High Expectations For 'Johnny O' As Future Cougars Quarterback, Infielder

In an era of increasing sport specialization, Cranford High School junior Johnny Oblachinski is truly a man for all seasons, the latest in a select group of Cougar athletes who have starred in football, basketball and baseball and a testament to the school’s embracing the multi-sport athlete.

Only three days after leading the basketball team in scoring in its final game of the season on Feb. 26, Oblachinski exchanged the orange basketball for the smaller white ball and instead of shooting, passing and rebounding he will be fielding the hot corner for the second consecutive spring as a member of the defending Group III championship baseball team. When he begins his senior season next fall, Oblachinski will be expected to replace two-time all-county quarterback Reggie Green, who has taken his considerable talents to the University of Pittsburgh. If anyone has the makeup and athletic talent to undertake these three diverse endeavors it is Oblachinski, who lists football a close first among his three favorite sports.

“I am very excited to return to the quarterback position for my senior year at Cranford High School. I have been playing quarterback since third grade in the Cranford PAL program. I have learned a lot about the quarterback position from my close friend Reggie Green, who I am really going to miss playing with next season. I will be working out and attending camps this spring and summer in order to be ready for next football season. One thing for sure is that Coach Rosenmeier will have us ready for our first game of the year,” said Oblachinski, who was active in more plays than any Cougar last season.

After making his mark on special teams for Cranford’s Group III state
championship team as a sophomore, Oblachinski was a stalwart on both and offense and defense last season and Coach Erik Rosenmeier is confident that the quarterback position will again be in capable hands.

“We expect him to be the starter at quarterback next year and we expect him to be very good,” said Rosenmeier.

One of Oblachinski’s obvious football strengths is his versatility. He caught
passes, ran the football, played quarterback, was a ferocious down field blocker and was always around the ball on defense. It is clear from watching him that Oblachinski has a love for the gridiron, including the intense pre-game preparation.

“High school football on Friday nights in Cranford is like a town-wide event which is awesome,” added Oblachinski, already a member of Cranford state championship teams in football and baseball and clearly hungry for more titles.

Basketball Coach Ryan Huber, also an assistant football coach is not surprisingly
one of Oblachinski’s biggest boosters.

“It is not so much what Johnny O. brings to the basketball team, I think it is what he brings to Cranford High School is the important thing. He is an extremely hard working kid not only on the athletic field but also in the classroom. Three sport athletes are very rare these days, however he not only plays three sports, but plays them all very well,” said Huber.

A recurring theme among Cranford athletes and coaches is Oblachinski’s intense
work ethic.

“Johnny is the type of kid who never takes a day off. During the summer he attends everything. It would be very easy for him to take some time off; however he never misses a summer game or workout. It is a credit to him and his parents for making sacrifices to allow him to participate in everything. Johnny is the kid who leads by example, and not by words,” added Huber.

Oblachinski was Cranford’s third leading basketball scorer this season and
Huber expects him along with starting guard Tommy Trotter to be the team leaders next winter.

“I would like him to become a little more vocal next year, but he gives 100 percent every time he steps onto the court,” said Huber.

With a solid 190 pounds on his 6-foot, 2-inch frame, Oblachinski often had to play against taller opponents but used his strength and conditioning to succeed.

“Playing basketball allows me to play with some other teammates that I do not play with in my other sports. It also allows me to compete multiple times per week, which I really enjoy. Playing basketball in Union County is very competitive,” said Oblachinski.

Although they were competitive in nearly every game, the Cranford basketball
team wound up 8-17, one of the few losing seasons Oblachinski has endured.

“Even though our record wasn't what we had hoped for as a team, I thought we fought in every game till the end. I really had a good time playing for Coach Huber this year and look forward to next season. “

Before he jumps into another football and basketball season, Oblachinski fits into the Cranford baseball juggernaut that appears primed for a third state title in four years.

“What I like about baseball is that it requires a lot of hard work and effort in order to be a successful team but in the end, hard work pays off. We even train in the winter during the week and on weekends. I will always remember winning the Cranford Baseball State Championship in 2012 and hopefully we can experience that again this upcoming year.”

Oblachinski moved into the third base slot early last season and added depth to
an already fearsome batting order, while mastering a difficult infield position beside slick short stop Sean Feeney, the former third baseman in 2010-11. Feeney will again combine with Oblachinski to give Cranford a solid left side of the infield.

“He stepped in nicely at third base early in the season and did a solid job for us both offensively and defensively,” said Baseball Coach Dennis McCaffery.

Some of Oblachinski’s most difficult future choices might be what to do at the
nest level. Division I colleges are often extremely difficult places to play more than one sport.

“It's really hard for me to pick between football and baseball. I hope to have the
opportunity to play either sport at the next level. I am very fortunate to have such great coaches who not only teach the sport, but also teach life lessons. I am really fortunate to play for Coach Rosenmeier, Coach Huber and Coach McCaffery. I am really looking forward to the upcoming baseball season. I definitely would like to play at the next level. At this time, I am leaning towards playing college football, but baseball is still an option.”