Enrietto awarded for football coverage
The Butler Football Hometown Hero award honors individuals who have made an impact on the high school's program over the years.
When this year's honoree spoke at a Friday evening ceremony to accept the award, it could have been mistaken for a ceremony honoring the leaders of the program instead.
Butler Eagle Sports Editor John Enrietto is this year's Hometown Hero. Now in his 25th year with the paper, Enrietto said it is the coaches and players who not only make his job possible, but a privilege to perform.
“This school is fortunate to have not just the quality of coaches, but the quality of people they have coaching kids here,” Enrietto said. “Every coach I have dealt with here is first-class ... They put the trust in me to do right by the kids.”
After a brief indoor ceremony, Enrietto proceeded to the football field, where he was recognized by the stadium, right before moving on to his usual duties of covering the game.
Through this recognition, Enrietto joins the ranks of dozens of people who have been recognized with the award, which has been given out since 2004. The list includes football coaches, players, community members and Enrietto's Eagle predecessor, Mike Surkalo.
Former assistant football coach Ralph McElhaney, who received the award in 2018, said the recipient is decided annually by a committee, which evaluates nominees based on their impact on high school football as well as their character.
Enrietto, McElhaney said, has been a positive force on all sports in Butler since his start in 1997.
“We're extremely excited because John was so good not only for Butler, but for all the schools,” McElhaney said.
McElhaney and others present at the ceremony said Enrietto's focus on local morale also makes him special because even a loss will be written with a positive spin for the local team.
Former Slippery Rock University football coach George Mihalik said even at a college level, Enrietto's care for writing and the game is top notch to have in a local newspaper.“We get coverage, we get a professional sports editor who has an interest in doing his job at the highest level of professionalism,” he said. “I congratulate you on a legendary career.”Mihalik also commended Enrietto's weekly sports column, in which he pens opinions and analysis on regional sports and teams.Even coaches of other sports commended Enrietto for his dedication to not only interacting with the student athletes, but also making them feel special in their abilities.Matt Clement, boys basketball coach, spoke at the ceremony, and said Enrietto has a special touch in interviewing athletes that shows a respect for the game and a respect for each player.“John touched it in a different way,” Clement said. “You're getting interviewed after these games ... in Butler it's like it was in the major leagues, they are coming to the locker room and they are interviewing you.”Mike Seybert, track coach, also said Enrietto's personable tone in speaking to youths helps build their confidence as well.“He takes a true interest in all the kids,” Seybert said. “He writes stories that you want to read about our kids and for our kids.”Several of Enrietto's family and friends attended the award ceremony, and he thanked them for their support in his career. He sent special thanks to his mother, who could not be present, as well as his wife, Darlene Enrietto, for her flexibility in home life with his often late nights at the office.Enrietto recalled a career-making moment made possible by his mother. He had tickets in 1979 to see the Pittsburgh Pirates play in the World Series, but the sports editor at a newspaper in Irwin needed someone to cover a local football game.His mother convinced him to cover the game, and that editor ended up being a reference for one of his first jobs. Her convincing argument, Enrietto said, was when she leveled with him.“She said, 'By the way, the Pirates are going to be in other World Series,'” Enrietto said. “I'm still waiting for that.”
