New members of the Brookfield Warrior Hall of Fame include, from left, Tori Thompson, Brad Harnett, Norm McKnight, Tim Filipovich, P.J. Vrankovich and Wendy Shaffer.
As a football lineman, the only time Norm McKnight ever heard his name called out was when he committed a penalty, he said.
He heard his name called out for a much different reason on Oct. 18, when he was inducted into the Brookfield Warrior Hall of Fame.
“To be able to be in the hall with some of the greatest athletes in Brookfield history, some of my mentors, coaches, peers, teammates, it’s extremely meaningful to me,” McKnight said. “But, at the same time, it’s a little bit hard to accept the personal recognition. You see, I was a lineman. We live our lives in the trenches, not in the spotlight. Our stats don’t show up in the box score. When you take on that role, you accept all responsibility and you expect no personal gratification.”
McKnight graduated in 1995 – as valedictorian – with three letters in football and one in baseball. He was captain of the 1994 gridiron squad, and won first team honors on the Trumbull Athletic Conference and All-County teams in 1993 and 1994. He attended Dartmouth College and was a two-year starter.
Wrestler Brad Harnett showed the same sense of humility as McKnight.
“It’s a huge honor for me to even be up here, to be with you guys, and for all the amazing athletes that have come through Brookfield, such a rich history,” Harnett said. “The fact that I’m even a part of this is kind of out of my mind. I’ve always looked at myself as more of like a team player and not as (an) individual.”
A 2007 graduate, Harnett compiled a career record of 122-47 and finished seventh at state in 2004-05 at 130 pounds. He lettered four years in wrestling and three in football. He also wrestled in the state tournament in 2006-07, and earned Eastern Ohio Wrestling League honors three years and county honors two years. He teaches world history at Brookfield Middle School.
Also inducted Oct. 18 were:
- Larry Smoot, who coached the golf team from 2012-2021. His teams placed fifth at state in 2016 and 2017, second in 2018 and fourth in 2019, and he coached two second-place state finishers, Conner Stevens in 2018 and Justin Atkinson in 2019. He coached several district and sectional championship teams and earned numerous coach of the year honors.
- The 1991-92 girls basketball team, which finished with a record of 20-5 and made it to the regional finals. Tim Filipovich coached players Morgan Lordo, Nicole Kelley, Shalawn Pierce, Julie Bobby, Sue Chomos, Dawn Donato, Mindy Hrybiniak, Angel Koss, Lisa Poltar, Wendy Shaffer, P.J. Vrankovich, Janine Bowser, Jonelle Kish and Wendey Komorek.
- Pete Sirianni, a 1998 graduate who lettered four years in golf. He finished sixth at state in 1996, was first team All-League for three years and won the Preview Tournament and the Tam O’Shanter Invitational in 1997. He went on to play golf at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
- Tori Thompson, a 2013 graduate who earned four letters each in track and volleyball and three in basketball. A hurdler, she was one of the highest-scoring track athletes in Brookfield history. She placed fifth at state in the 300-meter hurdles in 2012 and ninth in 2013, and was Lowellville Invitational MVP in 2012. She had more than 1,000 assists as a volleyball player, and also ran hurdles and relays at Youngstown State University.
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