Nov. 10, 2010
By Kyle G. Arslanian, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Playing sports often time forges bonds that can span a lifetime. For three players on Penn State's men's soccer team, they have been working on that bond since high school. Senior Drew Cost, junior Mark Fetrow and redshirt freshman Brendan Birmingham all played together at Henderson High School in West Chester, Pa.
"Its pretty cool, I had no idea that all three of us were going to end up here," said junior Mark Fetrow. "I had known Drew (Cost) for awhile so it was nice coming in here, knowing somebody already and then I was happy Brendan (Birmingham) came as well, he's played real well for us."
And all three have been starting for Penn State this year. To have three players on one college team that all played together in high school is remarkable in itself, the fact that they are all starting speaks volumes about their ability as players, and the quality of program they have come from.
"Actually, I'm surprised (to have three starters from Henderson) we are all playing really well right now. Three starters from the same high school is impressive," said Cost. "I guess it would say something about our high school program. We had a great coach, he really emphasized working hard, I think that really helped us coming up here and earning spots."
Henderson soccer coach Mike Lorback has followed the progress of his former players and is proud of the way they have played and the fact that they are all starting for a very good college team. Coach Lorback recalls that while each player was very skilled, they were also different.
"Mark was a hard charging, very fiery competitor; Drew was an exquisite technician who could deliver the perfect ball almost every time; and Brendan really came into his own during his senior year he got big and got confident his senior year and played very well," said coach Lorback. "They're all unique in their own way ad had different personalities, they were all excellent contributors to our team."
Making the transition from high school to college can be difficult as the style of play can change and the competition gets better.
"You are surrounded most of all by a lot more skilled players, in high school there are the good players and then there are less skilled players," said Birmingham. "Here it's just a lot quicker and all the players are up to the college standards."
Cost says playing in high school is very different than playing at Penn State.
"I would say there is a lot more pressure here, it a lot more of a professional environment," said Drew Cost. "Playing in high school; there is nothing like it, playing in front of friends and the hometown crowd and families. It was great to play in high school."
The Penn State Nittany Lions are poised to make a run at the Big Ten Championship on their home turf later this week and they will need their three players from Henderson High School to continue to contribute like they have all season.