Twenty Bobcats Earn 2020 Pennsylvania Football News Academic All-State Team Spots (04/24/20)

on 24 April, 2020 at 13:13

Twenty Clarion Area Bobcats have earned selection to the 2020 Pennsylvania Football News Academic All-State Team. With a total of thirty-two players, that works out to a whopping sixty-two percent of the Bobcats’ roster earning this prestigious honor.

The players are named to one of three teams, Gold: 4.0 Grade Point Average and above, Silver: 3.5-3.9 GPA and Bronze: 3.0-3.4 GPA.

The Cats had four Gold Team selections: Senior: Mitch Knepp (C-L – Tackle, Defensive End): Juniors, Cutter Boggess (CA – Running Back, Wing Back, Linebacker) and Cal German (CA- Quarterback, Defensive Back); and Sophomore: Luca Cherico (CA – Center, Defensive Lineman).

Twelve Bobcats made the Silver Team: Senior: Ben Smith (C-L – Guard, Linebacker); Juniors: Kyle Bottaro (C-L – Fullback, Linebacker), Ethan Burford (CA – Wide Receiver, Defensive Back), Hunter Craddock (CA – Tight End, Defensive End), Keidon Smith (C-L – Wide Receiver, Defensive End, Linebacker), Beau Verdill (CA – Kicker, Punter) and Jordan Wolbert (NC – Center, Guard, Tackle, Linebacker); and Sophomores: Kolton Bradley (NC – Guard, Linebacker), Alex Garduno (CA – Wing Back, Defensive Back), Breckin Rex (CA – Running Back, Defensive Back), Christian Simko (CA – Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Defensive Back) and Cole Wrhen (CA – Tight End and Defensive End).

Four Bobcats were named to the Bronze Team: Senior: Tyler Schmader (CA – Tackle, Defensive Lineman); Junior: Jason Ganoe (C-L – Wide Receiver, Defensive Back); and Sophomores: Cooper Shaw (C-L – Wing Back, Defensive Back) and Mason Songer (CA – Tackle, Defensive Lineman).

PFN All-Academic from Clarion Area: (Front L-R) Ethan Burford, Cal German, Cole Wrhen. (Back L-R) Cutter Boggess, Beau Verdill, Hunter Craddock, Christian Simko. (Not Shown: Luca Cherico, Alex Guardano, Breckin Rex, Tyler Schmader, Mason Songer)

Clarion Area Head Coach Larry Wiser said, “I am obviously proud of these players accomplishments in the classroom. That is something I obviously can’t take credit for. Football isn’t just a game of brawn anymore.

“I think people don’t realize the hard work they put it to their academics. And many of them do a lot of volunteer work, community and church involvement, missions and so forth.”

Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator Dave Eggleton said, “I am really proud of all of the guys that made the academic teams this year. These young men are great examples of student athletes. The work ethic and character they possess that makes them great students is the same work ethic and character that helped our team have a great season.

“Having players from three different schools participating in football makes for a unique and sometimes difficult task keeping up with the players academics. I just want to congratulate the players for their hard work and thank the teachers and administration, from all three schools, for helping these young men earn the Academic All State honors.

PFN All-Academic: North Clarion (L-R) Kolton Bradley, Jordan Wolbert.

(Apologies for not having photo of C-L athletes. Due to school closure, we weren’t able to obtain.

Congratulations to all the Bobcats earning 2020 PFN Academic All-State Honors!!!!)

(Players listed by Class – Senior to Sophomore, in alphabetical order. CA = Clarion Area, C-L = Clarion-Limestone, NC = North Clarion)