Hinish family members synonymous with athletic success

The Hinish families of Whitehall and Baldwin are well-aware that their name has become synonymous with successful athletes.

Baldwin High School graduates, Kurt (1984), and his younger brother, Christian (1993), were standout football players who went on to play in college.

With a nine-year age difference, the Hinish tenure at Baldwin was both lengthy and successful.

Now, the next generation of Hinish athletes is drawing attention on the Baldwin track and Central Catholic football field.

Kadin Hinish, 17-year-old daughter of Kurt and Tawnie, of Whitehall, is making her mark in track and field.

A rising senior, Kadin, has blazed a trail in the track program, garnering several first-place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump — her two favorite events — in high school.

This summer, Kadin took first place in the heptathlon at the USATF Junior Olympic Mid-Atlantic region championship held in Slippery Rock.

The win qualifies her to compete at the national finals to be held from Monday to Aug. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.

High school track meets don't include the heptathlon, which pits athletes against each other in seven different events: javelin, shot put, 100-meter hurdles, 200, 800, long jump and high jump.

“This was my first time doing it. I really like the variety of events,” Kadin said.

Kadin's younger brother, Kurt “Braeden” Hinish, 16, is turning heads on the football field.

A rising junior at Central Catholic High School, the 6-foot-2 defensive tackle already has a scholarship offer from Toledo and is receiving serious interest from several ACC and Big Ten football programs.

“I just love the brotherhood and discipline of football,” he said. “In my (defensive tackle) position, you've got to be a nasty person on the field. It suits my personality. But, off the field, I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky guy.”

Cory Nolton, a 2009 Baldwin graduate, is the Hinish's half-brother.

He was a successful lineman for the Fighting Highlanders before playing two years at Robert Morris. Unfortunately, several concussions forced him off the gridiron.

Younger brother Donovan Hinish, 11, a rising sixth-grader at Harrison Middle School, competes in football and lacrosse.

Tawnie Hinish is not surprised by the athletic success of her children.

“They're hard workers and totally committed,” she said. “They don't like to lose.”

According to Tawnie, even Trivial Pursuit games can get heated at the Hinish household.

“Our Thanksgiving football games get really intense. Kurt and I are running full-out with the kids,” she said.

After graduating from Baldwin, Kurt Hinish played football at Slippery Rock. Christian played at Georgia Tech for two years before transferring to Geneva.

Jacob and Justin, sons of Christian and Ann Marie Hinish, of Baldwin, both are football players.

Jacob, a 6-2, 250-pound lineman, was a member of the Seton-La Salle football program the past two years.

He plans transfer to Central Catholic this fall where Justin, a rising freshman, will join him.

Jacob, 16, said the transfer was motivated by Central Catholic's STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum.

“I want to study engineering in college and they have a really great program there,” he said.

Both Jacob and Justin, 14, have been participating in the Vikings' summer football workouts. Their cousin, Kurt “Braeden,” made the transition easy by introducing them to the team.

“There are a lot more kids there than at Seton,” said Jacob, who is looking forward to joining his cousin at Central Catholic.

“Braeden and I are just five days apart in age, so we've been together our whole lives,” he said. “We always want to be the best. Everyone knows our name, and we want to be out there winning.”

Jennifer Goga is a freelance writer.