Whiz Kid: Brenden Hershman

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Brenden Hershman           

Whiz Kid’s Age: 9

Whiz Kid’s Grade: Fourth grade                       

Whiz Kid’s School: Roland Rogers Elementary School

Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Brenden Hershman is a star football player, outstanding student and a devout scout.

Whiz Kid’s Keys to Awesomeness:

Brenden Hershman earns mostly O’s (for outstanding at the elementary school level), and has been a scout for three years. He looks forward to playing the drums with the band in fourth grade and habitually attends Sunday school.

But Hershman’s passion, according to his father Shawn, is sports. He’s been the star quarterback for his football team at his age level for three years, and began playing basketball as a 4-year-old.

“That’s two years before he’s supposed to,” Shawn Hershman said. “I was the coach and he kept asking me to play. Finally, I asked (the head of the league) to evaluate him and if it was positive, he could play, and if not, I would tell him no.”

Not only was the evaluation favorable for Brenden, he scored in the last game of the year.

Earlier this year, he hit his first over-the-fence home run as a baseball player. He was an 8-under all-star, playing first base.

As a wrestler, he won the final tournament of the year in which he competed, the Grapevine tournament.

Currently, he is preparing for the upcoming football season as the quarterback for the Renegades.

He has two older brothers, ages 13 and 15, and the eldest of the three is a member of Absegami High School’s crew team. Brenden Hershman showed an interest in crew until he realized he would have to give up baseball to compete.

But sports doesn’t define who he is.

“He’s active in scouts with Pack 12,” Shawn Hershman said. “They do roadside cleanups. They donate Christmas gifts to needy families and they volunteer.”

He’s also looking forward to playing in the band.

“I’m looking forward to playing the drums,” Brenden Hershman said, adding “I’m looking forward to annoying my brothers.”

Editor’s Note:

Although the school year hasn't begun, there are still plenty of Whiz Kids out there waiting to be recognized. Little Leaguers, travel teams, summer camps, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, students who were overlooked during the school year and those making general contributions to the community are all potential Whiz Kids.

Send recommendations to Anthony.Bellano@patch.com.