(Butler, PA) A Venango County couple married for just longer than three years and competing in the Butler County Community College Pioneer Pursuit 5K race for the first time won male and female divisions with record times in the event and with others helped to raise $10,900 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs.
Seneca residents Ryan Irwin, 41, and Sara Irwin, 31, joined runners ages 13 to 76 from six western Pennsylvania counties Sept. 13 at BC3’s third Pioneer Pursuit, which was held on the college’s main campus in Butler Township.
Ryan finished in 18 minutes, 15.15 seconds – 2 1/2 seconds ahead of Dominick Pusateri, a 30-year-old Butler resident who played guard on BC3’s men’s basketball team in 2014-2015.
“He was in front of me by a little bit for the majority of the race,” Ryan Irwin said of Pusateri. “I had a kick and passed him with about one-third of the race left.”
Sara Irwin finished in 19:52.80. The 5K race comprised three laps of the Shaffer Walking Trail that meanders inside BC3’s 330-acre main campus
“The campus had a welcoming, well-kept and very modern atmosphere,” Sara Irwin said. “I really enjoyed the trail course through campus. … Having that for students to utilize is really appealing.”
Sara and Ryan Irwin, fourth and fifth from left, are shown with players on Butler County Community College’s men’s basketball team after the BC3 Pioneer Pursuit 5K race held Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township. The married couple from Seneca, Venango County, won the 5K male and female divisions with record times. From left, Michael Lidge, Ashton Neely, Elijah Saeler, Sara Irwin, Ryan Irwin, Evan Bates and Ivan Zhivkov. The event raised $10,900 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs. Photo courtesy Joe Lewandowski, BC3 men’s basketball coach.
“BC3 student-athlete support … really appreciated”
Ryan Irwin’s time topped that of Jack Kelley III, Saxonburg, who won the 2022 men’s 5K at 18:42.40. Sara Irwin’s time was faster than that of Elliette Smith, Butler, the 2024 women’s 5K winner at 22:22.89.
The fundraiser drew 54 5K runners from Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, Mercer and Venango counties, 24 1-mile walkers and 15 100-meter kids’ dashers.
“It was a great showing,” said Mikayla Moretti, executive director of the BC3 Education Foundation and external relations. “We had entire families. Little ones who did the dash. Moms and dads who did the walk with a stroller.”
Participants in a 1-mile walk are shown during the Butler County Community College Pioneer Pursuit held Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township. The event raised $10,900 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs.
Volunteer event staff included BC3 coaches, Alumni Council members and employees, and nearly 40 BC3 students, most of whom play in the college’s athletics programs.
“We had a lot of athlete participation,” said Rob Snyder, the college’s director of student life and athletics and coach of BC3’s volleyball team. “They had an opportunity to interact with the local community, which I thought was great.
“It was also a good opportunity for the community to meet the athletes and see who the race benefits. Many of our athletes are new to this area, so it was nice for them to be involved. They did a great job encouraging all the racers, creating a really positive atmosphere.”
Added Sara Irwin: “The BC3 student-athlete support at the water stations was really appreciated.”
Sara Irwin crosses the finish line of the Butler County Community College Pioneer Pursuit 5K race held Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township. Irwin, 31, and her husband, Ryan, 41, residents of Seneca, Venango County, won the female and male divisions with record times. The event raised $10,900 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs.
Community “really proud of our athletics programs”
Proceeds from runners, walkers and kids’ dashers, sponsors and donors benefit BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs that have won 59 Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and 29 National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Region 20 championships.
BC3’s programs have qualified for national championship tournaments 13 times and produced 40 All-American awards.
“I think the community is really proud of our athletics programs,” said Megan M. Coval, BC3’s president, “and has a great appreciation and admiration for how hard our student-athletes work. They are doing their best in the classroom and many of them have jobs. Then they go out there on the court or course and come home winners.”
