O-R Athlete of the Week: Braden Berdar, Trinity
Name: Braden Berdar
Grade: Junior
School: Trinity
Sport: Track and Field
Berdar’s week: Coming in as the top seed in both the high jump and the long jump, Berdar made good on both Friday at the Washington-Greene County track and field meet.
Berdar took home gold medals in each event. He won the long jump with an leap of 21-4 and cleared 6-4 to win the high jump.
He also helped the Trinity 400-meter relay team finish in eighth place.
For his efforts, Berdar was named the overall MVP of the meet.
“It felt really good,” Berdar said. “I was there last year and I wasn’t even close to winning either one of those events. It wasn’t my best day. I didn’t (hit his personal record) in either event, but I did enough to win both of the events and that is all that really matters.
Berdar’s personal record in the long jump is 22-6 and the high jump is 6-6. He’s qualified for WPIALs in both events.
“Basically, I just go out there and try my hardest to do my best,” Berdar said. “It obviously won’t happen every time, but I just hope that I’m consistent enough that I’m able to perform well.”
Ready for WPIALs: Berdar’s personal best marks put him in contention to medal in the long jump and high jump at the WPIAL meet in a couple weeks at Slippery Rock University. He’s ranked in the top five in both events.
Berdar will enter the Baldwin Invitational on Friday and the Last Chance Meet at West Mifflin before WPIALs.
“I’m just going to keep going to practice and putting the hard work in in the weight room and on the track,” Berdar said. “I just hope to keep improving bit by bit until I get to WPIALs. I hope once I’m there at WPIALs I am jumping well that day.”
Football and track: Berdar was a key member of Trinity’s football team that won its first conference title in 39 years last fall. He had 16 receptions for 274 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver and played defensive back.
He started track as a way to stay in shape for football, but has found an equal passion for it.
“I played baseball during the spring pretty much all of my life up until high school, but I ended up quitting baseball,” Berdar said. “I didn’t want to sit around all spring at my house. I wanted something else to do. I picked up track my freshman year in high school and the rest is history from there. I started by doing both the sprinting and jumping events and the jumping events worked out better for me, so I’ve been continuing to do them.”
Berdar is open to doing both football and track in college.
“I haven’t gone anywhere on a visit yet, but I’m looking forward to the summer and going on a couple visits to see where I fit in for either one of the sports or both,” Berdar said.
Hitting the links: When he isn’t playing football or participating in track, Berdar has picked up another sport as a hobby.
He enjoys playing golf whenever his schedule allows.
“I went out (Saturday) with a couple of my friends and we played a round,” Berdar said. “It’s something fun to do to pass the time. It’s outside and it takes up a lot of time. It’s always a good thing to do with your friends and I love hanging out with my friends.”
Compiled by Jerin Steele