Bellwood’s Crook up for national award
Ellen Crook, a senior at Bellwood-Antis, has been selected as one of the top 100 most inspirational athletes of 2014 by the USA Today.
Crook was an all-star athlete in soccer, basketball and high school track through her junior year but chose to give up soccer and basketball after suffering five concussions and fighting back from a torn ACL and meniscus her freshman year.
As a senior, Crook went out for cross country for the first time and qualified for the PIAA championships. Her efforts in cross country along with high school track and field earned her a scholarship to Division I Pitt.
Anyone wishing to vote for Crook can go to contest.usatodayhss.com/inspiration/round-1/selfless-service/6075. First-round voting ends on March 31. The top 35 vote-getters will advance to the semifinal round from April 2 until April 8. The finals will be April 10 through April 15.