By: Will Pantages '13

BEREA, OHIO -- They are family. They are friends. And, oh yes, they are student-athletes, too.  Brothers Jason and Ryan O'Rourke (Avon) are six years apart in age, but that has not detracted from their close relationship at all.

Jason is a 2008 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and now works as a financial analyst for University Hospitals of Cleveland. Away from work, he has built a career in a specialty area of competitive golf. He competes in long-drive events and is ranked among the top 128 players in the world, according to rankings compiled by the website www.longdrivers.com. 

Meanwhile, Ryan is on a playing field of his own this fall as a junior at B-W, where he is majoring in education and is the starting quarterback.  The 2009 Avon grad excelled in both football and baseball. He enjoyed baseball and was a talented third baseman before he realized he had a future in football, too.

In his senior season, Ryan led Avon to a 10-0 regular season record. The team won its first two playoff games before falling in the quarterfinals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Playoffs.  The 10-0 regular season included a conference championship and helped Ryan formulate his athletic plans for college. 

With a feeling of confidence, he headed to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference to be a student-athlete at NCAA Division II Slippery Rock University. In his freshman year, he saw significant playing time and completed 23-of-54 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. 

But there is a maturity process that comes with college life and Ryan decided to make a change. "I loved my time at Slippery Rock, and would not trade it for anything. I learned multiple things about myself and the game of football and I cannot thank the coaches there enough for the opportunity," he said.

As Ryan thought about where to transfer, he remembered that B-W Head Coach John Snell had said during O'Rourke's high school days that he could be a candidate to play for the Yellow Jackets.

He also leaned on Jason for advice about B-W, too. "It was an easy decision to make the move to Berea," he said. 

Ryan transferred to B-W during the spring semester of his freshman year, which helped him learn the offense and prepared him for the 2010 season. Since there were similarities between B-W's system and Avon's, he felt comfortable right away.

"When I met with Coach Snell and Coach Grabowski (Offensive Coordinator (Keith) Grabowski), they were as excited as I was to get going," Ryan said. "Participating in spring practices also helped."

The Yellow Jackets finished 2010 with a 7-3 record. Ryan's completed 119-of-213 passes for 1,513 yards and 16 TD with 10 interceptions. He also carried 40 times for 154 yards and scored three more TD.

"Last year was unbelievable and we lost some great seniors but we are all excited to prove that last year wasn't a fluke," said Ryan.

In some preseason rankings, B-W was ranked as high as 13th.  But Ryan said, "The preseason accolades are nice but we can't read too far into them and they don't mean anything once the season starts." He also knows the team's goal is to be the first OAC champ at B-W since the 1994 season.

Ryan already knows he wants to combine his degree with football after graduation. "I want to stay around football for the rest of my life, so after college I want to become a coach and pass on my knowledge to high school athletes or possibly small college athletes like myself if I get the chance," he said.

Brother Jason's time at B-W included earning a Masters of Business Administration in accounting and finance in 2008. In high school, Jason was a two-sport athlete and excelled in both football and baseball. In football, he played defensive back and wide receiver during his sophomore and junior seasons. As a senior, he moved into the starting QB spot.

"I felt very confident about my skills and that I had the ability to play at the next level in both football and baseball," said Jason. In baseball in high school, Jason was versatile in playing third base, shortstop and centerfield. "I loved the game of baseball, and I would say that it was my favorite sport at the time."

Jason was recruited by Ashland University to play baseball, but decided the academic programs at B-W offered him what he wanted. When he arrived at B-W, Coach Snell -- then in his second year -- recruited him to play football. Jason participated in training camp, but decided to concentrate fully on his studies.

In the summers, he worked at Avondale Golf Club in Avon, where he was able to play and improve every year. "Working at Avondale really helped my game develop, being able to play consistently helped my game improve and make me into the player I am today," said Jason. 

His interest in competing in long drives took hold in the summer of 2008. He has now competed in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships three times -- in 2008, 2010 and this year. 

In the competition, a golfer gets six chances at an event in a span of 2 minutes, 45 seconds. The competition includes head-to-head play against an opponent. Sometimes the scoring is close. Jason had a recent match where he won by just one yard.

Describing the events, Jason said, "It is unlike any other sport. You never know if you'll make it back to the worlds again, so you cherish it."

In regional play, golfers compete for one of the top four positions to advance. As a local winner, he earned a first-round bye in the regional event. He said the bye helped because "each swing takes a lot of energy."  He had a drive measuring 430 yards in a second-round match, which he said boosted his confidence and kept him in the winners' bracket.

Losers in the first and second rounds move on to compete in Rounds 3, 4 and 6. Any loss there results in elimination. A win in the first or second round means advancement to the fifth round, or semifinals. In Round 5, Jason had a mark of 429 yards to reach the finals, where he reached 428 yards to place first of all the regional qualifiers. But, he said, ``My work is not done yet." He said practice is the way to improve and keep a world championship goal alive. I must continue to work on my swing, as my new goal is to win a World Championship. " 

The different athletic paths that the O'Rourke brothers pursued have helped keep their relationship close. They are each other's biggest fans, however, they are also each other's biggest critics. "We talk after every game and Jason tells me all the things I did good and bad. He knows football inside and out," said Ryan.

Jason plans to see all B-W's 2011 games and did not miss a game last season. "It means a lot to have Jason there, and he is one of the first people I talk to after a game because I know he will tell me the truth," said Ryan.

Since Jason's golf accomplishments are at a specialty level, Ryan says, "I only wish I could give him advice on his golf swing to help him."

When the brothers have time, they watch NFL or college football games and analyze defenses and how an offense should attack. "It is a very special bond we share, even when we play Madden or NCAA (both of those are video games)."

"We talk strategy the whole time," said Jason. 

One area where their schedules fit together is the off-season for both. They take advantage of the opportunity by training together, pushing each other to be stronger and as fit as possible.

"In both of our sports," Jason said, "People are working hard every day to gain an edge. So you have to be willing to put in more work than anyone else. Being able to help each other is what being brothers is all about."

FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.