The second group of six players named to the 47th annual Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic has been released. This year’s game is set for the night of Aug. 1 at Bradford’s Parkway Field.
The all-star football game, founded by Don Raabe, matches graduated senior stars from each side of the Big 30 border with New York leading the series, 22-21-3, though Pennsylvania hasn’t lost since the 2015 renewal.
Proceeds benefit area charities, and, over the first 46 years, the game has donated more than $1.7 million to local causes.
Added today to the New York squad are Franklinville’s Zach Wolfer, Cuba-Rushford’s Kyle Wittenrich, and Southwestern’s Jonathan Pearson.
Pennsylvania’s additions are Smethport’s Bryent Johnson, Port Allegany’s Josh Rees and Kane’s Kevin Scharba.
Today’s six selections make 12 players named to the Classic, six to each roster, that eventually will number 40-plus players come game day.
JOHNSON was a 5-foot-5, 130-pound wide receiver/safety best known as a wrestler having been a District 9 state qualifier.
As a junior, Smethport’s football team won the D-9 Class A title and earned a berth in the PIAA championships.
He has yet to choose a college but will major in mechanical engineering and hopes to wrestle.
His favorite football memory was “coming back in the Coudersport game to win the Small-School North title 21-20.”
Rees is a 5-foot-9, 213-pound running back/linebacker who was a two-time District 9 all-star whose goal was to “play in the Big 30 Game since I was in pee-wee and pony football.”
His most memorable moment playing football was “beating Otto-Eldred on a last-minute touchdown.”
Scharba was a 6-foot-4, 200-pound two-way end and was a District 9 all-star on both offense and defense.
Also a baseball player he will attend Penn Tech and study welding.
His favorite memory playing football was “scoring a 95-yard touchdown against Ridgway to win the game.”
WOLFER was a 6-foot, 195-pound offensive tackle/defensive end who was first-team Class D All-State on defense, WGRZ Class D Defensive Player of the Year, a Trench Trophy finalist and a Big 30 All-Star.
An All-WNY Academic Team member he has yet to choose a college but will major in math and play football
Wittenrich was a 6-foot, 200-pound guard/linebacker who was a Section 5 Class D all-star and a sectional wrestling state qualifier who finished fourth. He was also a Cattaraugus County wrestling all-star.
A member of the National Honor Society and French National Honor Society, Wittenrich will attend Robert Morris University, study sports media, and hopes to be the school’s long-snapper.
His favorite football memory was “defeating Geneseo in the last game of the season.”
Pearson was a 5-11, 140-pound wide receiver/defensive back. He was a Section 6 Class C South all-star and MVP of the sectional championships.
He is also a Scholar Athlete and Tom Calzone award winner and aspires to be a roofer and study the business trades.
Pearson’s favorite football memory was “winning sectionals and playing in the NYS Final Four.”
