The Real Dual Threat - P.J. Sarwinski
This is the second of a series where we appreciate the real dual threats. The duality of being an Athletic All-American and an Academic All-American. Come meet a Playing On Sports Real Dual Threat
I track and report on the NCAA athletic performances of those who have graduated from Missouri and Kansas high schools. Usually that means presenting and discussing numbers and rankings. But, this is different. This series puts high school and collegiate sports into proper perspective. A well rounded quarterback can run and throw. A well rounded athlete can compete in multiple sports. A well rounded person competes on the fields and courts, and in the classroom. A select few arrive at the pinnacle of both. These are their stories.
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Meet P.J. Sarwinski:
As noted above, my territory is Missouri and Kansas high school graduates playing in the NCAA. It is worth noting that P.J. is the only NCAA Division II football player from this area to be named All-American for both athletics and academics. There is one so honored in Division III football. His story is here. There was no area Division I player from this area to be honored for both.
Pittsburg State listed P.J. as a Super Senior last Fall. But he was super before playing his last year of collegiate football. Great coaches love multi-sport athletes. In high school, when P.J. wasn’t busy as a senior becoming a two time Kansas All-State football honoree, he was being named All-State in basketball, baseball, and track and field. Yes, the Galena Bulldog was All-State in four sports. Playing a dual role in P.J.’s life is Beau Sarwinski. On the field and in the locker room, P.J. saw him as Coach. By the time he was home, Beau was back to being Dad. The father-coach/player-son relationship doesn’t always work out well. But, it did in this family. Five time All-State player and valedictorian of his class. That is the result of P.J’s hard work along with his father’s guidance and leadership.
The 2017 Galena grad redshirted his first year at Pittsburg State. He kept working on and off the field during the 2018 season despite not seeing any game action. P.J. worked his way into a reserve roll in 2019, seeing action in every game. Covid stole all but four games of 2020, one of which was P.J.’s first start as a Gorilla. Twenty Twenty-One was the coming out year for this Real Dual Threat. P.J. led Pittsburg State in tackles despite starting only 9 of 11 games. His play garnered attention from beyond the campus. He was named All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American in addition to Academic All-District. P.J. was a captain this last season, a season when he led his team to a 12 and 1 record. They eventually lost at No. 5 Ferris State in the second round of the Division II playoffs. P.J.’s performance and leadership was again noted far and wide. He closed out his collegiate football career as an Athletic All-American and as an Academic All-American. A Real Dual Threat.
P.J.’s college football career may have stretched over six years, but his bachelor’s degree did not. That was accomplished in four years when he receive a degree in mathematics. He followed that up with a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. And building on that, he is now pursuing an EDS in Advanced Studies in Leadership.
The Sarwinski’s have shown that football, education, and leadership can be intergenerational. Like father, like son. We will see where P.J.’s future leads him. I don’t think it will be long.
There are more ‘Real Dual Threats” to come. And not just in football, but other sports, too. Please get your free subscription so you don’t miss any of these exceptional athletes.
The Playing On Sports Real Dual Threats
Luke Schuermann - 2022-23 - Division III Football - St. Louis University High - Johns Hopkins
P.J. Sarwinski - 2022-22 - Division II Football - Galena KS High - Pittsburg State University