Bradford High School’s Mike Pascarella was among six players
added to the Don Raabe Big 30 Classic roster this week.
Pascarella, a 185-pound running back and linebacker, was named
first-team offensive back and defensive linebacker in the District
10 Region 6, Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald Big 30 defensive player, was
selected to play in the East-West Legion Baseball Showcase, was
Bradford Owls 2008 MVP and is also a scholar athlete.
Pascarella plans to attend college this fall to play
baseball.
When asked why he would like to play in the Big 30 game,
Pascarella stated, “I would like to play one last game to be able
to compete with the best players in the area.”
His biggest thrill while playing was winning a District 9
championship in 2007. In his spare time he enjoys hunting and
fishing.
Joining Pascarella from Pennsylvania are Andrew Kesterholt of
Cameron County and Elliot Pontious of Ridgway.
Kesterholt, a 175-pound running back and linebacker, plans to
attend Penn State University and is currently enrolled at the
Altoona campus for information science and technology.
Kesterholt’s honors include being a member of the AML Football
All-Star Team as well as a member of the National Honor
Society.
“I like to play football and am glad to have one more time to
play,” Kesterholt said. “I know others who have played and enjoyed
the experience.”
His biggest thrill while playing football was being a part of a
team that accomplished two undefeated regular seasons.
Pontious, a 220-pound running back and linebacker, plans to
attend Edinboro University majoring in business in the fall.
This past season Pontious was selected as an Allegheny Mountain
League All-Star.
When asked why he would like to play in the Classic, Pontious
said, “It is something that I always wanted to play in.”
Pontious enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time.
Joining the New York team are Josh Sallie of Olean, Tom Kasprzyk
of Wellsville and Travis Butchello of Allegany-Limestone.
Sallie, a 235-pound offensive lineman, defensive tackle and end,
was named to the second team All-NCAC in West Virginia and was also
selected to the pre-season All-Class B Team.
“I broke my leg in the beginning of my senior year, and I’m not
ready to give this sport up,” Sallie said when asked why he would
like to play in the Big 30 game.
He plans to attend California University in Pennsylvania and
major in criminology.
His biggest thrill while playing is, “getting pumped in the
locker room before the game and the feeling after the game.”
In his spare time, Sallie enjoys lifting, sports and
fishing.
Kasprzyk, a 215-pound offensive lineman and defensive lineman,
will attend Alfred University for four years studying mechanical
engineering.
His honors include: Coaches Award, MVP Lineman for the Connor
& Ferris Bowl Championship, Iron Man Award and the Livingston
County All-Star Honorable Mention.
Kasprzyk also set a national AAU lifting record in Las Vegas
during the off-season.
When asked why he would like to play in the Big 30 Game he
stated, “It will be a great experience for me to see how I do
against others that I have not played against before I go to
college. Plus, I just love to play football.”
His biggest thrill was winning the Connor & Ferris Bowl
Championship, the physical challenges he has experienced and
winning the team’s first game against Bolivar-Richburg.
Butchello, a 270-pound offensive tackle and defensive tackle,
plans to attend college in the fall majoring in political science
and play football.
This past season he was selected to the first-team
All-Conference team and was also his team’s co-captain.
“I want to play in the game because it’s a huge honor,”
Butchello said. “I love football and to be given the opportunity to
play in this all-star game is amazing.”
Butchello’s biggest thrill while playing is “the first play of
the game when you break the huddle and jog to the line and see the
guy across from you.”
This year’s game will be played at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at Bradford
High’s Parkway Field.
The first 35 games produced over ,1,200,000 donated to numerous
charities and personal causes throughout the Twin Tiers.
Teams consist of graduated seniors from 31 high schools in New
York and Pennsylvania that make up the Big 30 area.
The New York team is comprised of players from
Allegany-Limestone, Olean Walsh, Bolivar-Richburg,
Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Cuba-Rushford, Ellicottville,
Franklinville, Gowanda, Hinsdale, Olean, Pioneer, Portville,
Randolph, Salamanca, Wellsville and West Valley.
The Pennsylvania team is comprised of players from Bradford,
Cameron County, Coudersport, Eisenhower, Elk County Catholic, Kane,
Johnsonburg, Otto-Eldred, Port Allegany, Ridgway, Sheffield,
Smethport, St. Marys, Warren and Youngsville.
