During my reporting in the past week, I came across some common ground in Raine Gratzmiller, Tyler Yurich and Rossi McMillen.

All three were multi-sport athletes at their respective high schools.

Gratzmiller ran cross country, played basketball and ran track at Butler, Yurich played football, wrestled and ran track, McMillen played soccer, basketball, softball and ran track at Karns City.

Gratzmiller is headed to Washington & Jefferson for cross country and track, Yurich to the Naval Academy for track, McMillen to Clarion to play no sport — for the time being. But none of that is the point.

The point is that these kids are three more examples of athletes who maximized their high school athletic opportunities. All three were presented chances to play more than one sport in college.

In recent years, more high school athletes decided to specialize in one sport, playing, practicing or preparing to participate in that one activity. The idea is that it would better the athlete’s chances of attaining a scholarship in that sport.

But the era of the multiple-sport athlete in high school may be coming back into vogue.

Of course, at Karns City, it never left.

The Gremlins are successful in almost every sport, primarily because they share athletes. No fewer than seven members of KC’s District 9 championship softball team also participate in track and field during the same spring season.

The coaches of those sports work with each other, scheduling practices at different times so the girls could be at both. The athletes don’t worry about being overworked — they thrive on it, actually.

McMillen joined the softball team her junior year because she missed playing the sport. Her track and softball teammate, Ashley Fox, also played volleyball in the fall. She is headed to Gannon University to play softball.

Fox was also valedictorian of her graduating class this past week. Obviously, the heavy workload of athletics affected her academics — in a positive way.

Butler graduate Cooper Baxter played football, wrestled and played baseball for the Golden Tornado. He did not hurt his college recruitment. In fact, he received offers in all three sports.

This is nothing against club sports. They help improve an athlete’s skills in a particular sport. But playing multiple sports in high school make an athlete more athletic and in better physical condition. Lifting weights through the winter vs. being on the wrestling team? Go for the competition.

College coaches have told me one of the first things they ask a potential recruit — in any sport — is what other sports they play. They prefer multi-sport athletes.

And they should.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle