Bryja helping Mustangs
Name: Michael Bryja
School: Portage
Age: 17
Grade: Junior
Sport: Baseball
Athlete of the week achievement: Bryja went 2-for-5 with one run and three RBIs in a 10-0 victory over Conemaugh Township. He then fired a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and also went 2-for-3 with two runs in a 10-0 victory over Ferndale.
Season update: Bryja is hitting .433 (13-30) and is 2-0 on the mound with a 1.40 ERA for the 8-0 Mustangs.
Coach Larry McCabe’s quote: “He plays all three sports [baseball, football, basketball], and he’s pretty good in all three. In my opinion, he’s a really good athlete, and as a baseball player, he has a lot of potential – a lot of upside.”
Favorite teacher: Mr. Burkett
Favorite subject: History
Favorite movie: “Friday Night Lights”
Favorite food: Chinese
Favorite song: “No Faith in Brooklyn” by Hoodie Allen
Outside interests: Hanging out with my friends and playing video games
Favorite professional team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Favorite college team: Pitt
Pro athlete most admired: Kevin Durant
Best athlete I ever had as a teammate: Caleb Kephart
Best athlete I ever competed against: North Star’s Tony Strasiser
Most influential person on my athletic career: My dad and brother
Proudest athletic achievement: Getting selected all-conference in baseball, basketball and football
How I got my start in baseball: “Playing in the yard with my older brother and dad when I was real young.”
Future goal: Hopefully play a sport at the college level and become a physical therapist