Cesarino leads way in classroom, sports
Christy Cesarino had been active throughout her career at Uniontown High School, so it was no great surprise when she decided, through the encouragement of a close friend, to help fill out the Lady Red Raiders cross country team. “My friend, Scarlett Graham, was on the team,” Cesarino said. “They were down in numbers this year, so I joined just to help out.”
Consequently, anyone who knew Cesarino wasn’t surprised when Uniontown’s girls cross country team qualified for the WPIAL meet.
Those who know Cesarino know that she is a people person. She also played soccer and ran track, not to mention serving as captain of the Twirlers in the marching band, at Uniontown, where she graduated ranked 17th in a senior class numbering 218. She finished with a 3.8 grade point average.
In fact, the other 217 members of that class had a profound effect on Cesarino.
“Our senior class was really close,” she said. “There weren’t any groups or clicks. It wasn’t divided like that. We all did a lot of things together and we all got along very well.”
More than just get along, Cesarino excelled in the classroom and in sports, explaining why she was chosen as Uniontown’s top female student/athlete. She will receive a $500 scholarship through the Davis & Davis Student/Athlete Scholarship Fund.
The program, sponsored by Davis & Davis Law Firm and coordinated by the Herald-Standard, will culminate with a banquet to be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Shady Side Inn.
The National Honor Society member also was active in many school activities, including SADD, Future Health Professionals, Spanish Club, Ski Club, Bible Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
She volunteers for the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department’s Election Day dinners and also works on chicken and biscuit dinners at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church in Farmington.
Cesarino also credits Graham for getting her interested in soccer, a team she has belonged to since her sophomore year.
“We’ve known each other since we were three,” Cesarino said of Graham. “We go to the same church. Her family is very athletic and it just rubbed off on me and my family.”
She is a daughter of Joseph and Linda Cesarino of Farmington and will study nursing at West Virginia University.
“My first choice was pharmacy, but nursing is more hands-on, you get to do more. It basically boils down to helping people more,” she said. “My senior project was an internship at the pharmacy at K-Mart and that was a really good experience for me.”
In fact, Cesarino had so many good experiences, it is difficult for her to choose one as the best.
“All of the sports I played were fun. It’s the teammates that make it fun and I’ll certainly remember fondly all the people I met, our class, my senior year,” she said. “I probably learned more this year than in any other year.
“Running cross country and track were the most rewarding. Our coach, Joe Everhart, and the other runners really made me feel good about what I was able to do for the team. I wish I had done it earlier, but at least I found out what I had been missing. I really feel like I accomplished something.”
She ran the 3,200 in track and was a member of Uniontown’s 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams, the latter placing second in the Fayette County Coaches Association track meet.
As she makes the transition from high school to college, Cesarino will do so with the knowledge that she can handle a loaded schedule.
“It wasn’t too bad, but it kept me busy,” she said of her often hectic schedule. “I’m glad I got to do it. I wouldn’t change anything and I think it will help me in college. I’m kind of nervous, but I feel confident that I can do it.”
Actually, there is very little Cesarino can’t do.