RAY SWANSON | KEYSTONER Mercer awards enter 20th year

Since 1984 the Mercer County Hall of Fame has been presenting academic awards to the top student-athletes of 14 county high schools.
This is the 20th consecutive year the association has honored the highest-ranking male and female athletes of each graduating class. It is a great tribute to our young athletes who are highly deserving of the gesture.
The award was initiated in 1984 as the Mercer County Academic All-Star Awards. There have been some changes.
The name of the award was changed in 1988 to the Tom Burns Academic All-Star Awards in honor of the late educator, coach, sports announcer and past president of the Mercer County Hall of Fame.
Awards have increased
The first awards were $50 U.S. Savings Bonds. In 1996, the awards were increased to $100 bonds when Radio Station WPIC joined the Hall of Fame in helping with the costs.
In 2000, the bonds were increased to $200 per student, the present level. In addition, George Junior Republic was added to the list of high schools receiving the awards.
In 2001, the Hall of Fame became the sole sponsor of the bonds presentation as WPIC was lost as a partner. The Hall and its board of directors assumed all financial responsibility for the awards.
Nick Marnejon, awards chairman of the Hall of Fame, said that a total of 503 Mercer County students, since 1984, have received awards amounting to $46,400.
The 2003 recipients are as follows:
Zahary Moinet and Allison George, Commodore Perry; Thomas Bralich and Alexis Henderson, Farrell; Jacob Thrower, George Junior Republic; Chris Strahler and Amanda Jones, Greenville; Paul Mastarone and Amanda Jaskowak, Grove City; John Gould and Hayley Rose, Hickory; Mark McClimans and Charlynn Doeberiener, Jamestown; Matthew Szugye and Jessica Miller, Kennedy Catholic; Ned Moore and Shelby Klapec, Lakeview; Jonathon Breese and Devin Kelly, Mercer; Joel Davis, Ashley Ceremuga and Heather Miller, Reynolds; Sean Genis and Teresa Lepak, Sharon; John Bougher and Josie Cattron, Sharpsville; Andrew Leuenberger and Geraldine Truog, West Middlesex.
Klaric repeats
He's only 13, but young Michael Klaric III can put a lot of older golfers to shame.
Klaric successfully defended his Herald-Tam O'Shanter golf championship recently, scoring a bird on the final hole, No. 18, to nip challenger Brian Zipay.
Klaric's tee shot on the par-3 18th hole hit the pin, bounced off and in and out of the cup, leaving the victor with a short tap-in for the win.
No cigar
Shenango Valley's newest semi-pro football team, the Shenango Valley Raiders, came close to pulling off a major upset last weekend, but came away with no cigar in a heart-breaking 7-6 setback to the Akron Rough Riders.
The contest, the Raiders' franchise home opener, took place at Sharpsville's McCracken Field.
The Rough Riders are the defending Ohio Valley Football League champions, operating last season as the Akron Jaguars.
Randy Goodnight, owner/general manager of the Raiders, was extremely pleased with his team's performance and the turnout of fans.