Carmichaels’ Novotny takes first step towards attending Navy
CARMICHAELS – Josh Novotny always takes note of who wins the annual Army-Navy football game. Now, someday he may be playing in it.
The Carmichaels Area High School senior has been recruited by the United States Naval Academy and has agreed to attend Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS), located in Newport, R.I.
“I received an appointment to go to their prep school, then if I have a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher, I’ll be able to get into the Academy,” Novotny said. “The prep school has a football team, too, sort of like a junior varsity team. It’ll be like a red-shirt year for me.”
Novotny was a first team all-state offensive lineman for the Mikes this past season and helped clear the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in running backs Bobby Hathaway and Colby Giles, and a 500-yard runner in quarterback Jono Menhart. He also helped protect Menhart enough to allow him to throw for over 800 yards as Carmichaels put together an undefeated regular season in winning the Tri-County South Conference.
Coach John Menhart’s Mikes won two playoff games in reaching the WPIAL Class A semifinals before losing to eventual champion Rochester to finish at 11-1.
Navy assistant coach Dale Pehrson recruited Novotny after hearing word about him from another Carmichaels graduate in Fred Stuvek, who is a Navy graduate.
“Fred was a quarterback at Navy and I ran into him at a wedding,” said Novotny, the 18-year-old son of Ron and Kathy Novotny of Carmichaels. “We got to talking and he said he could get the Navy to look at me. He got in touch with one of their assistant coaches, Dale Pehrson, and told him about me, and that’s why they decided to come and visit me.
“Mr. Pehrson came to our house, sat down and told us a little bit about the Academy, and the option for prep school. He’s their defensive line coach, and he’s sort of been my liaison to Navy.”
This past weekend, Novotny made a trip to Annapolis, Md. to visit the Naval Academy.
“I got to meet head coach (Paul) Johnson and see the campus, which is beautiful,” Novotny said.
“Everyone that was there got to spend a day and night with a senior, a junior and a sophomore. The guys with me were all football players. It was like a tour. I got a good feel for the place.”
Novotny wouldn’t be the first in his family to be in the Navy. His father and grandfather, Frank Novotny, both enlisted in the Navy.
“My grandfather was in World War II,” Josh pointed out. “Actually, he was on a ship that got torpedoed. He was thrown across the ship into the hull on his knees, but he lived through it.”
During his senior season with the Mikes, Novotny played left tackle on offense and defense, and was also the team’s long snapper. He recorded 30 tackles, recovered three fumbles and blocked one punt.
“He’s a hard-working kid, a very conscientious kid with a great work ethic,” said Menhart, who stepped down as coach following his 14th and best season. “And I really feel his best days are ahead of him. He’s still growing, physically, and as an athlete he’s a late bloomer. He can be a real force in the future.”
Novotny is 6-foot-5 and weighs 250 pounds, but expects to add some bulk to his frame.
“Right now I’m working with (new Carmichaels football coach) Mike Bosnic on my strength and conditioning,” Novotny said. “I’m kind of nervous, to tell you the truth, about the whole transition, which is why I decided to go to prep school for a year and see how that goes.”
Navy’s prep school went 8-2 last year, including a 37-8 win over Army’s prep school. Navy had a much less successful season, going 2-10, although it did win the one game that mattered the most, routing Army, 58-12, to pull within 49-47-7 in their all-time series.
While participating in the Army-Navy game may be a possibility, Novotny isn’t thinking that far ahead yet.
“I’m just thinking about making the team someday,” Novotny said.
Novotny also is still thinking about another one of his favorite subjects: music. An accomplished artist of the piano and trumpet, he hopes to earn a masters in the former.
“I play the organ at church and I mess around with the guitar a little bit, but piano is my first love,” Novotny said. “I still want to try to take lessons in piano and pursue my music career. The Navy has several different bands and groups. I’d definitely like to participate in some of those area, time permitting.”
Novotny took part in concert band, jazz band and wind ensemble at Carmichaels. With a 3.58 GPA, he was a member of the National Honor Society. He’s done work for Habitat for Humanity, is a regular blood donor and a certified EMT.
Novotny looks back on his Carmichaels football career with a smile, especially the Mikes’ outstanding 2002 season.
“I have no regrets, that’s for sure,” said Novotny, whose sister, 15-year-old Amber, is a freshman at Carmichaels. “Everybody played their hearts out that last game. We walked off the field with pride. Our coach was really proud of us this year. We had a good group of kids, especially on the line. We didn’t mind going without recognition, just as long as the team did well, but all the other players usually mentioned us.”
Novotny’s all-state honor even surprised him.
“I was teasing with my folks at the beginning of the year, saying ‘I’m going to make all state this year,’ and then it actually happened,” Novotny said. “I thought it was a joke at first when they told me Coach Menhart called to say I made all state. That was definitely a great way to cap off the great season we had.”
Novotny isn’t sure exactly what position he’ll play at Navy.
“They said we could try out on both sides of the ball,” Novotny said. “I don’t really care if I’m an offensive or defensive lineman, as long as I’m on the grass, I’m fine. I’d play safety or be their punter if they told me to.
“I just love football.”