蘑菇视频 Athlete of the Week: Derek Routzahn
蘑菇视频 Athlete of the Week
Name: Derek Routzahn
School: Connellsville
Class: Senior
Sport: Golf/Soccer/Football
Routzahn’s week: In golf, Routzahn played a key role in Connellsville’s playoff-clinching win over Uniontown last Thursday and on Monday he advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA individual semifinals along with three teammates. As a kicker/punter in football, Routzahn made a touchdown-saving tackle on a kickoff return to keep Connellsville in the lead and the Falcons would go on to win their first game of the season, 19-7, over Berlin Brothersvalley.
Routzahn, the son of Mark and Cherie of Connellsville, is the rare three-sport participant in one high school season as he also starts for the Connellsville boys soccer team.
Thursday proved to be one of his most hectic days of the year. He started by firing a 41, beating his playing partner by 5 strokes, in the golf match against the Red Raiders at Pleasant Valley Golf Club. The Falcons won, 211-214, to secure a WPIAL playoff spot in Section 2-AAA.
“It was also our senior day. In the middle of the round, Coach Rock (Brent Rockwell) came over and said some of our guys had a couple blowup holes, so we were in the last group and knew that coming in. I felt a little more pressure there, I knew I had to keep playing a solid round.”
That was just the start of Routzahn’s day.
“Right after we finished up there, I had to go straight to football practice and I made it just in time,” Routzahn said. “I worked on special team things. Then I watched some of the soccer JV game and was able to relax for a little bit. And then we had a soccer match against Peters Township at 7:30. After that, I was exhausted. Long day.”
Routzahn had golf matches last Monday, Wednesday and Thursday before this Monday’s Section 2-AAA golf qualifier, played soccer matches on Tuesday and Thursday of last week and played football Friday night.
The Falcons had just taken the lead in the football game in the third quarter but Berlin Brothersvalley looked as if it was going to go right back in front on the ensuing kickoff until Routzahn saved the day.
“I put a deep kick into the right corner but the guy got through a hole,” Routzahn said. “I was around the 50-yard line playing like a safety. I just pretty much dove into him and wrapped up his legs and he went down. The whole team was pretty excited about that. That was a big moment.”
The play kept the momentum in Connellsville’s favor and it would go on to add an insurance touchdown in the fourth quarter with Routzahn adding the extra point.
In Monday’s golf section qualifier at Butler Golf Course’s Woodside course, Routzahn shot 42-37-79 to claim sixth place.
“I was just playing very safe golf, no more than a bogey the whole round,” Routzahn said. “Four of us made it, me, Eli (Armstrong), Ethan (Porreca) and Hunter (Konieczny). I’m very excited. All off-season we were working and really trying to get as many people to qualify as we could. We’re all pretty good friends. We’re pretty close.”
The foursome will compete in the district semifinals on Sept. 24 at Southpointe Golf Club.
Routzahn is a versatile soccer player for the Falcons.
“I kind of play everywhere but most left wing,” Routzahn. “I’ve scored one goal so far, against Greensburg Salem.”
Woodwork
Routzahn said he won’t attend college and instead will go into carpentry.
“I want to go into the Carpenter’s Union,” he said. “Ever since I was little I always liked to work with my hands and I love wood-working. I do little projects around the house like re-doing the porch. I’ll do some things with my dad. I like math a lot, too, and there’s a lot of math in carpentry. I’m a four-year student at the CTC Carpentry program.
“Eventually, I might want to start a business, but we’ll see how everything goes. I would like to start out in the commercial side of carpentry.”
Tidbits
Routzahn has played soccer the longest of the three sports but has grown to love golf. “I’ve played soccer for 14 years and golf for about five years. The last two years golf has really been my main thing, but with our new soccer coach, Bryan Cartwright, it’s now kind of even between those two sports. He’s a friend of my uncle’s.” … Routzahn is left-footed but plays golf right-handed. “It’s pretty abnormal but that’s how I do it.” … His coaches know his situation. “My coaches are all aware I’m playing all these different sports. Coach Rock tries to schedule all our home matches earlier in the day because he knows I have to go other places.” … He’s a middle child. “I have two brothers, Brandon graduated in 2020 and Adam is a sophomore.” … He played youth football. “I was a tight end and a kicker in peewee ball.” … Routzahn showed he’s a team-oriented athlete. When asked what his favorite sport moment was in high school, instead of an individual play, he picked a team accomplishment. “Two years ago we beat Ringgold in overtime on a last-second goal by Seth Basinger,” Routzahn said. “It was great to be on the field for that. That was a big moment for us.”
Compiled by Rob Burchianti