FNL: Featuring Owen Pettina
By: MAKENNA WILLIAMS
Bellefonte Area High School’s (BAHS) senior football player, Owen Pettina, continuously proves his leadership on and off the field. His coaches and teammates know Owen is a great teammate with a positive attitude, who has made consistent progress over the season.
BAHS football head coach, Tony Confer, sees how Owen has been an important teammate this season. He always picks his teammates up when they are down, and looks for the positive in every outcome. Coach Confer would like to see Owen reach his full potential in his football career.
“Owen has made a tremendous impact on the defensive side of the ball for us this season,” Coach Confer said.
As for Owen’s achievements this season he has been chosen as a team captain by his teammates and selected as a member of Leadership Council by his coaches for his commitment and effort towards the team. Owen has been playing football for ten years, and has deserved both titles.
With eight and a half tackles for loss, six sacks, and six quarterback hurries, Owen’s contribution to the team makes him and his efforts very valuable among the coaches and players. As the season progresses, Owen has shown his perseverance and dedication towards the sport in his quickly increasing stats per game as he causes two fumbles and recovered one this season.
Through Bellefonte’s 2023-2024 football season, Owen’s number (70) has been heard several times a game as he defends his team all over the field with twenty-eight tackles. Owen’s hard work and positive attitude towards the game has earned him the Golden Hammer award three times this year, as well as being selected as “Raider of the Week” on multiple occasions.
Pettina says that his favorite part of being a part of the football team is that they get to “Come together as a team trying to compete”.
Owen has had an impressive impact on the defensive side of the ball this season. As well as being a team leader, motivator, and consistent player which has led him to acquire many awards throughout the season. Some of his accomplishments so far include being nominated for the Centre County Athlete of the week for the past two weeks, and being chosen as Bellefonte’s Athlete of the Month. Owen’s coaches, teammates, staff, and peers look forward to seeing where Owen takes his football career after highschool.
