Cardinal Mooney 7-time record holder earns Student Athlete of the Week

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Cardinal Mooney two-sport star Ashton O’Brien is no stranger to success.

“I mean, sports have always been my life, really,” said O’Brien. “I’ve always loved them, I’ve always been very competitive. Growing up in a big family, we’ve all loved sports.”

The Mooney senior was a starter on both the football and basketball teams for three years.

O’Brien broke seven school football records. He will graduate Mooney as the all-time leader in passing yards, completions and touchdowns.

The Cardinal quarterback was outstanding this past season. In 2023 he passed for 2,100 passing yards, 600 rushing and scored 31 total touchdowns.

O’Brien also earned a spot on WKBN’s Big 22 Class of 2023 .

“Just spend time on what is the most important first, really,” said O’Brien. “While you’re in football, do football, as soon as you get out, do your schoolwork, get that done with. Then you can do the things after like film and then whatever else you’d like to do.”

For his performance on the football field, O’Brien was named to the All-State third team and All-Ohio Inland District first team. He was also named to the All-Conference team in the Steel Valley Conference during his junior and senior years.

O’Brien received the Ron Stoops Award, a prestigious Cardinal Mooney award given to a football player.

“Just feels great to actually have achieved things and now have other people looking at me the way I looked at other people,” said O’Brien.

The Mooney standout also helped the basketball team win three district championships . This past season, the Cardinals made it to the Division III Regional final , losing to Lutheran East.

“If you don’t do every drill in practice… to the best of your ability, you’re not going to win games,” said O’Brien. “In school, if you don’t study hard and prepare for tests, you’re not going to pass.”

For his efforts on the court, O’Brien has been awarded a special mention All-State in his junior and senior years. He also made the first team SVC and first team All-District.

O’Brien is in the Mooney basketball record books. He is second all-time in three-pointers and top-10 in scoring for Mooney basketball.

Not only is O’Brien an exceptional athlete, but he is also a dedicated student with a 4.26-grade point average.

Outside of sports, O’Brien is in the National Honors Society and Cardinal Mooney’s Link Crew, which helps mentor freshmen coming into high school. He has also been a part of Gardening, Chess and Italian clubs.

O’Brien volunteers his time at the Potential Development School, food banks and tutors fellow Mooney students.

“A lot of the parents see it in their kids that they look up to me, which is cool to see that they actually are looking up to me as a leader,” said O’Brien. “I could feel like I’m helping them in their lives and getting better.”

The Mooney senior also participates in youth sports camps and expresses the Mooney trait of being a family.

“You’re just going to help everybody out, that’s what everybody teaches here,” said O’Brien. “I mean, it’s just like second nature to me to try to help people be a better person.”

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