Brad Herzlich wins the Jim Henry award

DREXEL HILL – In 1985, in honor of Jim Henry, a long time Maxwell Club member and supporter of high school scholar athletes, the Club awarded the first Jim Henry award for the Maxwell Football Club High School Player of the Year. The Jim Henry award winner represents that unique balance of football prowess, academic excellence and dedicated community service.

Thursday was the 25th annual Jim Henry Awards dinner. Ron Jaworski, “Mr. Invincible” Vince Papale, Dick Vermeil, Ray Didinger and “Football Legend” Tommy McDonald were in the house. The true stars of the night were the 50 Mini-Max winners.

There were past Jim Henry Award winners, 2008 winner Brent Caprio, 2007 winner Steve Rizzo, 2004 winner Ryan Greiser, 2000 winner Joe McCourt, 1999 winner Zak Magid, 1997 winner Brett Gordon, 1994 winner Aaron Harris, 1992 winner Ralph O’Neil, 1989 winner George Blesel, 1988 winner Frank Caccuro III and 1985 winner Mark Dianno.

Former 1997 Jim Henry Award winner Brett Gordon said, “Be proud of yourself getting here. One of you is going to walk away with the award and it is an experience that I hope changes your life in a great way.”

Jaworski, John Henry and past winners presented the 25th winner of the Jim Henry award. The winner was Conestoga’s Brad Herzlich.

Herzlich said, “I am with 49 other great players and I am honored. This is just such a great honor. This is amazing.”

Herzlich is an inside linebacker for Conestoga High School. The past season he was in on 145 tackles, including two for a loss and forced two fumbles. His junior year he recorded 103 tackles, a forced fumble, nine tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Herzlich was named to the All-Central League and Main Line Times All-Area teams.

While Brad’s football contributions are extremely impressive it’s his classroom achievement and community involvement that is beyond comprehension. He has a 4.00 unweighted grade point average (Weighted it’s 5.13). His SAT score is 2260.

He is involved with international mission trips to a multitude of locations including Belize.

The next award from the Maxwell Football Club would honor a legendary head football coach.

The Robert T. Clark Award is for a lifetime contribution to High School Football.  This award went to former Central Bucks West head coach Mike Pettine.

Pettine talked about winning the award, “It was quite a honor being in the category with Bob Clark giving 50 years service to football. “

Pettine coached Central Bucks West for 33 seasons with a record 326-42-4. He won four state championships. He had sixteen undefeated seasons. Twice, Pettine’s teams had 45 plus game win streaks.

Pettine talked about CB West, “A lot of people thought we had talent and certainly we had talent. But it was the dedication and caricature of the kids that bought into the program. One of our mottos was “hard work wins” and they lived it.”