Co-Directors Jason Brader and Dan Persa were the driving forces behind the camp. The first ever FASST Brader/Persa Offensive Skills camp was held Saturday in Bethlehem.
Helping out Persa and Brader with the camp were players like Akezie Olozie, Joey Orlando, Jarrod West, Kevin White, Mike Lelko and Devin Street. Also helping out were coaches like Rob Melosky of Nazareth Area and new Emmaus head football coach Randy Cuthbert.
Brader a former All-American running back, finished his career as one of the best runners in Division III history. He was recently inducted into the Muhlenberg College athletic Hall of Fame.
Jason founded FASST, LLC. (Functional Athletic Speed & Strength Training). In only a short period of time, Jason, who is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, has created a nationally recognized athletic enhancement training program. These programs focus on developing functional speed and strength in athletics for youth, developing athletes, college athletes, and professionals. “It all started with Danny,” said Brader. “From there we had all the guys that are here today.”
Former Liberty and Northwestern University Quarterback Dan Persa returned to where it all started for him to help coach kids at the Brader/Persa Offensive Skills Camp.
At Liberty, Persa was 42-9 as a starting quarterback. He led the Hurricanes to the state title game twice. One of his greatest games in high school was against Pennsbury. Liberty won the game 45-38 in quadruple overtime and Persa played both sides. He scored five touchdowns in the game and had 12 tackles on defense.
Persa would go on to star at Northwestern University. He passed for 5,181 yards and 34 touchdowns. Persa now works in Chicago as a sales executive for Computer Aid, Inc.
“The camp was a huge success for the first year,” said Brader. “We had 134 kids from all over Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.”
At the end of the camp, Brader announced the award winners of the one day camp.
– Iron Heart Award winner was Kyle Clark, Delaware Valley
– Sledgehammer Award winner was Jordan Gray, Nazareth Area
– Steel Arm Award winner was Kordell Theadford, Notre Dame
– Blowtorch Award winner was Miles Monteiro-Brown, Notre Dame
– Titanium MVP was Shane Simpson, Easton Area
