Coudersport’s Kody Frederick is among the six players today to
accept invitations to play in the Don Raabe Big 30 Charities
Classic.

Rounding out the Pennsylvania additions are Chris Wilson of
Eisenhower and Blake Housler of Elk County Catholic. For New York,
additions this week include Sam O’Brien of Ellicottville Central
School, Jesse Hanner of Franklinville and Chad Blecha of
Pioneer.

Frederick is a 5’11”, 195-pound guard, linebacker and defensive
end who enjoys fishing, hunting, riding four-wheelers, playing
Madden football and hanging out with friends and family in his
spare time.

He plans to major in elementary education in college at either
Slippery Rock University or Westminster College.

Frederick was named an Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald Big 30 all-star
his junior and senior years, was a two-time AML all-star and was
named to third team all-state.

He wants to play in the Big 30 Game because he “went to the game
the past couple years and decided if I was good enough to be chosen
I’d love to play.”

Frederick believes his biggest thrill was “when we beat Kennedy
Catholic in the quarter finals of the state playoffs in double
overtime my junior year.”

Frederick’s favorite player is Larry Foote and his favorite team
is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wilson, a 6’1″, 285-pound Pittsburgh Steelers fan, plays
offensive and defensive lineman.

He plans to attend Geneva College and major in business/sports
management.

Wilson was selected to the District 10 Region 2 all-star first
team as an offensive lineman in 2005 and was also named second team
defensive tackle the same year.

He wants to play in the Big 30 Game to play in another game. He
says “I can never get enough football.”

Wilson, whose favorite player is Alan Faneca, says his biggest
thrill is “Winning. Anytime you win it is the best feeling in the
world. It’s nice to know all the hard work pays off.”

Housler, a 5’10”, 180-pound fullback/tight end and linebacker,
rounds out Pennsylvania’s additions this week.

Housler is a member of the National Honor Society and an
All-American Scholar. He was also team captain and defensive MVP in
football.

He wants to play in the Big 30 Game “to be able to play another
game of football and maybe allow it to further my interest in
college ball.”

Housler says just going out and playing every game is his
biggest thrill.

In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, hunting, staying in shape
and lifting.

Housler roots for the Pittsburgh Steelers and says his favorite
player is Jerome Bettis.

On the New York side, O’Brien is a 6’2″, 275-pound offensive and
defensive lineman.

O’Brien was on the high honor roll and was named first team
all-state in football.

He plans to attend Tompkins Cortland Community College and major
in engineering science.

O’Brien says his reason for being in the Charities Classic is
“It’s a great honor. I’ve been wanting to play in this game since I
started playing football. It’s what I worked for.”

His biggest thrill is “the thrill of that first hit of the game.
I always try and hit the hardest to scare my opponent.”

O’Brien’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, golf, trap shooting
and watching sports.

His favorite team is the Buffalo Bills and his favorite player
is Jim Kelly.

Hanner is a 5’11”, 200-pound Oakland Raiders fan who plays
tackle and defensive end.

Hanner plans to major in criminal justice at Jamestown Community
College.

He was an Expressway Conference all-star and won the Huey
Kottwitz MVP award for wrestling, was a state qualifier in
wrestling and was a Top 10 New York State wrestler.

Hanner says he loves football. He would love to play in one last
game before he starts college, so that game will be the Big 30
Game.

Hanner says his biggest thrill is tackling, “I love the thrill
of tackling”.

Hanner’s hobbies are football and wrestling.

And the final addition to the New York sidelines is Blecha, a
5’7″, 140-pound running back and safety from Pioneer Central
School.

Blecha plans to major in criminal justice at either Fredonia
State or Erie County Community College.

He was named football MVP his senior year and was a three-year
varsity baseball starter at second base and a second team ECIC
all-star.

Blecha wants to play in the Charities Classic to “give it one
last shot.”

His favorite team is the Buffalo Bills and his favorite player
is Dallas Clarke.

Blecha says his biggest thrill was “beating Hamburg 32-0.”

His hobbies are fishing and baseball.

Today’s additions bring the total to 66 players – 33 per team –
who have accepted invitations to play in this year’s contest.

The 34th annual game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at
Bradford High’s Parkway Field.

The game pits graduated seniors from Pennsylvania against
graduated seniors from New York. New York holds a 17-14-2
advantage.

The first 33 games produced over $1,150,000 donated to numerous
charities and personal causes throughout the Twin Tiers.