Cougars select Short, Stefanick
Jake Stefanick is Charleroi's fall male selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program
Sierra Short is Charleroi's fall female selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
Sierra Short and Jake Stefanick have played pivotal roles with the success of their respective sports teams, but they also standout in the classroom as well.
Short has a 4.59 GPA while Stefanick has a 3.25 GPA, and for their success in athletics but more so with their academics, they are Charleroi’s fall nominations for the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar-Athlete program.
Short, who plans to attend a five-year university for their physician assistants program, is the daughter of Jim and Jodie of Fallowfield Township, spoke about being recognized.
“It’s an unbelievable honor and I am very humbled to have been chosen,” Short said. “Representing my school is something that I take very seriously and I hope that I am making my school district proud not only as an athlete but also as a student.”
Stefanick, who will attend a four-year university to major in mechanical engineering, is the son of Jon and Tina of Fallowfield Township and he shared his appreciation.
“It’s an honor and a humbling act to be acknowledged,” he said. “This means a lot.”
Short, who is a standout in basketball and also plays volleyball and runs track, picked a game from her freshman season as her most memorable sports moment so far.
“I picked that moment and game because I feel like that defined me as a player,” she said with a gleam in her eyes. “It showed everyone what I was capable of and it set the tone for the rest of the season for me.”
Stefanick, a three-year starting linebacker who led the Cougars with 125 tackles during the regular season, chose Charleroi’s Oct. 13 win over Burgettstown in a key Century Conference game as his most memorable moment.
“Everyone said we were supposed to get destroyed,” he said. “We came out and played the best game any of us have ever played.”
The Cougars went 9-1 in the regular season and finished second to Washington in the conference before losing to Avonworth in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
Both student-athletes chose NFL players as the pro athlete that they admire the most.
“I chose David Carr because not only for his athletic ability but for also his strong faith in Christ,” Short said. “He wanted to drop out of the NFL to become a preacher and now he spreads the word of God through many ways while still playing the sport he loves and I think that is very admirable.”
Stefanick chose James Harrison.
“He is one of the oldest players in the NFL and still one of the best at what he does,” he said. “He works hard every day no matter the circumstances.”
As far as who has had the greatest influence on their respective lives, Short chose God while Stefanick chose his dad.
“Everything in my life is done for Him because of what He has done for me,” she said. “I try to live my life to serve others and better myself each day and He serves as the role model for that.”
“He has always been a coach and someone I could always look to if I had to talk about something,” said Stefanick.
“He has always been there for me.”