CLEVELAND — A former Linsly School star has received the ultimate athletic honor.

Bryan Fialkowski will be enshrined into the John Carroll University Hall of Fame this coming October. The Bridgeport native was a two-time all-OAC honoree while earning All-America accolades as a senior for the Blue Streaks.

The 1997 Linsly grad was a four-year starter on the O-line for the University Heights-based football power. He established a school record for most games played in (42). The Blue Streaks went an impressive 32-10 during that span.

“The last couple of weeks have been filled with a lot of emotion and a time of reflection. You put away some of those thoughts after two decades. I am flattered and relieved,” Fialkowski, now 38, said in a phone interview Wednesday. “It is the ultimate. If you can’t win a national title as a team this is the ultimate. Some of things are out of your control. You just hope you get rewarded. I thought I had a career that was deserving. But the offensive line is the only statless position in football, so you never know.

“I had two things in mind when I was choosing colleges. I wanted one that had a quality business school as well as a competitive football program. John Carroll checked both boxes,” he added. “When I visited, Coach (Tony) DeCarlo said I may be able to make the second team as a freshman. At that point I knew they had a great program.”

Fialkowski was a starter as a freshman on John Carroll’s 1997 NCAA Division III playoff team. The Blue Streaks reached the national quarterfinals that season while establishing school records for passing yards, touchdown passes, net total offense and victories.

The 6-2, 275-pounder garnered a myriad of post-season honors during his Blue Streak playing days. He was named a Football Gazette third team All-America in 2000, first-team All-OAC in 2000 and second team All-OAC in 1999. Moreover, Fialkowski was also selected as the 2000 Cleveland Touchdown Club John Carroll Player of the Year.

Fialkowski, who also starred in baseball at Linsly, was graduated from John Carroll in 2001 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He completed a master’s in business administration in 2007.

“There are a lot of people who helped make this possible. It starts with my mom and dad. They were the anchors and supported me every step of the way in the journey of life,” Fialkowski said. “I also want to thank my brother and extended family. It means a lot when you look up in the stands and have your family there.

“I also had great coaches at Linsly and John Carroll. The two staffs developed me as a player and a person,” he continued. “I was fortunate to have a lot of people in my life to help me get where I am at.”

He is employed as an executive director in commercial banking for JP Morgan Chase.

Brian resides in Gates Mills with his wife Roberta and their 3-year-old daughter, Vincenza.

John Carroll is the alma mater of NFL coaching legend Don Shula.

BUBBA’S BITS

FORMER ST. John Central three-sport standout Lindsey Froehlich was recently honored at The Ohio State University. The Buckeyes’ freshman discus thrower was one of the athletes honored at OSU’s annual scholar-athlete banquet. Froehlich was the 2016 St. John’s valedictorian. She placed third in the Division III state track meet discus competition as a senior while also being named MVP in the Fighting Irish’s OVAC championship game win over Bishop Donahue that same year. She totaled 22 points and 21 rebounds in that title tilt.

MARTINS FERRY High School is in the market for a new head girls’ basketball coach. Lindsay Coyne has opted to step down from the post at her alma mater.

THE NFL Draft has finally come and gone. Months and months of buildup ended in a three-day marathon. When all was said and done, the Steelers and Browns both improved their respective rosters. The Browns nailed it with the best player in the draft — Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett. I was disappointed the Bengals picked Oklahoma thug Joe Mixon.

THE WVU Coaches Caravan is a must for any Mountaineer fan. The Blue & Gold traveling road show was a smashing success Monday at River City in Wheeling. Bob Huggins can be a wild man while coaching his hoop games but is as down-to-earth good guy in person as you will find. After the event, he mingled with the crowd for a good while, signing autographs and being the focus of countless photos.

SEAN TUTTLE continues to move up the collegiate administration ladder. The Martins Ferry native and 2004 Buckeye Local grad recently joined Florida Atlantic University as an athletics compliance coordinator. He was previously the director of compliance at the University of South Dakota. Tuttle has also served as a compliance assistant at Wheeling Jesuit University and Notre Dame College (OH). Tuttle earned a degree in business and organizational communication from University of Akron in 2011 and completed his master’s in sport and recreational management at Kent State.

BO KNOWS baseball. Congratulations to Bo McConnaughy for leading Wheeling Central to the OVAC 2A championship Wednesday in his first year back at his alma mater. The Maroon Knights have boasted an excellent baseball program for ages. It is hard to fathom that this year’s diamond title is Central’s first in 26 years.

BISHOP DONAHUE hoop standout Jewel Purpura has been chosen to play in the West Virginia North-South Basketball Classic in June. She will continue her athletic and basketball careers at West Liberty University.