This Week's Big 30 Selections

This year’s Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic will be dedicated to Staff Sergeant Kenneth Van Giesen who gave his life to preserve our freedom while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan on July 18, 2011.

Ken was a three year letterman in football from Kane Area High School who played offensive center in the Raabe Classic on August 7, 1999.

Six more area seniors have accepted invitations to play in the 39th Annual game on August 4, 2012, at Bradford’s Parkway Field. They are:

Jacob Boll
Bolivar Richburg Central School
Off: Wide Receiver Def: Linebacker
Height: 6’2” Weight: 185 lbs.

Jacob plans to attend St. John Fisher after graduation to study nursing with the intention of becoming a nurse anesthesiologist. He was honored as a Livingston County all star for the 2011 season and was Bolivar-Richburg’s Scholar Athlete for 2010 and 2011. He played baseball and basketball in 2011 and received the Susan B. Anthony award and the Frederick Douglas award in 2011. Jacob’s most memorable sports thrill was scoring his first varsity touchdown in his first start at quarterback. He feels that this will probably be his final opportunity to play organized football and the Raabe Classic provides a chance to go out on a good note. A fan of the Buffalo Bills and Fred Jackson, he enjoys video games and paintball in his free time.

Alex Hutcheson
Coudersport High School
Off: Receiver Def: Cornerback
Height: 6’0” Weight: 165 lbs.

Alex plans to attend Florida Institute of Technology in pursuit of a degree in civil engineering. He was named most improved senior after the 2011 season and was the offensive and defensive player of the week for October 20, 2011. He is excited to play in the Big 30 game so he can look back decades from now and enjoy a great achievement. Winning the first seven games of the season his senior year was his greatest sports thrill. Alex’s free time is spent skiing.

Corey Vail
Pioneer Central School
Off: Running-back Def: Linebacker
Height: 5’ 11” Weight: 180 lbs.

Corey would like to go to a junior college and play football and wrestle. An Olean Times Herald Big 30 All Star, he hopes to be able to take part in some U.F.C. fighting. He attained both first and second team Western New York all star team honors his senior and junior seasons. He was named a Channel 2 Player of the Week and a Jim Kelly Player of the Week in the 2011 season. Corey loves playing football and loves the big hit and thinks playing in the Big 30 Game will be a great life experience. Deon Sanders and the Buffalo Bills are his favorite N.F.L. choices.

Michael Shuey
Johnsonburg High School
Off: Guard Def: Linebacker
Height: 6’5” Weight: 200 lbs

Mike plans to enroll at Penn State University or High Point University in North
Carolina where he will take up a course of study in the medical field and participate in the track and field team’s javelin events. An Allegany Mountain League all star his junior and senior years, Mike also was a district champion javelin thrower and a medalist at the state meet. The Charities Classic is a tradition for the Shuey family since Mike’s brother Matt has played in the game as has his brother-in-law, Russ Myers. He looks forward to helping some great charitable causes and the fun of playing with former rivals. When asked about thrills and memories in sports Mike said, “…although we had a dismal senior season our team worked hard and stuck together.” In his leisure moments he enjoys the outdoors and raises chickens and ducks.

Alex Sternisha
Gowanda Central School
Off: Quarterback Def: Safety
Height: 6’1” Weight: 180 lbs.

Alex is undecided in his college choice but plans to pursue a four year course in political science and economics. He was a member of the National Honor Society, a Western New York Scholar Athlete and his team’s most valuable player. He was the recipient of the Howard Milks Memorial Award and named the Class C North first team quarterback both his junior and senior years. Alex wants to play in the Big 30 Game for one last chance to play high school football and feels it will be nice to enjoy all the festivities while raising money for charity. His biggest thrill came on Senior Night when the game, which had playoff implications, was won on a late defensive stand. In his free time Alex enjoys hanging with friends and playing sports. He is a fan of the Buffalo Bills and Peyton Manning is his favorite NFL player.

Eric Matheson
Ridgway High School
Off: Running-back Def: Safety
Height: 5’10” Weight: 130 lbs.

Eric is planning to attend a four year college and study sports management and play on the basketball team. An Olean Times Herald Big 30 All Star, he was also an Allegany Mountain League all star in 2011, a District 9 first team all star for basketball in 2010 and 2011, as well as a Allegany Mountain league basketball all star in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He made the league’s all tourney team in 2010 and was named tourney MVP in 2011. Eric’s hobbies include pick–up basketball and golf. Beating archrival Johnsonburg was his biggest sports thrill. He was honored to be selected to the OTH Big 30 All Star team and thinks it the next step to play in the game. The Oakland Raiders and Darrin McFadden are his NFL faves.

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