Cole Wrhen Receives National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Honors

on 23 March, 2022 at 18:49

(Above image submitted: assistant coach Camron Kirkland, head coach Dave Eggleton, Cole, mother Meagan Wrhen, father BJ Wrhen)

The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame – Central Pennsylvania Chapter, held its 25th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet on Sunday, March 20th at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, in State College.

Clarion Area senior Cole Wrhen is the school’s and Central Clarion Wildcats’ 2022 Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.

The senior tight end, offensive and defensive lineman, was honored with other high school seniors, who were recognized as Scholar-Athletes (high school and college) from throughout Central Pennsylvania, during the event.

Each school nominates one senior football player for the honor.

The Award winners are selected based on Athletic Achievement (40%), Academic Achievement (40%) and Extracurricular/Community Service Participation (20%).

Cole was also the recipient of the $1,000 scholarship by Principal Financial Group (PFG) headquartered in State College.

Cole’s achievements include: Scholastic honors: Honor Roll, Principal’s list, Presidential Award for Academic Excellence. Football Honors: District Nine League Large School All-Star Offensive Lineman, Pennsylvania Football News (PFN) Academic All-State Team. Other Extra-Curricular Activities and Community Involvement: Stand Together Program, Wreaths Across America volunteer, Clarion Singers, Foster Closet- Clarion County volunteer.

Cole has been able to maintain this high academic, athletic and extra-curricular standard while working two jobs.

Cole’s future plans include majoring in Business at Clarion University.

Attending the Banquet with Cole were his parents BJ and Meagan Wrhen, brothers Bailey and Drew Wrhen, Grandpa Ron Racchini, and Central Clarion Head Coach Dave Eggleton and Assistant Coach Cam Kirkland.

(The Wrhen family – Front: Eliza. Back (L-R): Cole, BJ, Meagan, Drew and Bailey)

Coach Eggleton said this about Cole, “Cole selflessly made the move from tight end to offensive line to help our team. His hard work and dedication earned him All-Conference honors at the offensive line position.

“Cole is an outstanding leader for our team. His leadership and character helped our team rebound from an 0-4 start to win 4 straight games.”

(Image submitted: Cole: seated- fifth from left with other $1,000 Corporate Sponsored Scholarship recipients)

Coach Kirkland shared, “Cole is extremely deserving of this honor and scholarship. I coached him since he moved up to the varsity program as a freshman, but I’ve known him since he was a kid. He has always had a positive attitude when facing adversity.

“Even during the multiple knee surgeries as a kid, switching positions to help his football team, and the scary injury his senior year, Cole’s optimism was never put out. His grit and determination always had him find his way back to the field after setbacks. He worked hard in practice, in the weightroom, and on the field, literally spilling his guts for the team multiple times.

“I am honored to have coached such an upstanding young man and would love more players like Cole each year.”

Cole had this to say about being this year’s Wildcats’ honoree and the banquet. “I was very honored that I was nominated for this award. It means a lot that my coaches think that highly of me. Attending the banquet was a great experience!”

(Image submitted: Cole, flanked by his mother Meagan, brother Bailey (Left) and brother Drew and father BJ (Right) )

Former Clearfield and Pitt player, and current Chicago Bears Quarterbacks’ Coach Andrew Janocko was the featured speaker. His father Clearfield Head Coach Tim Janocko and Mifflin County Head Coach received this year’s “Lifetime Achievement in Coaching” Award.

(NFF-CPC Image: Coach Tim Janocko and Coach Andrew Janocko)

(NFF-CPC image: Clearfield’s Tim Janocko and Mifflin County’Tom Shearer with their Lifetime Achievement Awards in Coaching.)

Penn State’s Vlad Hilling received the “Collegiate Scholar Athlete” Award.

(NFF-CPC image: Collegiate scholar-athlete Vlad Hilling of Penn State with (L-R) Penn State Head Coach James Franklin, NFF of CPA President John Kulka and Chicago Bears QB Coach Andrew Janocko.)

(Congratulations to Cole, along with your family, Clarion Area and the Wildcats on your receiving these fine honors!!!!)

CLARION BOBCATS AND CENTRAL CLARION WILDCATS NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER – SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD RECIPIENTS

2009 RYAN JOHNSON (CLARION’S FIRST EVER RECIPIENT)

2010 PAT TACK (PAT WAS ONE OF 12 PLAYERS TO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE FOUNDATION.)

2011 DAN WALTERS

2012 PATRICK MEHTA (PATRICK WAS ONE OF 12 PLAYERS TO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE FOUNDATION.)

2013 CAMRON KIRKLAND (CAMRON WAS ONE OF 12 PLAYERS TO WIN A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE FOUNDATION)

2014 ANTONIO TROESE (“MARIANNA’S FUNDRAISERS” AWARD FROM DELGROSSO FOODS)

2015 JACOB TROUTMAN

2016 BRENDAN MILLER

2017 TY BURFORD (“JOSEPH D. SARRA – COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD” [IN HONOR OF LATE PENN STATE ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH])

2018 NICK CHERICO (“JOSEPH D. SARRA – COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD” AND “PENNSYLVANIA COACHES’ AWARD”)

2019 ARCHER MILLS (“JOSEPH D. SARRA – COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD”)

2020 MITCH KNEPP (LEZZER LUMBER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD)

(MITCH IS CLARION-LIMESTONE’S FIRST RECIPIENT)

2021 JORDAN MCCORD-WOLBERT (STAHL SHEAFFER ENGINEERING AWARD WINNER)

(JORDAN IS NORTH CLARION’S AND CENTRAL CLARION WILDCATS’ FIRST AWARD WINNER)

2022 COLE WRHEN (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP)

(2009 WAS CLARION’S FIRST YEAR OF PARTICIPATION FOR THIS AWARD.)