Mt. Pleasant’s Garn is a flyer on the football field, track and in a plane

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, August 18, 2024 | 5:40 PM

Mt. Pleasant’s Jarett Garn loves challenges.

The young man can flat out fly, literally.

Whether it’s on the track as one of the premier sprinters in the state, on the football and soccer fields using his quickness and kicking abilities or, yes, in the air as a pilot, the 6-foot-3 senior is multi talented, and football coach Jason Fazekas can’t wait to unleash that speed on opponents.

Garn is a late bloomer on the football field. He played receiver as a junior for the Vikings and caught six passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. He also played defensive back — making 23 tackles — and was the team’s kicker, making five field goals and 22 extra points.

But his work in the weight room and success on the track, where he finished second in the 200 meters (22.35) and sixth in the 100 meters (11.22) in the WPIAL championships caught Fazekas’ eye.

“I think he’s just going to be a very good football player,” Fazekas said. “It’s very rare when you just get really fast kids like that. We can scheme it up and script it up to try to get our kids out in space. But if you got a kid that can just blow the doors off it, it’s really, really good.”

Fazekas said after breaking things down in the offseason, he and his staff saw the work Garn was doing in the weight room and then on the track.

“It’s just made a lot of sense moving him and getting him a shot,” Fazekas said. “He’s a big, strong, fast kid, and I just think we could give him the ball a little bit more if he was a running back.

“We always knew he was fast, but for how well he finished in the WPIALs and you know it really wasn’t a surprise.”

And Garn is excited about the change and being a key part of the offense. He did run reverses in junior varsity games a few times, but he mainly was a one of the targets for quarterback Cole Chatfield.

“It’s gone pretty good so far,” Garn said “I’m still getting used to the plays and the positioning for two back, but for the most part, I know what I’m doing, so it’s just a matter of getting it defined.

“I’m excited. I’m hoping to get more touches than I did last year. Obviously, I’m going to run the ball and catch it now, so I can do that.”

Mt. Pleasant’s offense is run-oriented and features different backs. The offense is designed to spread things around and keep opposing defenses guessing with misdirection plays.

Fazekas said Garn is picking up things well.

“I mean, of course, it’s still early, and he still has to work,” Fazekas said. “He’s got to get some timing figured out and mesh points, typical stuff. But he’s really embracing the role. We expect he’s going to really do well there.”

Garn will continue to be the team’s main kicker and play more of a role on defense. He also plans to play soccer, and he has big expectations for himself in both sports.

“Well, I want to make playoffs in both and win as many games as we can,” Garn said, “Just a good team and do my part.”

And while Garn is learning a new position on the football field, he also is learning how to fly.

He recently flew a plane around Westmoreland County with an instructor. He was able to execute a takeoff, but not a touch down because of a difficult wind.

“Well, it’s always been between like piloting and like architecture, and so I just decided to fly,” Garn said. “My grandparents actually got me it (the class) for my birthday. So I liked it. It was enjoyable, so I will possibly pursue it.”

The flight took off from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

“We flew at 3,500 feet and went around Donegal back towards Mt. Pleasant and then back to Donegal,” Garn said. “It’s not hard to fly once you’re up there. It’s basically it’s like being in a car. It’s a little windy but enjoyable.”

Garn will try to complete a perfect touchdown as a pilot and score touchdowns for the Vikings.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant