If you ask Owen Chernich to pick a favorite, he simply can’t do it.
“I like them both a lot,” said Chernich.
Chernich is referring to two sports: football and basketball. And thankfully, for him, he hasn’t had to choose.
At Cedar Crest High School, Chernich starred in both sports. He was a wide receiver and safety on the football field while serving as a guard on the basketball court.
With his days as a high schooler winding down, Chernich faced a decision. Play football or basketball in college? Well, why not both?
“I have played both sports all my life and I really like them,” said Chernich. “When I got the opportunity to go to LVC and play both, it really was one that I couldn’t pass up.”
That’s right. Chernich doesn’t have to pick. He’s going to play both football and basketball at the collegiate level. And he’s going to do it in Lebanon County at Lebanon Valley College.
Chernich made his decision public with a post on X (nee Twitter) on Feb. 18.
“My first thought was that’s hard,” said Cedar Crest boys basketball head coach Tom Smith. “It’s going to be hard … but then my next thought was if there’s anyone that can do it, it’s Owen.”
Smith coached Chernich on the hardwood, where he was a three-year starter for the Falcons and helped them win the Lancaster-Lebanon League title during the 2023-24 season. Chernich led Cedar Crest in steals and assists during his senior season while shooting a solid 37.7% from three-point territory.
“He does a little bit of everything,” said Smith. “We have had plenty of good defenders come through here. I am not sure any that were as crafty as Owen.”
Defense is where Chernich has also excelled on the gridiron as a four-year football starter at Cedar Crest. While he was a talented wide receiver on offense, he will continue his career as a safety at LVC.
“His instincts really are the biggest thing that he brings to the table,” said former Cedar Crest football head coach Rob Wildasin. “He’s an intelligent young man and he’s super tough, too.”
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Wildasin continued: “He’s gonna have to have the physicality for (college football) and he does. He also has the intelligence … to be able to pick up a complex defensive scheme very quickly, to recognize what’s going on, and to get his teammates in the right position. You kinda have to be the quarterback on defense when you play safety and he can do that.”
Chernich was a standout performer in both sports at the high school level. Something he hopes to continue in college. And he believes playing football helps him as a basketball player and vice versa.
“I think it’s made me a better athlete all-around,” said Chernich.
While playing two sports in college is uncommon, it’s not a novel idea at LVC or for an athlete from Lebanon County. Former ELCO star Braden Bohannon is a quarterback for the LVC football team while serving as a guard for the school’s basketball program.
Bohannon has proved that a player can be a contributor in both sports. He’s thrown for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for nearly 1,800 yards while accounting for 43 touchdowns on the football field. As a basketball player, Bohannon appeared in 18 games and averaged just under five points per contest this past season.
“I was on a visit there back in December,” said Chernich. “There’s actually like three people at LVC right now that are playing football and basketball. So I was able to talk to them a little bit and kind of get some insight from them.”
Insight, no doubt, about time management and the handling of multiple responsibilities. It won’t be easy to play two sports and balance academics, but Chernich is confident he can accomplish the task.
“I know it’s going to be hard,” said Chernich. “But I have been doing it my whole life. I think I’ll be able to handle it.”
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