LebCo Male Athlete of the Week: Mitchell Frederick (Week Ending September 22, 2024)

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Mitchell Frederick

Wyomissing is a Pennsylvania Football powerhouse. In Week 5, ELCO hosted them in a game that resulted in another victory for the Spartans, their 48th since 2020. With that in mind, it’s hard to believe that a running back would gain over 100 yards against them. It happened last year when Jake Williams led the Raiders’ rushing attack. This year, Mitchell Frederick nearly equaled Williams’s performance when he carried the ball 19 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. The senior put forth this type of offensive performance while also starting at linebacker. This caught the attention of the LebCoSports.com voters, who rewarded Frederick with LebCo Male Athlete of the Week honors.

Although it was a loss, the performance by Frederick epitomized the spirit with which ELCO fights each week. Frederick himself recognized not himself but the team and, specifically, the offensive line for taking the Wyomissing team head-on.

This level of effort resulted in a win over Daniel Boone this past Friday night. Yes, he did not score a touchdown but do not be mistaken about how #24 played a huge role on both sides of the ball.

“Mitchell is a special player,” said Coach Bob Miller. He went on to tell a story about how fearless of a young man he is: “He was raised a ‘football player.’ As an incoming freshman at team camp, we were conducting a no-pad drill. Mitchell flew in and used a perfect form tackle to hit senior Luke Williams. It resulted in a big thud. I knew at that moment that I wanted this kid with the varsity team.”

Frederick has risen to the standard that was set with his early impression on the veteran head coach. Miller spoke about Frederick’s evolution as a player, saying, “He saw a fair amount of time as a freshman. He is now carrying the load for us and running like a man possessed. His leg drive, his determination, and his vision are all elite.”

Beyond that, Miller spoke to Frederick’s other attribute, saying, “He is a team captain, and he is leading by example. Every practice. Every game.”

When it comes down to it, Frederick states that his only goal is to “help the team win.”

Winning is something that Frederick is familiar with in his other sport: Wrestling. Last season, he was a District Regional qualifier and finished the season with 25 wins and has a chance to reach the 100-win milestone for his varsity career.

While Frederick is usually training, he did reveal that in his spare time, he values his ability to draw. Specifically, he enjoys drawing tattoos. He also enjoys making moves on his skateboard when he is not using his skills to juke defenders on the football field.

Frederick did not indicate what he wants to do after high school and it is clear that he is focused only on this football season. After Friday’s win, ELCO is now 2-4. They are within striking distance of making another run at Districts, especially as their schedule only includes one team with a winning record (Lampeter-Strasburg).
If there is one thing that is certain, it is that Frederick, along with a solid group of Raider leaders, will do everything they can to play as many games as possible. We wish Mitchell and all of his teammates the best of luck in making this happen.

Photos by Heather Daub

Read about this week’s LebCo Female Athlete of the Week:

Kailen Hibshman

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting:  September 16 – 22

Previous Winners

Myles Watson (Week of August 19th)

Isaiah Zimmerman (Week of August 19th)

Bryce Keller (Week of August 26th)

Steven Rosado (Week of September 2nd)

Jozef Shkreli (Week of September 2nd)

Jackson Custer (Week of September 9th)