Seven Fitch athletes make their college commitments
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
Seven Austintown Fitch student-athletes revealed their college plans on Tuesday.
The list includes two females (Kylie Vestal and Diamond Thomas) who will compete collegiately in cross country and track and field.
Vestal will attend Ohio Northern and Thomas Tiffin.
Also signing were three football players, a wrestler and a track and field male standout.
Joe Pfeffer is the lone athlete opting to remain home, having accepted a scholarship offer from Youngstown State University head coach Brian Gorby to become a part of the Penguins’ track and field team.
Alec Greathouse and Zach Krohn will play football at Westminster College while Lawrence Harrington will play at Walsh College. Drew Fairbanks is set to wrestle at Cleveland State University
Pfeffer is a three-year letter-winner for the Falcons, having excelled in the shot put, discus and hammer throw for head coach Seth Steiner and throwing coach Sam Cassano.
He also plays hockey for the Cleveland Lumberjacks.
It is his hope to make an impact for YSU in the hammer event while planning to major in international business.
“Pushing one another has helped all of us become better athletes,” Pfeffer said.
A four-year letter-winner, Fairbanks’ 53 wins last season set the single season standard for the Falcons while his 152 career wins is third all-time.
A two-time state qualifier, he’s also a four-time All-American Conference first-team selection, a four-time Eastern Ohio Wrestling League champion and is tied for second best all-time in the program with 28 falls during a single campaign.
He will major in accounting.
“I’ve been training year round since I was 6,” Fairbanks said, crediting his coaches. “I am so grateful for my parents’ support as well.”
Greathouse, architect of the highest grade point average on the Falcons’ football team, overcame an injury that curtailed his junior season. He plans to major in engineering physics.
“At first, I wasn’t really open to playing in college but when I returned for my senor season, I realized how much I missed the sport,” Greathouse said.
Krohn played football four years and earned three letters at strong safety for head coach Phil Annarella. He will major in international business.
“When I met Westminster head coach Scott Benzel it just reminded me of the great experience that I had here at Fitch,” Krohn said.
A linebacker, Harrington earned three letters in football and another in basketball. He moved to the area from Indianapolis when he was in sixth grade and expects to major in business administration.
“My coaches were always there for me, but it’s my mother who had a major impact on my life,” Harrington said. “She raised three boys by herself and while I know that I get on her nerves at times, she continues to gives me strength and I love her greatly.”
Vestal will major in forensic biology.
“The more I ran the more fun I had and knew that this was for me,” she said.
Vestal earned three letters in the 5k in cross country and another in track while taking part in both the 1600 and 3200 events.
Thomas, who earned seven letters overall (four in cross country), sports a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. She expects to major in sports management.
“My coaches always stressed that we should be the best that we can be, but have fun and also enjoy the journey,” Thomas said.