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For: September 08, 2010
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Polar Bear Trio Set To Take The Next Step
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BYNICK CAMMUSO TIMES WEST VIRGINIAN
FAIRMONT — Logan Moore, Aaron Fetty and Remington Skarzinski know all about turnarounds.
In three short years, they helped Fairmont Senior’s football team go from .500 to the doorstep of the state semifinals.
Now, the trio is part of the group that hopes to return Fairmont State University to prominence after each signed with the Falcons on Wednesday.
“That’d be nice to be the freshman class that leaves as a senior class on top, that gives Fairmont State a rebirth, a new name. That’d be nice,” Fetty said.
While FSU has fallen on hard times in recent years — three winning seasons over the past decade, and a 3-8 mark in 2009 — its new recruits believe good things are on the horizon.
It starts with fourth-year head coach Mike Lopez, who doesn’t just strive to build a consistent winner, but wants to do it with homegrown, West Virginia talent.
This season’s recruiting class has followed that plan to a tee.
Of the 17 players signed so far by the Falcons, 13 were plucked from in-state high schools. Three of those recruits — Moore (Kennedy Award), Skarzinski (Huff Award) and South Charleston offensive lineman Blake Brooks (Hunt Award) — were finalists for the state’s top prep awards, with Brooks winning the Hunt.
“He wants to build a West Virginia player-based dynasty, a West Virginia powerhouse, etc,” Skarzinski said of Lopez. “He wants hometown kids, local kids, winning the conference. He felt like he needed to get hometown kids.
“I think Coach Lopez is getting it turned around,” Skarzinski continued. “He’s got me motivated — and I know he’s got these guys motivated — enough that we signed and agreed to play football there.”
Added Moore: “Coach Lopez believes in West Virginia kids, that they can compete at the next level.”
The Falcons’ coaching staff feels that Moore can compete right away for the starting quarterback spot as a true freshman next season.
Moore certainly has the credentials. He’s the all-time passing leader in Fairmont Senior history (3,286 yards and 68 touchdowns) and threw for 2,572 yards and 31 touchdowns this past season. He also rushed for 609 yards and 11 scores as the Polar Bears went 10-2 and won the NCAC title.
The signal caller was looking for a Division I scholarship but interest was limited to walk-on opportunities.
“My parents and everyone told me to go where you’re wanted,” Moore said. “The opportunities as a walk-on isn’t the same as a kid coming in on scholarship.”
With the Falcons, he’ll be teamed with Fetty, who caught 64 passes for 1,004 yards and 13 scores last year. Fetty, who became the first receiver in school history to reach the 1,000-yard mark in a single season, finished his prep career with 121 receptions for 1,845 yards and 19 touchdowns.
So will the duo continue to pick apart defenses as firstyear Falcons?
“No,” Moore said.
“Nah,” Fetty said.
While both are plenty confident, they know college football success will require an adjustment period.
“The game definitely speeds up, so we’ll have to adjust,” Moore said. “But we’ll be all right.”
Skarzinski’s adjustment might be dealing with a position switch. An inside linebacker with the Polar Bears, he’ll likely be moved outside in college. He had 169 total tackles in his final high school season.
Wherever he plays, Skarzinski can’t wait to get started.
“I’m excited. I’m stoked,” he said. “I want to get out there and on the field as soon as possible.”
And getting on the field might happen sooner or later, as numerous positions are likely up for grabs heading into FSU spring ball.
“There’s openings, ours for the taking. We just have to work hard, learn the system and show them what we have,” Fetty said. “Hopefully we can take it from high school to the next level.”
WFHS TV NEWS thanks the Times West Virginian for the collaborative partnership since 1999.
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