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Brendan Barnes excels at mathematics as an eighth-grade registrant at Chester A. Arthur School, 2000 Catharine St., so when learning he and fellow Nu Sigma Sharks football player Terrell Barr had won Second-Team Pop Warner All-American Scholar distinction from a pool of 350,000 applicants, he prided himself on having overcome such overwhelming odds.
“To be one of the few to have that recognition surprised me,” the 14-year-old said Monday at Chew Playground, 18th Street and Washington Avenue. “I’m very happy with my selection because I know it’s difficult to win the honor.”
The resident of the 1900 block of Dickinson Street, who also scored placement on the Pop Warner Eastern Region Scholars list and nabbed merit on the Liberty Youth Athletic Association Pop Warner Scholar squad, the latter unit granting Terrell kudos, too, became aware of the national accolade through a March-issued letter, with the contents helping him and father Byron, who serves as the Sharks’ marketing director and assistant athletic director, to strengthen their commitment to the program. For the younger Barnes, a two-year veteran of the organization, the commendation also inspires him to foster increased academic curiosity.
“I like to learn because there’s so much out there to discover,” the Point Breeze inhabitant said of succeeding at his South of South educational haven. “I’m just going to continue to be a strong listener and do my best with my assignments.”
Terrell nurtures the same attitude. The 12-year-old sixth-grader at George W. Childs School, 1599 Wharton St., reveres reading, especially sports-related material, and confessed that the national praise will encourage him to perform even better at his Newbold facility. Considering that he and Brendan met the 96-percent grade-point-average that Pop Warner overseers require for consideration, the pre-teen definitely possesses an admirable disposition.
“I feel a little pressure,” the resident of the 2600 block of South Sixth Street said of sustaining his scholastic success. “I love my school and my teacher, so I think I’ll be fine.”
The Whitman denizen, who has logged seven years for the Sharks, likewise found himself happy when hearing the fantastic news and anticipates adding enjoyment as he matures as a student and an athlete.
“I know there’s a long time between now and when I’m grown, but I have ideas on what I want to do,” Terrell said. “I want to be a good student in the years to come, and I want to play in the pros as the quarterback for the Eagles.”
The aspiring signal caller has already risen to distinction for the Sharks’ Junior Pee Wee unit, the winner of last year’s Liberty Youth Robert Smith Bowl. He has also dabbled as a dribbler, but basketball never figures to conquer his gridiron gusto.
“I love the responsibility,” Terrell said of being a quarterback. “My quickness really helps me to be a leader.”
Brendan began his athletic odyssey as a baseball player for the Edward O’Malley Athletic Association, 144 Moore St., but football soon came to run circles around the diamond-based sport.
“I developed an interest when I was seven,” he said of his history with the pastime, noting that seeing “crazy catches and crazy hits” on television motivated him to pursue a different outlet for his recreational gifts.
In switching, he joined a program that the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, which last year celebrated its 100th anniversary, established in 1992. Through its cheerleading, tutoring and competitive sports initiatives, the entity, under the guidance of athletic director and Southwest Philly resident David A. Smith, looks to “promote development and cultural enrichment for adolescents in the Philadelphia area.”
“It’s so rewarding to be a part of their growth,” Byron Barnes said of the youths, with the football practitioners dividing into six weight classes. “I’ve been involved for two years, and I feel more keen about watching them advance and learn about themselves.”
His son, an offensive lineman and a defensive tackle for the Midgets, and other Sharks had their applications undergo scrutiny first by Liberty Youth representatives, then Eastern Region individuals and finally Pop Warner national figures. For the first time, the Sharks placed four performers on the National All-American Scholar list, with Southwest Philly dwellers Edward Saydee and Zlanweah Zardie joining them. Program heads honored the foursome et al Saturday at the Vare Recreation Center, 2600 Morris St., and the Liberty Youth Athletic Association will laud them and nine more Sharks through April 24’s scholastic banquet.
“I like that they recognized me as a football player and a student because I try to do well at being both,” Terrell said. “I have good role models, especially my friends Sincere and Kharee.”
Brendan also acknowledged friends and commended his coaches for preparing him not only for the rigors of the football field, with Prep Charter High School, 1929 Point Breeze Ave., among the contenders to enhance his academic and athletic aptitude, but also the wonders of adult life, which he plans to explore as an engineer.
“I’m happy to be a Shark,” he said of involvement with the non-profit, which will begin its flag football slate Saturday. “I want to represent them the best that I can.” SPR
For more information, contact sigmasharks1@gmail.com.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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