2 Butler and Freeport WRs are making history starting for SRU football. Can they do even more than that?
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — They didn’t come from far away, but John Sabo and Ethan Trettel appreciate the journey regardless.
And Slippery Rock University’s starting wide receivers used different paths to get there.
“Neither one of us was highly recruited out of high school,” Sabo said. “We’ve worked for what we’ve gotten, and I’m excited to see what we can do this year.”
Sabo was a standout receiver for Slippery Rock High School. His father was a defensive end for SRU and is a volunteer on the coaching staff. Sabo broke into the lineup as a sophomore last year and tallied 24 receptions for 387 yards and four touchdowns.
Trettel did not play football at all until his senior year at Butler. After putting together a productive season with the Golden Tornado, he decided to try walking on to the roster at SRU — and was told to go home.
“No openings at the time, but I was invited to try again the following year,” Trettel said. “I was definitely coming back. I love this game.”
Trettel made the roster that following year and worked his way on to special teams. He saw limited action at receiver last year, catching five passes for 57 yards.
Entering this season, Sabo and Trettel are the first Butler County products to start as a tandem at receiver for The Rock in decades.
“We’re pretty proud of that,” Sabo said. “Our goals are the same: be productive and help the team win.”
Their method toward achieving that?
“Just keep the head down and keep working,” Sabo said.
Trettel said he plans to continue helping out on special teams. Two things have eluded him in his collegiate career, and he sorely wants to rope them in.
“We haven’t won a PSAC championship in my four years here,” Trettel said. “This is my last shot at that. Yeah, and I want to score my first touchdown. I want to experience what that feels like.
“Making all-conference would be a nice way to go out, too.”
Sabo finished second on the team in receptions, yards and receiving TDs last year, trailing only the graduated Latrell Sutton. But no Rock receiver broke 500 yards during a 6-4 season, a milestone Trettel thinks he and Sabo can eclipse.
“I want to be the go-to guy in the passing game this year,” Sabo said. “That’s my mindset. Finishing my blocks is a big part of that, too. Having a running back like JayJay (Jordan) is going to force defenses out of zone coverage to load up the box.
“We’re going to get a lot of 1-on-1 coverage on the outside. We need to take advantage of that.”
Wide receivers coach Jalen Jackson likes what he has in Sabo and Trettel. Other receivers will be in the mix, as well.
But Jackson anticipates breakout seasons from both.
“Sabo is a vocal player and a physical receiver,” the coach said. “He’s got a big, athletic frame (6-foot-2, 205 pounds), can make plays in traffic and can get down the field. No doubt, he will be a prime target.
“Trettel has the best hands on the team. I would trust that guy with my life. He gives 110% effort all the time, that’s how he’s gotten to the position he’s in. He’s a classic first-down type of guy, a receiver who will move the sticks for us.”
Sabo believes he and Trettel have been overlooked.
“We like it that way,” he said. “Just keep getting better. People will notice us.”
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Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz, center, debriefs the team during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Snow during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Snow runs through a drill during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Snow looks to make a play during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Ethan Trettel shakes a defender during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer protects the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer runs with the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer cuts the corner during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer runs with the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer receives a kickoff during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's JayJay Jordan, left, runs the ball with Martel Palmer, right, alongside him during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz walks out with the players during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz watches a play during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens throws a pass while a defender closes in during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's JayJay Jordan receives a kickoff during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's JayJay Jordan looks for room to run during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz talks to his players during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Snow runs through a drill during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens passes to a receiver during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens throws the ball to a receiver during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens throws a short pass during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Martel Palmer cuts the corner during football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
