Apr 17, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

Grace Trimmer was a few minutes late for practice Wednesday afternoon. That’s not because the Uniontown senior has a notion to be tardy.

As the top distance runner on the Lady Red Raiders’ track & field team, student with a 4.38 GPA and a member of multiple clubs and organizations, Trimmer is the antithesis of running behind.

What held Trimmer was, in fact, another organizational duty, as she had a National Honor Society meeting, which was approved by her distance coach, Joe Everhart.

As Trimmer entered the inside of Bill Power Stadium where Everhart was having a meeting prior to practice, her teammates applauded her for being named one of the 10 female award winners for the 34th annual WPIAL James Collins Scholar Athlete Award.

Ten males were also honored from a group of 158 nominees, including Mount Pleasant’s David Mutter.

Each winner is awarded a scholarship of $1,000 to attend the college of their choice. Trimmer has already committed to continue her academic and cross country and track & field careers at Lehigh University.

Mutter had originally committed to swim for the University of Alabama, but due to roster cuts because of the House vs. NCAA antitrust lawsuit, the Crimson Tide had to trim their men’s roster to 22, which left Mutter off the team, however, he is looking to compete for another school.

Trimmer is the first Uniontown scholar-athlete to win the award, which drew praise from athletic director Harry Kaufman.

“Uniontown is so proud of Grace,” said Kaufman. “It’s a well deserving accomplishment for such a great kid and an awesome family.”

Trimmer has earned a total of nine varsity letters, with four in cross country, two in swimming and three in track & field. She is almost guaranteed to earn her fourth letter in track & field this season.

“I was second in the mile (1,600 meters) and third in the two-mile (3,200 meters) at the Latrobe Invitational, which was definitely nice because I really haven’t had competition yet this season, so it was nice to have people push me,” Trimmer said. “I am going to the Butler Invitational tomorrow to run the 3,200, and that should provide me with some good competition.”

Trimmer was the captain of the cross country team, and she is serving as the captain of the track & field team. She was second as a senior and third as a junior at the WPIAL Cross Country Championships, and fifth and seventh at the state meet.

Trimmer helped the Lady Red Raiders’ cross country team to four straight section titles. She is the school record holder in cross country.

In addition to her parents, Trimmer credits Everhart with instilling in her the values to succeed as an athlete, student and person.

Everhart takes the cross country team to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children every year, and also ensures his athletes know the importance of keeping up with their academics.

“My parents have always instilled a really good work ethic in me,” Trimmer said. “Joe (Everhart) wants us to be good people, too, and keeps us grounded.”

Trimmer made shirts for the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, posters for mental health Public Service Announcements and organized and worked local 5K races.

“We went down this summer and were able to paint on T-shirts, and they gave them to the kids, which was really nice,” Trimmer said.

Trimmer is also a member of the National Art Society, Art Club, Bible Club, French Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Trimmer serves as the secretary for the National Honor Society.

Trimmer has volunteered her time to help with Red Cross blood drives, Closet of Hope, nursing home visitations PennDOT Paint the Plow and the Sheepskin Trail clean-up.

Her sister, Hope, is currently attending Lehigh University. Grace will major in psychology.

“I have to keep up with Hope,” Grace Trimmer said. “I am still chasing her.”

Mutter won five state championships over his illustrious swimming career while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He won two silver and four bronze medals as a junior and senior in the state meet.

Mutter won back-to-back state titles in the 200 medley relay and 100 butterfly, and won the 500 freestyle as a senior. He set a state record in the 100 butterfly as a junior.

A four-year letterman for the Vikings, Mutter won five golds, three silvers and a bronze in the WPIAL Swimming & Diving Championships. He won district titles in the 200 medley relay and 100 butterfly in his junior and senior seasons, and won the 500 freestyle as a senior.

Mutter was part of the WPIAL record-breaking 200 medley relay team as a junior. He set the 100 butterfly district record as a junior, and broke his own mark his senior season.

Mutter, who garnered All-American honors in swimming and diving, was coached by Sandy Felice in high school.