Al Campman
Albert “Al” Campman was one of the top all-around athletes produced at Farrell High School, where he starred in football and basketball.
As quarterback, he led the 1970 football team to a 9-1 record and No. 1 ranking in the WPIAL. He was named second-team All-State. As the starting point guard for coach Eddie McCluskey in basketball, he helped the team win the 1972 state championship. The team won WPIAL titles in both 1971 and 1972.
He went on to play football at Youngstown State University as a defensive back and for many years held the record for most interceptions in YSU history. A four-year starter, he won the Ben Sharshu Award for outstanding student-athlete of all YSU athletes. He was a First Team Academic All-American.
Al coached football, track and girls basketball at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights, Ohio. The girls track team finished as state runner-up. As the youngest head basketball coach in Ohio at that time, he posted the first winning season in school history. The team made it to the regional and district playoffs both years.
He was head basketball coach at Ellwood City High from 1981-2001. He posted more than 300 victories and led the team to the WPIAL playoffs 10 times and into the PIAA playoffs 6 times. His team played in the WPIAL finals in 1984 and 1985, and in the Western Pennsylvania championship in 1986 and 1987. He was MAC Coach of the Year in 1984-85, 1986-87.
Also an outstanding baseball player in his youth, Al struck out 25 during the Babe Ruth Tournament of Champions, a Mercer County record. He threw three perfect games. He led the Class B Youngstown Baseball League in ERA and runs scored. He led the Falcon Foundry team to the national tournament in Cincinnati. He turned down a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers to play college football at YSU.