SV athletes double as junior firefighters
Corey Wolfe and Ella Butterfield compete as student-athletes at Seneca Valley. They serve their community as junior members of the Harmony Fire District, too.
Sometimes, during the school year, there’s not a lot in-between.
“It’s a lot of time away from home, mostly,” said Butterfield, a senior cross country runner for the Raiders. “When we train on Monday nights, I’m at practice up until 6 p.m. and then I’m here right after.”
Butterfield also prepares year-round for triathlon. She’s the latest in a family line of firefighters. Her mother, Amy Behun, works for Cranberry Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Behun’s father, Charles Zeigler, and grandfather, Harry Zeigler, were in the same profession. Her step-father, Kevin Behun, is the president of the Harmony Fire District.
“It was just kind of one of those things that I’ve grown up with this,” said Butterfield, who’s been volunteering with the district for two years.
Family ties are also the reason that Wolfe, a freshman, chose to get involved. His uncle, Wayne Seibel, worked as a Jackson Township police officer and later as a district judge. Wolfe decided to change it up and try a different branch of being a first responder.
He’s been volunteering with the district for nearly five months, with the experience going as he’d expected. Junior members are allowed to help with emergencies.
“With everyone here and the great leadership team, I’ve got to know a lot of stuff (with) going on multiple calls,” Wolfe said. “I’ve got to learn the basics of firefighting.”
Along with competing as a wrestler, Wolfe has taken up football, which he says his friends convinced him to do. He plans on playing defensive end for the Raiders’ freshman team this fall. Whenever he doesn’t have his nose in the books or his ears pinned back chasing passers, he’ll be spending time at the station.
The district is flexible with their schedules as student-athletes. They lend a hand during the evenings and on the weekends.
Among other duties, the district covers I-79 and deals with any vehicle accidents on the highway. In such instances, junior firefighters are tasked with responsibilities such as getting tools, setting up roadblocks, and controlling traffic.
“They’re basically participating like a regular firefighter,” said Chris Eden, the district’s Fire Prevention Coordinator. “They’re an essential function for us. One of the more important jobs that they do is kind of a support role, like hitting a hydrant (and) assisting with other duties that are exterior related.”
Junior members tag along to a house fire and pull shingling and walls, for example, helping allow interior firefighters such as Eden to tame the blaze.
Eden, who also assists in coaching football and track at SV, is a proponent of the district’s health and fitness committee. The station provides a small weight room to its members.
“There’s a great translation from athletics to the fire service, because it can be a physical job,” said Fred Bowser, who oversees the junior members. “Them being in shape and active helps us.”
Upon graduating, Wolfe currently hopes to become a state trooper or work as a paid city firefighter. Butterfield’s aspirations aren’t as clear, but she’s sure of one thing.
“I know I want to stay involved for a long time,” she said.
