Ron Park
Ron Park was one of the best running backs ever to carry the pigskin in Mercer County history.
He set school and county records during his brilliant career at Reynolds High School, helping the Raiders of legendary Coach Frank Amato to Keystone Football League and District 10 Division II Championships in 1986 and �87. In 1986, his school records included 1,504 yards rushing in 10 games and 1,754 in 12 games as the team posted an 11-1 record. The Raiders defeated Northwestern, 30- 21, in the D-10 semifinals and Lakeview, 41-6, in the district title tilt. He was named 1st team all Keystone Football League and was the first junior ever honored as league MVP.
His senior year, he broke his own school marks with 1,904 yards in 10 games and 2,157 in 12 games. The team went 11-1 (losing only to Erie McDowell, 7-0, early in the year). Ron helped the Raiders to dominating performances in District 10 playoff wins over Lakeview, 54-7, and Grove City, 33-7. In the championship game victory over Grove City, he rushed for 264 yards on 28 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. He scored 182 points his senior season and finished with a career mark of 400. Ron again was honored as KFL MVP that season. He was also named to the KFL 2nd team in the defensive secondary. He was selected for the Big 33 game and was honored as KDKA Athlete of the Week.
He finished his career at Reynolds with a then-Mercer County career rushing record of 4,537 yards. If there had been state playoffs in that period, he would have been much higher.
He went on to play football at Potomac State University, before transferring to Thiel College and concentrating on academics. He coached at Reynolds in 2005 and 2006, and also coached midget football from 2008-11. He was an inaugural inductee to the Reynolds Athletic Hall of Fame.