RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Minneapolis grandsons have ties to Hermitage

There was recently a great human interest story appearing in the Minneapolis newspaper, The Star Tribune, and it has local ties.
Minneapolis South's high school soccer team was 11-0 and apparently heading for a spot in the state tournament. They were one game shy of the tournament last year but this year everything seems to be falling into place.
Anchoring the midfield attack of this powerful Minneapolis South team are the Gibbons brothers, identical twins Abe and Aaron, and older brother Jake.
The boys are the sons of Tim Gibbons, who played college soccer at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.
The boys are the grand nephews of Tom and Marcia Gibbons of Golfwood Drive, Hermitage.
It's most unusual to have three brothers competing on the same team. However, it is even more unusual the way the three have come together.
Five years ago, Aaron was severely injured in a scrimmage when he was slide-tackled from behind. His right leg was broken in seven places and it was doubtful at the time he would ever walk again, let alone play soccer.
Through strict rehabilitation, a strong desire to heal and some stringent coaching from his father, Aaron is playing again. He regained his speed last year.
The three are rated 1-3 in the state in assists with Aaron having 16, Abe 14 and Jake 12. In points, Abe has 31 and Aaron 28. Aaron and Abe are both midfielders.
Birthday boy
When you're 72 years old and still playing semi-pro football, someone should step up and take note.
That's exactly what ESPN did recently when it filmed a five-minute segment on Hermitage's placement specialist, Steve Moser. The film was televised on the Sept. 18 edition of "NFL Countdown."
ESPN came to town and headed for Billy's Black & amp; Gold where they met up with Moser. The restaurant has put up a display of Moser's memorabilia.
Then it was off to the Hickory High football field where Moser put on a kicking exhibition. In addition to kicking for the local semi-pro team, Moser also puts on his kicking exhibition at halftime of contests. Oh, yes, Moser turns 72 this month and owns the distinction of being the oldest active semi-pro or pro kicker in the nation -- or the world for that matter.
Blatt honored
Andy Blatt, former football standout at Greenville High and later at Westminster, was recently inducted into the Westminster College Sports Hall of Fame.
Four others were inducted -- Karey Kustron Gabriella (1996), basketball; Beth Lehman (1996), tennis and softball; Tim McNeil (1996), football and track/field; and Deanna Kaczynski Seruga (1997), softball and basketball.
Blatt works as a systems analyst for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Churchill.