Brentwood’s Donnelly earns Positive Athlete Award

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, June 15, 2018 | 11:00 PM

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Brendan Donnelly basked in a positive, productive three-sport career at Brentwood.

For his efforts, Donnelly was one of 30 senior student-athletes honored at the seventh annual Positive High School Athlete Awards ceremony.

A total of $30,000 in scholarships were awarded as part of the ceremony held June 12 at the Sen. John Heinz History Center.

Former Steelers receiver Hines Ward once again presented the awards.

“It's a great honor winning the award,” Donnelly said, “and it's awarding all my efforts throughout the years. The ceremony was awesome. It was a really cool experience.”

Recipients from 150 area high schools were nominated by coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers and parents.

Nominees must display “excellence on the field,” as well as “an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100 percent all the time, and realizing that the team is more important than the individual.”

Each athlete received a $500 C. Harper scholarship.

Donnelly was recognized for his contributions to the Spartans' swimming and diving team. He was a qualifier for the WPIAL finals in swimming and diving in his sophomore and senior seasons.

“I feel I had a pretty solid swimming and diving career,” Donnelly said. “I qualified for WPIALs three out of my four years in both swimming and diving. (Brentwood's swim coaches) were always very nice to me and always made sure I felt comfortable. Swimming kept me in shape for my other sports.”

Coach Mark Wroblewski praised Donnelly's athletic abilities and aptitude.

“Brendan's a great athlete. He did a really good job for us,” Wroblewski said. “He has a positive attitude and is a fine athlete. I wish we had more kids like him, wish we could have him back.”

Donnelly, who graduated with a 3.8 GPA, also was a standout football and baseball player at Brentwood. He will continue his football career at Geneva.

A 5-foot-11, 170-pound wide receiver/defensive back, Donnelly was recruited by the Golden Tornadoes as a defensive back. He also considered attending Oberlin, Saint Vincent and Marietta.

Donnelly was a three-year letterman in swimming and diving, and lettered twice in football and baseball. After the 2017 football season, he was voted to the Cover Three Athletics all-conference team as a defensive back.

Brentwood's baseball team advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals in each of the last three years. During that time, the Spartans won 33 of 47 regular-season games, and were section runners-up once.

Donnelly, an outfielder, was a two-year starter. He hit .291 and .357 the past two seasons.

Greg Perdziola, the Spartans' defensive coordinator and baseball coach, said Donnelly's work capacity is what sets him apart.

“Everything Brendan's accomplished as an athlete was due to his work ethic and determination,” Perdziola said. “Some athletes are naturally fast or strong. Brendan made himself stronger and faster from when he was a freshman to a senior. Since his freshman year, he has been one of our hardest workers. It all paid off for him as a senior in football, baseball and swimming.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Brentwood