This is part three of a three part series featuring area athletes in fall 2025 sports. [VIEW PART TWO] [VIEW PART ONE]

The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future.

Ellwood City Athletes

Nicklas DePaoli

School you attend? Lincoln High School

Sport? Cross Country

Grade? 12th

How many years have you have participated? Two

What do you feel is your biggest strength? How competitive I am

What is your favorite part of it? Running with my teammates going from workouts to long runs. Always having something to laugh at no matter the situation.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Mohawk

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? Going to the meets with the team was always a fun time.

 What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? That nothing is easy or given you need to work for everything that you want.

What are your future plans after graduation? Go to college for Secondary education or the Air Force

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? The goal is to run in college

Lucas Bleakney

School you attend? Lincoln Junior Senior High School

Sport? Cross Country

Grade? Senior / 12th

How many years have you have participated? This will be my sixth year

What do you feel is your biggest strength? I have long legs that help me stride farther and the proper mindset because most of running it is a mental game

What is your favorite part of it? Being around the team and making great memories

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Anyone who puts their toes on the line with me

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? Going to states the past few years

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? It’s not how I start the race but it is how you finish that shows your character

What are your future plans after graduation? Go to a college and get a degree in the aviation field

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? Yes I hope to run in college

Erica Barlow

School you attend? Ellwood City

Sport? Cheerleading

Grade? 12th

How many years have you have participated? 13 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? I feel my biggest strength would be leadership

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part about cheer is bonding with my team

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? I personally feel like Riverside is always our biggest rival

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory would have to be all the bus rides to and from our games

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? Cheerleading has taught me the importance of teamwork, which is definitely something I’ll carry with me forever

What are your future plans after graduation? I plan to attend Slippery Rock University to major in early childhood education

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I’m not 100% sure  if I will continue cheer after high school, but it’s definitely something I’m considering