Madison Sharrar, left, at 13 the youngest runner, is shown with Anthony Sunseri, at 76 the most senior, during the Butler County Community College Pioneer Pursuit 5K race held Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township. Sharrar is from Butler and Sunseri, from Grove City. The event raised $10,900 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs.
13-year-old second in age group; 76-year-old 28th overall
Madison Sharrar, a 13-year-old from Butler, finished second in the 18 and under age group for females with a time of 33:31.33. Anthony Sunseri, 76, of Grove City, placed 28th overall among men and women at 32:50.13 and was first in the 70 and over male age group.
BC3’s volleyball team is ranked No. 7 among 86 National Junior College Athletic Association Division III programs this fall with an 11-0 record. Josie Russo in December received the program’s 14th All-American award.
The college’s men’s golf team is 5-2 this fall. Jacob Marquardt and Taylor Voloch in June received the program’s eighth and ninth All-American awards.
BC3’s men’s basketball squad open its 2025-2026 season Nov. 3 at Bryant & Stratton College, Solon, Ohio.
The college’s first Pioneer Pursuit in 2022 raised more than $16,000 for scholarships that included those in memory of nursing graduates who died at age 23 in 2019 and at age 26 in 2020. Its 2024 event generated $14,000 to support BC3 athletics programs and helped to purchase uniforms.
Anthony Sunseri is shown during the Butler County Community College Pioneer Pursuit 5K race held Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township. Sunseri, 76, of Grove City, was the most-senior runner in the event that raised $10,900 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs.
Male overall and age-group winners
Overall: Ryan Irwin, 41, Seneca, 18:15.15; Dominick Pusateri, 30, Butler, 18:17.44; Matthew Reagle, 40, Oil City, 19:41.78.
18 and under: Isaac Hixon, 18, Renfrew, 27:49.52.
19 to 29: Morgan Stull, 27, Grove City, 21:58.85; Andrew Wasko, 27, Cranberry Township, 22:33.32.
30 to 39: Andrew Gengler, 33, no hometown listed, 22:06.10; Greg Panchik, 38, Butler, 28:13.27.
40 to 49: Nick Coval, 47, Valencia, 25:10.29; Glenn Sharrar, 41, Butler, 26:25.13; Ken Peth, 45, East Butler, 30:03.60.
50 to 59: Jason Judy, 50, no hometown listed, 20:20.34; Matt Drohan, 56, no hometown listed, 23:07.24; Craig Hunt, 58, no hometown listed, 23.49.60.
60 to 69: Vern Morrow, 62, Butler, 20:23.78; Tim Piper, 63, Monroeville, 26:12.15; John Karpacs, 63, Graceton, 32:23.36.
70 and over: Anthony Sunseri, 76, Grove City, 32:50.10.
Saxonburg residents Summer Vantine, left, 31, and Karen Beilstein, 40, are shown during the Butler County Community College Pioneer Pursuit 5K race held Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township. The event raised $10,900 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs.
Female overall and age-group winners
Overall: Sara Irwin, 31, Seneca, 19:52.80; Chelsea Custer, 32, Karns City, 23:13.32; Mandy Matus, 27, Butler, 23:49.84.
18 and under: Camryn Bowser, 14, Worthington, 29:17.11; Madison Sharrar, 13, Butler, 33:31.33.
19 to 29: Destiny Gray, 25, Butler, 47:36.76.
30 to 39: Lauren Hortert, 35, Butler, 27:13.35; Summer Vantine, 31, Saxonburg, 34:58.56; Ashley Teuteberg, 39, Lyndora, 36:21.27.
40 to 49: Holly Peterman, 46, New Brighton, 25:04.35; Tabitha Bowser, 42, Worthington, 27:07.70; Karen Beilstein, 40, Saxonburg, 34.58.57.
50 to 59: Susan Landgraf, 53, Fenelton, 27.31.60; Katherine Metcalfe, 52, Mars, 48:09.49.