Earning a college athletic scholarship was never on David Zirnsak's high school agenda.

He nearly didn't compete in athletics at all.

"I was midway through my high school career and wanted to participate in something," Zirnsak said. "I was a swimmer when I was younger and gymnastics looked like a sport where I could use some of those skills."

The 1969 Butler High School graduate joined the gymnastics team his junior year, but he didn't letter until his senior season. Now, he'll be joining the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame at the organization's annual banquet April 29 at the Butler Days Inn.

"I feel so honored," Zirnsak said. "It's been fun strolling down memory lane. ... This is the last thing I could have expected."

Zirnsak said he didn't letter during his junior year in high school because "I hadn't developed the skills or experience to compete in a meet during that time."

But he spent that season working with Butler coach and Hall of Famer Dave McKinnis and quickly discovered the still rings was his best event.

Zirnsak didn't wait until his senior year to hone his skills. He built a still rings set in his backyard and practiced on it all summer.

"Some of the guys came over and we worked out every day," Zirnsak said.

Throughout his senior season, Zirnsak improved on the still rings, but he never won. He placed second in the Butler Invitational, WPIAL Section 2 qualifier and PIAA regional qualifier.

Finally, during the PIAA championship meet, Zirnsak produced a first-place performance.

"Dave worked with me all year on a double-back dismount," he said. "I kept practicing it, but never tried it in a meet. I tried it in the state meet and landed it. That's what made the difference."

During Zirnsak's junior year, Dan and Dave Rapp of Rochester won the still rings event at the state meet.

"That's when I set my goal to reach their level of execution," Zirnsak said. "It was a building process."

When Zirnsak won the state title, coaches from Georgia Southern University happened to be in the stands scouting. And they offered him nearly a full scholarship.

Zirnsak went on to be named Georgia Southern's Most Valuable Gymnast in 1972-73 and was team captain during his senior year of 1973. He finished third in the 1971 Mid-Florida Gymnastic Championship and placed second in the 1973 Junior National AAU Gymnastic Championship in 1973 after garnering a third-place finish the year before.

Zirnsak used his management degree from Georgia Southern to enjoy a 26-year career with Union Carbide.

"Gymnastics really did set up my life," he said. "I seriously doubt I ever would have gone to college had it not been for that scholarship. Work really hard and you can reach a goal. Gymnastics showed me that and I've lived that."

Zirnsak has been married for 34 years to his high school sweetheart, Nancy, and the couple has three sons: Aaron, 32, Patrick, 26, and Matt, 21. Aaron competed in hockey and golf in school while Matt is currently the starting goaltender for the Penn State-Behrend University men's soccer team.

Zirnsak admitted he had an ulterior motive for joining the Butler gymnastics team so many years ago.

"You always want to impress your girl," he said with a chuckle.

• Lettered his senior year at Butler High School, winning the PIAA championship in still rings• Selected Outstanding College Athlete of America for 1972 and 1973• Named Most Valuable Gymnast at Georgia Southern University in 1972-73• Selected team captain in 1973• Placed third in 1972 Junior National AAU Championship, still rings• Placed second in 1973 Junior National AAU Championship, still ringsThe 41st annual Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame Banquet is at 6:30 p.m. April 29 at the Butler Days Inn. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children, and are available at Moses Jewelers, Bill's Beer Barn, Snack N' Pack or by calling ticket chairman Richard Pribis at 724-482-4200.

<i>This is the fifth in a series of eight articles profiling the 2006 inductees into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame. <i>