Letter Winner Cavan Penberthy Talks Teammates, Summer

Playing one high school sport can be challenging enough, but three?

That wasn’t a problem for Cavan Penberthy, who was one of eleven Bloomfield High School students who earned a varsity letter in three sports this school year.

Penberthy, 18, started in the fall where he played quarterback wide receiver and safety for the Bloomfield High varsity football team.

During the winter, he made a quick transition from football to wrestling and took fourth in the region in his weight class of 152 pounds.

He said the rigorous physical training helped him to slide into baseball season in the spring, where he pitched and played in the outfield for the school’s varsity baseball team.

"It's interesting to be part of the three sport letter winners. I never really thought about it until the time we took that picture," said Penberthy, who referred to the school’s photo of the eight athletes. "It's just fun to be part of that elite eight."

Penberthy has been a three-sport athlete since he was a freshman. Although he admits it was difficult at first to manage the rigors of schoolwork with the demand of three sports, he says he hasn't had a problem the last few years keeping up his grades.

Penbernathy said he plans to play baseball at either William Paterson University or  the University of Scranton. He said he wants to study physical therapy.

"He did it as well as anybody else," said Bloomfield High School football coach Mike Carter. "He was a leader in all three sports. He was the guy that said, 'This is what we're going to do and this is how we're going to do it.' It was a pleasure to coach him because he was such a tough hard-nosed kid."

While Penberthy says one of the hardest parts of being a three sport athlete is the lack of down time in the off-seasons, he says the other hardest part is knowing that he won't get to see his football, wrestling, and baseball "families" after he goes to college.

"It's not so much disappointing that I'm not going to be playing the sport, but more of the team because you are with them for three months," he said. "I would say it's harder knowing that your not going to play with those guys right next to you. I'll miss having those teammates."

With graduation quickly approaching, Penberthy said he's got a different priority on his summer agenda this year, "Relaxing. It’s the first summer I can relax and make some money. Haven't been able to do that in three years."