27-03-2025
Warren JFK ace named Student Athlete of the Week
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) — Coming into Warren John F. Kennedy High School, Freddy Bolchalk didn't realize he would one day hold school records.
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'I didn't even know if I was going to even get the pitch at all my freshman or sophomore year,' Bolchalk said.
Fast forward four years, Bolchalk already has two career no-hitters and a school-record 18 strikeouts in one game, before his senior season even begins.
'And then to actually see that I was able to pitch in some playoff games and stuff, it kind of gave me some confidence to keep going out on the mound and do what I usually do,' Bolchalk said.
Bolchalk has not only excelled on the mound for the Eagles, where he posted 99 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched as a junior, but he's spent four years on the football team as well.
The last two seasons, he served as the as starting quarterback on top of being an All-State punter. During his senior season, Bolchalk racked up over 1,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards with 19 total TDs during a turnaround year for the program.
'We just wanted to get that bad taste out of her mouth from her junior year and we all came into the off season hungry, so we worked hard all offseason,' Bolchalk said. 'It kind of showed as our senior year we finished the season off pretty well.'
On top of four years of two varsity sports, he carries that work over into the classroom with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
'My parents always preached to me that schoolwork comes before athletics and stuff, so I feel like if you have a maintain a good grade in the classroom, it kind of like shows that you're willing to care for stuff,' Bolchalk said. 'So if you have good grades in the classroom, then you can show effort on the field and stuff and show you're also trustworthy.'
Making Bochalk the perfect role model for teammates and even younger athletes at Kennedy.
'When I was a younger guy, freshman and sophomore year, I always looked up to the older guys and seek mentorship from them and they'd teach me what I got to do, like what's the right thing to do,' Bolchalk said. 'And now that I'm that age now I feel like I got to pass that on. Teach the younger guys what you're supposed to do and how you're supposed to play the game.'
After graduation, he plans to study civil engineering at The Ohio State University. Warren JFK senior Freddy Bolchalk is our Student Athlete of the Week.
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