Book closes on a winning career
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Of course, the final play of the PIAA Class 4A basketball semifinal was designed for Robby Carmody. Weren’t they all, given his scoring acumen (2,000 points) and his Division I talent (he’s off to Notre Dame in the fall)?
Except, on this occasion, something went wrong. Carmody, who was to take a pass from teammate Cade Hetzler, could not shake his defender.
Hetzler was left holding the ball. Literally.
Forced to improvise, the savvy senior guard sliced through the defense and scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer. This pulsating moment sent Mars to a 62-61 victory against Milton Hershey and to a spot in the PIAA title game.
“It was an awesome feeling hitting that shot and helping our team get to the state championship,” Hetzler said.
While Hetzler’s heroics might have surprised some, they were nothing more than standard operating procedure for the three-sport star.
Because at Mars, Hetzler was a serial winner. A serial champion. The son of a former Pitt football player, Hetzler was a key member of four WPIAL championship teams (three in lacrosse, one in basketball).
He also played in three PIAA semifinals and one PIAA championship game duringhis storybook career.
The lacrosse, basketball and football teams went a combined record of 119-32 in theyears Hetzler started.
That’s a lot of winning — anda lot of trophies/ medals.
“I have a lot, but I’m not really sure where they are,” he said. “I just keep the most recent ones in my room,nowhere special.”
To add perspective to Hetzler’s championship ways, consider his dad, Doug, a former Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 pick, won just one WPIAL championship in four years at North Hills. That’s why Cade said he takes “nothing for granted” whenit comes to winning.
“Cade is one of the alltime greats in Mars athletics,” said veteran basketball coach Rob Carmody, father ofRobby.
“His athletic ability across three sports is proof enough.But what truly separates him is winning at such ahigh level. His competitiveness, toughness and grit translate across every sport he plays. I think of our PIAA playoff game against Trinity, where he took four charges, and then a week later scores the winning basket to send us to Hershey tellsyou about him. He’s just a kid who did whatever needed to be done to win, no complaints, no whining, no selfishness. Simply put, he is justa winner.”
For the lacrosse team, Hetzler finished with 140 career goals and 86 assists, helping the Planets to WPIAL titles in 2016 (their first ever), 2017 and 2018. Named the team’s Most Outstanding Player after producing 59 goals and 34 assists as a junior, Hetzler added another 45 goals and 36 assists this past season.
In his final three seasons, the lacrosse team went 59-6. And, similar to basketball, Hetzler prospered in the big moment.
“He scored three goals against Pine-Richland after coming straight to lacrosse the day after the PIAA basketball championship game — without a single practice,” lacrosse coach Bob Marcoux said. “Cade led the team in assists this year. When other teams adjust their defense to try to stop Cade, he makes them pay by findingan open teammate.”
Marcoux called Hetzler’s championship personality “contagious.”
“Cade’s confidence in pressure situations rubs off onthe rest of the team,” Marcoux said. “Winning is a lot about confidence. We had a very confident team and Cadewas a big part of it.”
As a two-year starter in basketball, Hetzler was part of teams that went 42-15. He averagedeight points as a junior and 12 as a senior. Carmody called him the best defenderhe’s coached.
“The basketball WPIAL championship definitely feels the most special,” Hetzler said. “That was the first championship in school history and to be able to bring that excitement to our communitywas awesome.”
For good measure, Hetzler went out for the football team as a senior — and was named the offensive MVP. The wide receiver had 22 receptions for 523 yards (23.8 per catch) with five touchdowns. He also had four interceptions for the Planets, whofinished 6-5.
Despite drawing interest from Football Championship Subdivision programs such as Duquesne, Lafayette and New Hampshire, he has decided to attend Florida State on an academic scholarship.
“Each team that I’ve been on has been extremely close and was, in a sense, a family,”said Hetzler, who is consideringcollege lacrosse just like older brother Cole (who plays at Louisville). “We would always do things together outside of sports and to be able to win with some of your best friends is really cool.”