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Pahanish, Rash humble co-recipients of prestigious TJ football honorWhen the players on the Thomas Jefferson football team cast their votes for this year's Breisinger Award winner, they took that duty seriously, like they do every year.
And, like always, they put careful thought and consideration into who among their teammates was most deserving of the award named after a fallen hero and given annually to the senior who “most exemplifies what it means to be Thomas Jefferson football player.”
The big difference this year, however, was that when the votes were counted, two players were tied at the top. In fact, those two players — Garrett Pahanish and Anthony Rash — accounted for more than 90 percent of the total vote.
“These two kids got like 95 percent of the total vote,” Bill Cherpak, Thomas Jefferson's head coach, said. “It's very evident that the kids felt Anthony and Garrett were deserving, which is why we didn't do a tiebreaker or anything. The vote was so overwhelmingly in favor of these two, that it was obvious they both deserved it. It would have been a slight to one to try to do a tiebreaker.”
The Breisinger Award is named after former Pleasant Hills police officer Albert Breisinger, who died in 1979 while attempting to save children from a sinkhole. The award recognizes a player for hard work, community work and academics, not simply football performance.
There is, perhaps, no distinction within the Thomas Jefferson football program more respected than being named the Breisinger Award winner.
“When the kids are picking the winner, you can't hide. The kids know who's working hard,” Cherpak said. “This is not an MVP, this goes to someone who most epitomizes want we want representing the program. The award is not just about football. It goes to a good person, someone who works hard, someone who puts the team first. That's not to say there couldn't have been even more players who also deserved it, but these two stood above the others.”
GARRETT PAHANISH
Cherpak described Pahanish, a 5-foot-11, 240-pound offensive lineman, as “a completely unselfish player.”
A starter on offense, Pahanish played several spots on the line and saw some action on the defensive line as well.
“He moved wherever we needed him ... he's the complete team player,” Cherpak said. “He kind of got overshadowed by all of the great lineman we've had. He never got much notoriety, but he always worked harder and played harder than any kid out there. He was the kid who gave you everything he had.”
Pahanish said winning the Breisinger award is “a big honor.”
“It's such a huge thing. Every year, going into that banquet, guys are thinking about who's going to win it. When I found out I won, my first feeling was just pride,” Pahanish said.
Pahanish said the outpouring of congratulations has been touching.
“People all throughout the community have said something,” he said. “When I went into school, I can't tell you how many teachers, secretaries and other people pull you aside to tell you congratulations.”
Pahanish added that the fact that the award is voted on by his teammates made winning all the more special.
“It's not teachers, not coaches who vote on it, just your peers,” he said. “You get to know all the guys pretty well. You spend how many months together around the same people, building these relationships. It feels good to be voted the winner by your peers.”
Pahanish quickly added that plenty of his teammates were just as deserving.
“There are a lot of kids on the team who could have won. We have an awesome senior class,” he said. “The first person I shook hands with was Anthony Rash. I couldn't think of a better person to split the award with.”
Pahanish has a grade point average of 3.8 and plans to study criminal justice in college.