THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609250133
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 57 lines
NATHAN PESZKO of Churchland High is one of 20 finalists for Wendy's Heisman Award, given to a high school scholar/athlete in the state.
The winner will be announced Saturday at Wendy's James Center in Richmond at a 5:30 p.m. dinner. All 20 state finalists will be recognized and the male and female state winners named.
The two winners will advance to the national finals.
The award is based upon academic achievement, community service and athletic accomplishments.
Peszko is one of four finalists from South Hampton Roads and the only male. The others are Kendra Robins of Norfolk Academy, Serena Romero of Ocean Lakes and Joy Carrington of Crestwood Middle School.
Peszko, 17, is a three-sport starter and ranks 18th in a senior class of 320 at Churchland. He has a 3.7 grade point average.
A standout in basketball, volleyball and tennis, the 6-foot-1, 150-pounder hopes to secure an athletic or academic scholarship to college. He has applied to such schools as the University of Virginia, Duke, North Carolina, East Carolina and William and Mary.
He's the son of a former East Carolina and Old Dominion basketball player, Raymond. His dad was a member of some of the outstanding ODU teams produced by Sonny Allen in the 1970s.
Nathan currently leads Churchland's volleyball team in kills. The Truckers have lost only to defending Eastern District champion Granby, and Peszko says Churchland can still win the title. ``We're gonna win the district,'' he said. He was the No. 1 player on Churchland's tennis team and the No. 2 finisher in the district. He qualified for the regional.
Peszko will be one of only three returning players on the basketball team. He gained a varsity berth as a sophomore.
Last year, he missed the first six games after dislocating his right shoulder while playing recreation soccer. ``I was playing goalkeeper and took a knee in the shoulder right before basketball was to start,'' he recalled.
Only a 4-point average scorer in basketball last year, he averaged six assists and three steals.
A National Honor Society member throughout high school, Peszko expects to major in business management in college. He's also interested in marine biology.
Heavily involved in community service, Peszko also tutors students in math.
The 20 Virginia finalists for the High School Heisman are among 1,020 nationally who were chosen from nominations from more than 23,000 high schools across the country.
These will be trimmed to 12 regional winners. The judges for the national finals will be former Heisman Trophy winners and education, business and community leaders. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by BILL LEFFLER
Churchland's Nathan Peszko, 17, plays basketball, volleyball and
tennis and ranks 18th in a senior class of 320 with a 3.7 grade
point average. by CNB