PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | April, 2021

All Delco Girls Basketball Teams

Congratulations to the following Central League basketball players who were named to the All Delco Teams.

First Team

Rachel Conran, Springfield: The senior guard earns her first All-Delco selection after a breakout season in which she led the Cougars to Central League and District 1 Class 5A championships. A captain on and off the floor, Conran took her game to another level in her senior year. A four-year starter, she has been a terrific 3-point shooter since her freshman season, but in 2021 she was the floor general on a 21-1 team that went toe-to-toe with the eventual state champion neighbor Cardinal O’Hara in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals. Conran worked to become a more well-rounded scorer and made steady improvements to her defensive game. She averaged 14 points per game in her final high school season. One of Conran’s best performances happened to come in the only game Springfield lost this year. In her swan song at Springfield, Conran poured in a game-high 17 points in a 40-28 defeat to O’Hara in the state semifinal.

Springfield guard Rachel Conran, left, makes a move against Cardinal
O’Hara’s Maggie Doogan during the teams’ PIAA Class 5A semifinal
matchup. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

 

Second Team

Lindsay Boyd, Sr. G, Ridley
Alexa Abbonizio, Sr. G, Springfield

Third Team

Haley Levy, Jr. F, Marple Newtown
Caroline Dotsey, So. F, Haverford
Shannen Hinchey, Sr. F, Ridley

 

Honorable Mention

Garnet Valley: Jess Brewer, Ava Possenti.
Haverford: Mollie Carpenter, Chiara McGillivray.
Marple Newtown: Nikki Mostardi, Mary O’Brien.
Penncrest: Bridget Dawson.
Radnor: Cierra Hopson, Ellie Rinehart.
Ridley: Kylie McNicholas.
Springfield: Lexi Aaron, Anabel Kreydt, Mia Valerio.
Strath Haven: Danielle McNeely, Faith Raymond.
Upper Darby: Aubrey Ennis.

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Rizzio among juniors showing way for Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – When Gabby Rizzio was a freshman, way back in the before times, she understood the correlation.

That Springfield girls lacrosse team she was part of in 2019 featured 15 seniors, 13 of whom started. It would go on to win a state title.

So in assessing the 2021 squad, with its four seniors – one out with a major knee injury, the other just returning from one – Rizzio didn’t need to be told that juniors like her would have a big role to play.

Rizzio showed the way Tuesday, scoring four goals, including a first-half hat trick to stake Springfield to an early lead in a 15-6 Central League win over Haverford.

The task is doubly difficult for Springfield’s youthful roster, the bulk of which are sophomores and freshmen. With no season last spring, there’s little difference in experience between the classes. In starting three freshmen Tuesday, it took time to settle in and get everyone on the same page, a daily process that Rizzio hopes is accelerating as the season progresses.

“It’s definitely hard to adapt from middle school coming to the varsity level right away,” Rizzio said. “I definitely think this game and last game, we really came together as a team and worked in transition and started connecting on a personal level. I think it’s definitely showing in our games.”

Rizzio’s role is to lead by example. She recorded a natural hat trick over less than three minutes in the first half, turning a 2-0 lead to 5-0. The goals were fairly simple in design, mostly straight-line dodges from up top from the midfielder, the first of which drew a free-position shot that she converted.

But Rizzio keeping it simple gave her teammates breathing room on the scoreboard to do the same.

“I think in the beginning, it’s hard for us to bring the energy,” Rizzio said. “As balls start hitting the back of the net and we start making catches and making defensive stops, it definitely brings our energy up and that’s we really come together.”

It isn’t all youth for Springfield (8-3, 4-2 Central). Makayla Cox anchors the defense in front of fellow senior Rachel Conran, who made three saves. The defense is without stalwart Casey O’Connor, who injured her knee in the fall.

The fourth senior, Lauren Johnston, is working her way back from a knee issue, as her heavy brace indicates. She scored her second and third goals of the season.

