Brookfield's Livingston and O'Brien and Sharon's Senak announce future plans

April 28, 2008 07:41 pm

— Randy Clark continues to build Brookfield High’s football program in terms of Warriors’ wins, but Clark can take justifiable pride in perhaps a scholastic coach’s most meaningful statistic:
“In the last three years, these are our (7th and 8th) kids attending college for academics and to play football,” Clark confided.
Seniors Devin O’Brien and A.K. Livingston announced they will continue their educations and gridiron careers at John Carroll University and Westminster College, respectively.
The pitch-catch combo were Warriors’ weapons in ’07. Last fall O’Brien orchestrated the offense by passing for 762 yards and 11 touchdowns, the majority of which were hauled in by Livingston (31 receptions for 455 yards, 14.6 yards/catch, and 4 TDs). O’Brien also rushed for 791 yards and 6 scores, and defensively was credited with 64 tackles. For his efforts, he was rewarded with 1st-team All-Trumbull Athletic Conference laurels.
Two years ago the versatile Livingston led the TAC-8 in interceptions (7) and was named to the conference’s 1st team as a safety. Last season he was the loop’s 1st-team wide-out, Clark noted.
Regarding his choice of JCU, O’Brien wrote to The Herald: “I love the campus and the academics will be a challenge, because I know it is a tough school. I want to major in business management with a minor in marketing.
“I really liked the coaches,” O’Brien continued regarding the Blue Streaks. “They run a spread offense, similar to the University of Florida where the QB can move around, roll out, run the ball and throw on the run, which I like to do.”
As a youngster, O’Brien was part of St. Joseph’s Parochial state championship basketball team, coached by his father Chris; Kennedy Catholic High’s ’05 District 10 football championship team, coached by Mike Donato, and was an accomplished roller- and ice-hockey player in the western Pennsylvania/Northeast Ohio circuit.
O’Brien, who also considered Waynesburg, Gannon and the University of Central Florida, concluded, “I want to thank my dad, my step-mom Laura, my mom Heather Wassil, and coaches Mike Filipovich, Walt Nogay and Randy Clark.”
According to Clark Livingston maintains an impressive 3.4 grade-point-average at Brookfield, while O’Brien has a 2.7 GPA.
ä Alex Senak, Sharon High senior southpaw pitching ace, signed a letter-of intent to play baseball at Malone College, Canton.
A son of Gayle and Stan Senak, Sharon, he is a 3.20 GPA student and has been flawless thus far tossing for 5th-year Tigers taskmaster Bill Dorfi. Senak stands 4-0 on the mound with an earned run average of approximately 2 and has 23 strikeouts. Offensively, he carries a .381 batting average with 1 home run, 5 RBIs and an outstanding .857 OBP (on-pass percentage). He also played basketball for Sharon bench boss Brian Hoover.
“Alex is a top-notch kid in the classroom and personally,” Dorfi praised. “Last year he was our most improved player. Beteen his sophomore and junior years he worked his rear-end off and improved his baseball skills.
“Then last year (when the Tigers clawed their way to the District 10 title) he practically drove us to the playoffs on the mound. And so far this year, he’s taking charge.”

Ed Farrell is assistant sports editor for The Herald

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