who served as water boy and in other roles. While outsiders presumed he would play football in high school after being a middle school quarterback, there was no pressure on the home front. “(My dad) never forced me to play,” said Cuthbert, admitting that his first love is basketball. He initially decided against football as a freshman, instead choosing to focus on hoops. But Pennridge football coach Jeff Hollenbach wasn’t about to let it go that easily.
Cuthbert, who admits he missed football, came out for the football team as a sophomore. “That was a good day for the program because Ryan brings not only incredible athletic ability, but strong character and leadership also,” Hollenbach said of his senior captain. “Ryan has been a pleasure to coach. He is the ultimate team player, competes well every day in practice and that transfers to Friday night. He is on the field on both sides of the ball every play and never wants to rest. He loves to compete.” Although he was a quarterback previously, Cuthbert is now one of those players who never comes off the field as a receiver/defensive back/returner. “I’ll just do whatever the game plan has for me,” he said. “Whatever is good for the team, I’m willing to do it.”
When football season ends, Cuthbert will return to the hardwood where he was a starter last year as a junior and will be a captain. “Ryan is the ultimate team player,” coach Dean Behrens said. “He plays hard every play in practice and games. He’s a winner, and he’s a great student who is polite, respectful to his teachers and peers.”
Hollenbach recalls a specific instance that stands out in his mind, and it came well after the Friday night lights had dimmed. “Last June we helped the special needs class plant some pumpkin seedlings on campus,” the Rams’ coach said. “(Ryan) demonstrated kindness, respect, positive, encouragement and leadership not only in this situation but in his approach to those around him. He represents the character and attitude we are looking for from Pennridge football players.”
To read Cuthbert’s compete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/ryan-cuthbert-0064704
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