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Wolfe makes it two
LISBON – The Super Bowl was on the minds of Columbiana County commissioners, who took a moment during this week’s meeting to recognize the achievements of Beaver Local High School graduate and Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe, who is set to play in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Commissioner Tim Weigle noted that Wolfe is originally from the Negley area and graduated from Beaver Local in 2008. Wolfe, 25, was selected 36th overall in the 2012 NFL draft by Denver, which recently signed him to a four-year contract extension.
“He is the first athlete Beaver Local sent off to the NFL,” Weigle said.
Commissioners then began to debate whether Wolfe was the first countian to play in the NFL, and Dave Schwarz of Salem, who was in the audience to meet with commissioners, noted that Salem High School graduates Rich Karlis and Kirk Lowdermilk played in the NFL. Karlis was a Broncos’ kicker in the 1980s while Lowdermilk (who happens to be Karlis’ brother-in-law) played center for the Colts and Vikings during the same period.
Weigle threw out the name of Fred Hoaglin, a 1962 East Palestine High School graduate who also played and coached in the NFL. Hoaglin played center for several teams, including the Browns. He was the offensive line coach for the New York Giants during their Super Bowl XXV championship season.
The discussion turned to the Super Bowl, with Schwartz saying he believes Karlis is also the first person from the county to have played in the Super Bowl, which is true.