Brian Baldrige had tears in his eyes when he walked off the field at Hershey Park Stadium as a junior.
His Thomas Jefferson team beat Garnet Valley in the PIAA Class AAA state championship last year, but the running back was forced to watch in street clothes after tearing a knee ligament in the season opener and undergoing surgery.
"I was so happy for the team that we won but disappointed for myself because I wasn't part of it," Baldrige said. "I vowed that I would come back better and stronger and make sure I was on the field for the state championship game in 2008."
Thomas Jefferson won the state title again this season, and Baldrige was a key reason why. He rushed for a school-record 2,312 yards and 34 touchdowns, including 120 yards in a 34-7 win over Archbishop Wood in the PIAA title game Dec. 12.
The big season landed him The Associated Press Class AAA Player of the Year award in voting by sportswriters and broadcasters.
"It's a great honor," Baldrige said. "It was very satisfying to come back from the injury, play well and have the team win another state championship. I couldn't ask for anything more."
The Class AAA Coach of the Year is Selinsgrove's Dave Hess, who was promoted to replace the retiring Bill Scott after 25 years as an assistant coach. Hess led Selinsgrove to a 13-2 record and a spot in the state semifinals despite having only three returning offensive starters. Scott won the Coach of the Year award last season.
Baldrige is one of four Thomas Jefferson players on the all-state team, including first-team tight end Brock DeCicco, who caught 24 passes for 537 yards and 11 touchdowns. DeCicco has made a verbal commitment to play at Pitt, while Baldrige is getting looks from Villanova and Robert Morris.
Also representing Thomas Jefferson on the first team is offensive lineman and West Virginia recruit Pat Eger. Quarterback/defensive back Tyler Wehner was named in the specialist category on the second team.
Nine juniors made the first-team defense, including Trinity's Ken Wilkins, Erie Strong Vincent's Sean Herron and Emmanuel Wells, Manheim Central's Dakota Royer and Washington Trinity's Ken Wilkins. Royer had 11 sacks while also making 56 catches for 1,099 yards as a wide receiver.
The fifth WPIAL player on the first team is Montour quarterback/free safety and Notre Dame recruit E.J. Banks.
WPIAL players named to the second team are: Blackhawk wide receiver Jake Delmonico; Montour offensive lineman Serafino Caliguire; offensive linemen Adam Gress of West Mifflin, Sean Hickey of Franklin Regional and Nate Lojek of Trinity; New Castle quarterback Mike Bongivengo; Hopewell freshman running back Rushel Shell; and Highlands defensive back Jeff Sinclair.
