Jill (Platteborze) Barlow
Jill Platteborze-Barlow was one of the most decorated athletes in Farrell High School and Mercer County history.
At Farrell, she was a standout in volleyball and basketball from 1992-96 and track from 1992-94,earning 10 total letters.
In basketball, she became the all-time leading scorer (boys or girls) in Farrell history at the time during her playing days, finishing with 1,913 points, breaking the mark of legendary Julius McCoy (1471). She was the first Farrell girl to surpass 1,000 points.
She was 1st Team All-WPIAL and All-Section all four years. She had a career high 43 points in one game vs. Union with 10 steals. She was Section MVP in 1996 and in her career scored 144 3-pointers (record), 564 assists (record). Her junior year, she drilled 46 3-pointers (record). Her senior year Jill averaged 24.34 ppg, most in the county for boys or girls. She finished her career with 308 steals, 198 blocked shots and 408 rebounds.
She was a three-time All-State selection in volleyball for legendary coach Harriett Morrison, who joins Jill this year as posthumous inductee to the Mercer County Hall of Fame. Jill was a first-team All-Section two years as well and was honored as Section MVP her senior season as well as Most Valuable Setter. She was First Team All-WPIAL for four years and MVP of Section 12. She helped lead the team to two state titles and one runner-up finish.
She also played six years in Junior Olympics with 617 kills, 78 aces, 401 digs and 796 assists.
Some other accolades included: Mike Erme Memorial Award-Best Female and All-Star Hoyle Tourney selection; played in Roundball Classic; Dick Borowicz Memorial Scholarship recipient; YMCA Scholar-Athlete Banquet Honoree in Pittsburgh; and John Hopkins Talent Search Award winner. She earned a full scholarship to Clarion University where she played volleyball from 1996-98. She started as a freshman as setter and outside hitter.
Jill served as head volleyball coach at Kennedy Catholic High School from 1998-02 (youngest head coach in state at 20) and head coach at Hickory High from 2006-11, winning a section championship. She worked as a volleyball referee as well.