Published Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997
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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Todd Smargiasso
Smargiasso a product of athletic blue bloods
Wilmington High quarterback Todd Smargiasso looks for an open receiver as Demetrius Rich (1) provides protection. Smargiasso has sparkled through five games, helping guide the AA Greyhounds to a 5-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in the state. (David E. Dale/Herald) |
Herald Sports Writer
Some athletes encounter difficulty when attempting to follow in an older sibling's footsteps. But Wilmington Area High School's Todd Smargiasso has thrived in that venture, taking the concept to a new level.
Smargiasso is a product of athletic blue bloods, as his older brothers, Jason and Heath, both were stalwarts during their Wilmington days. Unlike his brothers, however, Smargiasso has the opportunity to win a state title, something his siblings approached, but never realized.
And because of his efforts thus far this season, he has been selected as The Herald's Sports Extra inaugural Male Athlete of the Month.
Jason Smargiasso directed Wilmington to back-to-back WPIAL District 7 championships during the '87 and '88 seasons, and ultimately to the '88 PIAA title tilt, where the 'Hounds fell to Bethlehem Catholic.
Todd took Wilmington to the Western Regional semifinals a year ago, where the 'Hounds bowed to Tyrone for the second straight season. This year, however, Wilmington has been selected by the Harrisburg Patriot-News as the state's No. 1-rated Class AA contingent since the season's outset. And the club has lived up to its advanced billing, as it has outscored its first five foes by an aggregate 190-23 margin.
Interestingly, when comparing the brothers Smargiasso, veteran Greyhounds' mentor Terry Verrelli spoke of them simultaneously in both the past and present tense, as though the two were _ and are _ contemporaries.
``He's the spitting-image of Jason,'' Verrelli said of Todd. ``They're both tall, they both do a great job of running the team as the quarterback. They're not only athletes, but both were great leaders, and you obviously have to have that.
``I think the players we have right now, several of them, compare to some of the great talents that I've coached at Wilmington,'' Verrelli continued, ``and (Todd) fits in as one of those kids. He and his brother are two of the finest athletes I've been able to coach.''
To date, Smargiasso's numbers (33 completions in 42 attempts for 770 yards, and 15 carries for 119 markers and 2 TDs) are impressive, yet economical. His most gaudy statistics are his completion percentage (78.6) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (10-1).
But with the stable of speedsters at his disposal (Jon Tekac, Doug Dudash and Demetrious Rich), Smargiasso has not been called on to pass or run all that frequently. However, that, too, is a strong suit, according to Verrelli.
``He's human. He's a great passer and likes to throw the football and I'm sure things don't please him sometimes. But that's the mark of a championship team, the ones that will end up doing what has to be done to get there. That's probably a good way to put Todd.
`` ... But he's a great athlete,'' Verrelli emphasized.
Smargiasso, like Jason, ``an A-B'' student, Verrelli said, applies that cerebral approach when engineering Wilmington's offense, evidenced by his decision-making when executing the option. But beyond that, Verrelli is most impressed with another intangible:
``It's probably a combination of things, but if there was one thing, it would be his confidence ...
``My feeling is, in order to be a great quarterback, you have to be able to do more than throw the football and call plays,'' Verrelli related, ``and that definitely describes him and his brother. They both have got good speed and run with the ball, too, and are great passers. But he has that great impromptu thinking and really hurts you when you think you've got him pinned in. Those two will always come up with something.''
Regarding the '97 Greyhounds and Smargiasso's significance, Verrelli said, ``I think this team actually is built on several leadership-type kids and he's one of them. But he's in that position where he has to do it, whether he wants to or doesn't, being the quarterback. But he's accepted that responsibility very well.''
Having players like Jason, Heath (a 2-way back, who walked on at the University of Tennessee and eventually earned a scholarship, according to Verrelli) and Todd is a luxury even the venerable Verrelli sometimes has taken for granted.
``That's something you do realize. I had the opportunity to have his brother for several years, then he comes along, too. You soon realize how valuable it is to have that many talents.''
Harboring collegiate aspirations, Smargiasso is presently primed to do something even his prolific brothers did not by leading Wilmington to the PIAA promised land. And an accomplishment of that magnitude would indelibly etch the ``kid brother's'' name in Greyhound grid annals.
