D9Sports.com and EYT Media are doing a series of player profiles on returning high-school athletes this summer. The year in school listed by the athlete is the year the athlete is entering this fall.
BROOKE IRWIN – SENIOR – A-C VALLEY
Daughter of: Dewey & Tracy Irwin (Her dad is the baseball coach at A-C Valley)
Sports Played: Golf, Basketball, Track & Field, AAU Basketball
2016-17 Highlights: Brooke played a key role in A-C Valley’s District 9 Class 1A third-place basketball team scoring 40 points on the season in a key defensive role off the bench. In track, she finished third in District 9 in the 400-meter dash in a time of 1:02.19 just missing qualifying for the state championships while also running a leg on the Lady Falcons fourth-place 4×400-meter relay team and taking 16th in the 100-meter dash. She was named first-team All-KSAC in the 400 and the 4×400 relay team was also a first-team KSAC relay.
Post-High School Goals: Brooke plans on attending college to become a vet and wants to run track. Allegheny is her No. 1 choice as of right now.
Q&A With Brooke Irwin
D9Sports: What is your favorite sport to participate in?
BI: Track
D9: What is your favorite memory, moment, game from playing high school sports?
BI: My favorite memory would either have to be winning our first basketball game against North Clarion last year or running in the 400 at districts.
D9: Why do you play high school sports?
BI: I play high school sports because of the friendships that I have made and because I enjoy them.
D9: Is there a high school player on your team or another team that you enjoy watching play? If so, why?
BI: I enjoy watching Olivia Boocks and Ellie Thompson play basketball. They are both outstanding players. I also enjoy watching Tori Obenrader (North Clarion) play basketball and throw in track.
D9: When not playing sports I would rather (pick one) – Go to work, play video games, shop, hang out with friends, play pickup sports, go the movies
BI: Hang out with friends.
D9: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
BI: I would go to Africa to see how different it is from where I live now.
D9: Who has had the most influence on you as a person?
BI: My parents have had the most influence on me. My dad coaches me in AAU basketball and he has taught me so much. My mom and dad both support me through everything I do and always push me to do my very best.
D9: What do you like most about growing up in your hometown?
BI: I like that I know almost everyone in my town. No matter where I go, I always see at least one person that I know.
D9: What do you wish you could change about growing up in your hometown?
BI: I would like to change the park and the basketball courts.
D9: What question do you wish I would have asked you? And what is the answer to it?
BI: Are you close with your teammates? The answer would be yes. When I’m not playing sports I am almost always with one of my teammates either shooting hoops, working out or just going to get ice cream.
D9: Do you or have you had any siblings or other immediate relatives who have played high school sports?
BI: My brother, Brody, my dad, my uncles, Tim Orton (the fifth-leading scorer in A-C Valley boys’ basketball history with 1,265 points) and Bill Irwin and my cousins, Levi Orton, Patrick Irwin (who is now the head boys’ basketball coach and baseball coach at Cranberry) and Dan Irwin. My uncle, Bill Irwin, coached basketball at Keystone and is now their athletic director. My aunt, Anita Irwin, was the athletic director at A-C Valley for a while.