So here we are two months into the New Year, and I have one question for you. How are you doing on your resolutions? Yeah, that's what I thought.

However, Tim Frye from Mars made a resolution to himself two years ago when he entered the University of Pittsburgh that he would make the men's basketball squad. For those of you who are unaware of how challenging that is, it's like me deciding to write for Time Magazine.

Skeptics told him he was crazy. He wasn't even offered a scholarship, and a torn ACL during his high school years further reduced Tim's likelihood of success.

Yet through hard work, persistence and a chance to grow bigger in the offseason, Tim made the final cut this past fall. He's even seen some action this season and has drained a few three-pointers during his court time, including one at Madison Square Garden this past winter.

You can call it what you want, or call it March Madness, but the Hollywood ending guy in me can't let this story go unnoticed any longer.

How do you go from having a torn ACL and entering college with no scholarship to playing in Madison Square Garden and meeting Coach K from Duke because you made a resolution to yourself more than two years ago?

The answer is simple: hard work and lots of it.

He struggled mentally to get through the torn ACL, Frye's former coach, Rob Carmody, said. But the injury for Tim really was a blessing. He realized how badly he wanted this.

A natural athlete, Frye was forced to work even harder to achieve success.

"Coach Carmody bought a membership to the local athletic club so that he could work out with me at 6:30 every morning," Frye said from his cell phone between classes. "It's so obvious that he cares about each of his players. If you're successful in your life, and the team isn't, he's still met his goal as a coach."

That logic is hard to dispute.

Coach Carmody agrees, saying "that as far as life goes, I hope that kids leave the program with a sense of passion, whether it is as a friend, a dad, a student, a basketball player, whatever. If you live with passion, things will go well for you."

And while some would be eager to see the big world and forget their roots, Frye is still an active member of the Mars athletic program, often stopping by to watch some games or hang out with current athletes.

In fact, the night after playing in Madison Square Garden, Frye attended a Mars game in Kittanning to give support to his former coach turned mentor and friend.

That's the way Tim is, Mars High School athletic director Scott Heinauer said. "He comes home, kids get to see him and he's kind of their inspiration that they can do it if they work hard."

Heinauer isn't just talking athletics, either. Frye is a good student as well, and he knows the value an education can bring.

"My main focus is still on academics, and there is no real future in basketball after this. My main goal is to get a degree so that I can get a good job," Frye said.

Something tells me he will meet that goal, too, in addition to the one he's met already. I wonder if he's made a 10-year resolution?

Christian Ola, a community columnist for the Butler Eagle, resides in Mars with his wife, son and daughter and can be reached at christianolac@aol.com.