Sacco receives Carnahan Award
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter
For decades, John Sacco has pursued the career he’s loved: Journalism.
On Wednesday, the 63-year-old Sacco got a big thank you for his efforts.
Sacco was presented with the prestigious Dow Carnahan Media Award yesterday at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference’s media day.
Sacco was contacted by Brian Rose, Associate Commissioner and Director of Communications for the PAC.
“I was pretty stunned,” Sacco said. “I felt real humbled.”
Sacco was presented the award by his son, Jack.
“They picked (the presenter), I didn’t,” said Sacco. “That was perfect. He’s a lot smarter than me and he can do a lot more things than me. But I’m not going to lie. It was pretty special.”
Sacco is a 1980 graduate of Washington High School and a 1984 graduate of West Liberty University. He began writing in high school.
“I had great English teachers: Ron Faust, Linda Faust. And the two who I cherish: the late Dennis Eklund, and the person who taught me the most about evaluating writing, Victoria Scarmazzi,” Sacco said. “She is one reason why I’m sitting here today.”
Sacco wrote for an inhouse publication, “The Prexies Press,” before heading to college. Upon graduation, he joined the sports staff at the Observer-Reporter newspaper before moving to the news side. He wrote for the Pittsburgh Sports Report while working for American Metal Market. In addition to his journalism work, Sacco also does work as a color analyst for WJPA radio in Washington.
“Byron Smialek was my mentor,” Sacco said. “He taught me never to be satisfied with a story. Reach out and get more. I’ve been blessed. I’ve worked with great people. I’ve learned from really great people and I love to write. It’s what I do.”
Sacco covered W&J football, Pitt basketball, the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1985 to 1991 and harness racing for the O-R. He’s still a contributing writer to the paper today.
“I covered a hall-of-famer in Jim Leyland and Barry Bonds up close,” Sacco said. “Cary Kolat and Dave Palone, also hall of famers. Along the way I made friends.”
Sacco was inducted into the Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and served as President of the Chapter from Nov. 2021-Sept. 2023. His award-winning work in journalism includes five Keystone Press Awards for Outstanding Journalism in Pennsylvania, two Golden Quill Awards for Distinguished Achievement in Journalism in Western Pennsylvania and seven other Golden Quill nominations. Sacco also earned an Editorial Medal of Excellence Award and was selected as one of the three top wrestling writers in the nation by Wrestling USA Magazine in 1991.
Sacco has been heavily involved in the Washington County community. The athletic director in the Monessen School District from 2005-12, he was the Tri-County Athletic Director’s Association Athletic Director of the Year in 2010. Sacco is also a past President of the Tri-County Athletic Director’s Association, was the official scorer for the Washington Wild Things and coached baseball at the youth, high school and college levels for 30 years.
W&J the pick
Washington & Jefferson was selected the No. 1 team in the preseason poll at the PAC media day Wednesday.
W&J, led by 23rd-year head coach Mike Sirianni, secured 17 first-place votes and 431 total points in the poll.
“I didn’t expect that,” said Sirianni. “Everyone wants attention. The last couple years we don’t feel we got the attention we deserved from the success we’ve had. So we’ll grab it. We know there is a target on our backs.
Grove City College, which was one of three teams to tie for the PAC title a season ago, was selected second with 13 first place votes and 413 points. Westminster College was picked third with 12 first-place votes and 400 points. Waynesburg came in 6th with 260 points.
Geno’s last stand
Geneva head coach Geno Demarco will coach his final season in 2025, the 33rd of his illustrious career. He has compiled a 167-158 record.
“I’ll be head coach this year, then my title will be grandpa, husband, I don’t know,” Demarco said. “I’m a dinosaur.”