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Andrew Broadwater remembered

By Jim Downey 3 min read

Geibel pays tribute to fallen athlete CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – Sometimes a person doesn’t need a lifetime to touch other lives.

In the case of Andrew Broadwater, the 3-sport athlete at Geibel Catholic needed only his high school years to have a profound effect on so many.

Broadwater, a member of the Geibel class of 2005, died shortly after the end of the school year after battling cancer. The Geibel Catholic community decided to offer tribute and remembrance of his life to his mother and father, Michelle and Tom, and brothers Jason and Tom before Friday’s Avella-Geibel Catholic boys varsity basketball game.

“We’re here to pay tribute to a student-athlete that stood above us in strength, courage and love,” Geibel Catholic boys basketball coach Ken Misiak said as he opened the proceedings, continuing with the famous words of Jimmy Valvano, famed college coach who also passed away from cancer, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

Misiak looked at the student section of the stands, saying, “Some night, you’ll see a bright star in the sky. If you look real hard, you’ll see No. 22. That’s Andrew.”

The boys and girls basketball teams along with the cheerleading squad made presentations to family, along with monetary donations from the student body and men’s booster club to the Andy B Foundation.

Booster club Ed Smith said during his check presentation the feeling surrounding the night reminded him when Sully Gambone, longtime coach of the football team, was honored.

The remembrance of Broadwater actually began in the fall sports season when the golf team decided to begin bestowing the Andrew Broadwater Spirit Award. The award initially would be given to a golfer with the expectation of bestowing on other student-athletes down the road.

Geibel Catholic Joel Hood trusted his squad would have good judgment in the inaugural award, but had no idea he would be selected as the first honoree. Hood underwent heart bypass surgery during the season and it was his dedication to his team the Gators honored.

“I was really mad. (The seniors) had me fooled,” Hood said after receiving the award in the post-season banquet last year. “They’re great kids. I’ll miss them.”

The Gators advanced to the team championships in 2005, but Hood was on limited duty because of the surgery.

“I want to be able to help. I think the whole thing took the team by surprise. I’m grateful to be alive.”

Senior James McGrath, who will continue his career at Ohio University, led the selection process with the other seniors.

“I came to all the seniors and the general consensus was he’d be the best candidate,” said McGrath. “He’s the heart and soul of the team. It was wonderful when he came back, but we kept him close to our hearts when he wasn’t there.”

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