Barker’s Mead to play football at Mt. Ida

Contributed Photo – Barker’s Josh Mead, who will be playing football at Mount Ida College this fall, is shown here seated with his parents Lou and Lori Mead. Standing, from left, are Barker/Roy-Hart varsity football Coach Bill Bruning and Barker Athletic Director Dave Carson.

Barker Central School is pleased to announce that Josh Mead will continue his football career at Mount Ida College in Boston, Massachusetts this fall where he will major in Sports Management.

This past football season Mead earned second Team All “B” East Division honors and was awarded the Character Player of the Game by Cross Training Football in week 6.

For basketball, Mead was a member of the 2013-14 Barker Raiders undefeated Niagara-Orleans championship team and this past season he was selected as the Niagara-Orleans Sportsmanship Award recipient for boys’ basketball.

In the spring, Mead was a key member of four undefeated Niagara-Orleans championship track & field teams and one of the top throwers in the league.

“We are very excited for Josh. As a coach it is very rewarding to see an athlete set the goal of playing college football and then seeing him reach his goal,” said Barker/Roy-Hart head football Coach Bill Bruning. “Josh was able to do this through hard work and passion for the game. He will be a great addition to the Mount Ida Football Program.”

“Josh is an exciting player who leaves it all out there on the field which is evident throughout his high school film.  We love guys who play physical football and impose their will on opponents,” said Mount Ida assistant football Coach Scott Drosendahl. “He is a three sport athlete which is something we also love to see out of incoming players.  With Josh’s skill set he’ll translate well to our U position short for utility. A running back who will line up in all different positions on the field, can block exceptionally well, catch the ball on play action with the ability to turn up field, and can get us the dirty yards in between the tackles on third and short.   Overall he has the winning mentality and work ethic to excel at this level in the classroom and on Saturdays as a Mount Ida Mustang!!”