SAEGERTOWN, Pa. – The spirit of the Brooks-Huwar-Leadbetter Sportsperson of the Year award is someone who is a good person, a leader, and someone who makes a difference in the community, and 2023 winner Brady Greco is the perfect embodiment of that.
Greco is a 2023 graduate of Saegertown High School and currently a freshman at Hiram College in Ohio.
Greco received the BHL Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.
And while his athletic prowess in high school was impressive, it pales in comparison to the man that Greco is and the difference he has made in his community.
“It’s a big part of my life and something I value, the characteristics of showing respect and helping others,” Greco said of his community involvement. “With something like the Special Olympics, it shows the happiness that comes with those who may be discriminated against, and that is really fulfilling, seeing how happy they were.”
Greco’s involvement with the Special Olympics is just one of many areas where he has made a difference in the community.
Through the National Honor Society, Greco had a chance to get involved in the “Read Across America” program.
“We got to read the kids Dr. Seuss books and talked to them about what high school is like,” Greco noted.
Through his work with “Santa’s Workshop,” Greco was able to give back at Christmas time.
“We got to wrap presents for kids and give back to the families,” Greco said.
Remarkably, all of that doesn’t even come close to covering all of Greco’s community involvement.
With his involvement in Key Club, he has done things like rake leaves for the elderly and read books at the elementary school.
Through the Young Conservative Club, a club in its infancy stages, Greco has participated in service projects such as handing out candy canes at Christmas and promoting people to get out and vote regardless of party affiliation.
Greco has also spearheaded an effort to give flags to veterans at Thanksgiving at numerous local nursing homes.
He is also actively involved at his church, St. Bernadette’s in Saegertown, and, as a standout volleyball and basketball player, has volunteered as a junior high referee for the local elementary basketball league in addition to being a clinician for elementary volleyball.
Through his involvement with National Honor Society, Greco was drawn toward elementary education, his intended major at Hiram.
“Doing community service events through the National Honor Society really made me choose that in 11th and 12th grade,” Greco said.
Greco also draws tremendous strength from his faith.
“Personally, it’s God,” Greco said of his biggest influences. “Tim Tebow through his charity work and my grandfather, who is a big role model in my life. Also, my parents and sister have been absolutely wonderful over the years to make me the person I am today.”
Greco’s athletic resume is pretty impressive as well. He was a 1,000-point scorer in basketball, playing for his father Chris, and a standout volleyball player, a sport he is continuing to play at the collegiate level at Hiram.
“Through basketball I was able to make memories with all my teammates and achieve a feat (1,000-point scorer) that very few do,” Greco said. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity to play basketball. It’s been awesome to play four years for my dad.
“Volleyball, same thing. The memories were unforgettable. Senior Night where we reversed swept (got down 2-0 before winning the final three) Mercyhurst Prep, who made it to the state semifinals, I can’t even describe it.”
Now, Greco is continuing to make a difference at Hiram, a place where he feels at home.
“From an academic standpoint, all the advisors were very caring,” he said. “They will go to bat for you. From an athletic standpoint, coach (Glen) Conley and the guys were super nice. It felt like home away from home. The campus is really small and you can make yourself known.”
The Brooks-Huwar-Leadbetter Sportsperson of the Year Award and accompanying scholarship is awarded to an athlete who competed in at least one full season in either District 9 or District 10 and who display qualities of being a good person, a leader, community-minded and wanting to make a difference. The award was born out of an impromptu act of sportsmanship during a game in 2020 between rivals Clarion and Clarion-Limestone. The scholarship is being run through Bridge Builders Community Foundation in Oil City. The scholarship and the award were the ideas of Bryan Huwar, who then reached out to D9and10Sports.com and Bridge Builders to make the award and scholarship a reality.
Greco is the second recipient of the award, joining Brockway’s Selena Buttery, who was the inaugural award winner in 2021-22.
