ABRAXAS MARIENVILLE & SHEFFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
TEAMWORK
Written By David Fitch, Abraxas Marienville
T
he athletic programs at Abraxas Marienville takes on a much different approach than at most facilities. About 17 years ago, Abraxas Marienville started a co-op program with Sheffield Area High School specifically for football. It was a win-win situation. Sheffield received 20 athletes from Abraxas to help their participation numbers, and Abraxas residents were given the opportunity to play PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) football. This also meant that residents from Abraxas Marienville would be able to interact with local high school students in a way that was typically unheard of before such a co-op was developed. The community openly welcomed the new Sheffield High football players from Abraxas and the partnership that paved the way for the co-op’s expansion. Three other sports have been added, including wrestling, track and field, and softball. Athletically, the co-op has fostered some great success stories. In 2011, they earned their first PIAA football playoff spot, a wrestler from Abraxas was able to advance
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to the regional meet, and two young men from Abraxas were part of the 4x100 relay team that earned a spot in the PIAA State Track and Field Championship. The 2012 track season was one for the record books. An Abraxas youth won two gold medals, and in doing so set the 200 meter state record, and the relay team medaled at States. In 2013, the football team won the AML (Allegheny Mountain League) Northern Division title, which is the first time the team has won the title since 1969. They also made a repeat appearance in the PIAA playoffs. The 2014 football season is in high gear. Abraxas players on the Sheffield team hail from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, a few with college scholarship dreams for next season. Trophies, medals, championship titles and “Wolverine fever” in the local Sheffield community aside, success with this unique co-op is not measured by wins and losses, but by the interactions between students and the friendships that continue long after our kids leave Marienville.