Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

 
The Courage Award was established in 2009 to honor former Freedom High School athlete John Challis, whose courageous battle against cancer became a national story. Luke Blanock is an athlete whose battle with a rare form of bone cancer has inspired many athletes, coaches, fans and all of Western Pennsylvania sports in general. Blanock played basketball and baseball at Canon-McMillan. After undergoing treatment for the cancer, Blanock played some for the Canon-McMillan basketball team in the 2014-15 season. The cancer returned, but it didn’t deter Blanock. Despite undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Blanock started a baseball game at pitcher last spring. In February, Blanock married his high school sweetheart.