Not all of the young players are as young as they appear. Anabel Kreydt and Mia Valerio, for instance, have two seasons of high-level basketball with the Cougars under their belt. Valerio had a game-high seven draw controls to go with two goals and an assist.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Springfield’s Gabby Rizzio, left, carries the ball against the defense

of Haverford’s Grace Hetznecker. Rizzio scored four goals to lead the

Cougars to a 15-6 victory over the Fords. (Pete Bannan/Medianews Group)

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All-Delco Boys Basketball

Congratulations to the following basketball players from the Central League who were named to the All Delco Teams.

Carl Schaller, Garnet Valley: Helped create some history with the Jaguars in his senior season. Under the point guard’s guidance, the Jaguars won their first Central League title and reached the District 1 Class 6A semifinals. Schaller scored in double figures in all but one game, averaging 18.8 points per game. He also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest. He hit a season-high 33 points in a win over Radnor Feb. 6. Schaller was the team’s leading scorer with 20 points in the 44-35 win over Marple Newtown in the Central League semis, in the league finals win at Conestoga with 18 points and in both of the Jaguars’ districts wins, including 26 points in a 63-38 domination of Perkiomen Valley. Schaller finishes his career with 1,186 points, tied with Nate Daltry for second-most among players to spend their entire career at Garnet Valley. Last year, Schaller became the first Garnet Valley All-Delco boys basketball player since 1997-98 (Joel Smith). He’s the first player in program history to be a two-time All-Delco. He will continue his career at Gettysburg College.

John Seidman, Haverford High: The senior guard continued to do it all for the Fords, earning his second straight All-Delco nod. Seidman led the team at 14.6 points per game, the only Ford in double figures. He added six rebounds, four assists and two steals per game, serving as the team’s top defender, top scorer and top facilitator with the ball. He tied for the team lead with 15 made 3-pointers, leading Haverford to an 8-6 record and a berth in the District 1 Class 6A tournament. For highlights, Seidman scored 26 points against Garnet Valley, then 16 in an OT loss to the Jaguars, 19 points in beating Central League top seed Conestoga in the regular season, and 22 in a win at Strath Haven. In his final high school game, Seidman’s 22 points nearly willed the Fords to beat Upper Dublin in their districts opener. Seidman finished his career with 1,080 points, third in Haverford history. He’s the fifth Haverford member of the 1,000-point club and the first since 2001 (Chris Dougherty). Seidman is the first multiple-time Haverford All-Delco in boys basketball since Larry Davis (1976-77). He committed to Franklin & Marshall.

Second Team

Luke Edwards, Sr. G, Strath Haven
Lew Robinson, Sr. G, Radnor
Mike Tansey, Sr. G, Marple Newtown

 

Third Team

Saahir Lee, Jr. G, Penncrest
Justin Langan, Sr. G, Garnet Valley

 

Honorable Mention

Garnet Valley: Max Koehler, Gannon McKee, Ryan Wootten
Haverford: Nick Colucci, Will Higson, Hunter Kraiza, JR Newman
Marple Newtown: Owen Mathes, Eric McKee, Ryan Straub
Penncrest: Denzel Atkinson-Boyer, Ben Stanton
Radnor: Jackson Hicke, Danny Rosenblum, Charlie Thornton
Ridley: Josh Hagan, Tahir Mills
Springfield: Terrence Cobb, AJ Grande, Michael Hoey, Cole Rhodes
Strath Haven: Rob Guilday, Matt Shuler
Upper Darby: CJ Dabbs, Shareef Jones, AJ Tucker

Garnet Valley’s Carl Schaller, right, looks toward the rim

as Perkiomen Valley’s Kameron Parks defends Friday during

a District 1-6A quarterfinal. (Owen McCue – MediaNews Group)

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Conestoga’s Patrick Reilly is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week

The junior has been a key reason for the Conestoga boys’ lacrosse team’s good start, with 16 goals and five assists after the first eight games after being moved from midfielder to attack. Reilly was a starter as a freshman on the Pioneer team that won the Central League and District 1 3A title and advanced to the PIAA state championship final. Conestoga boys’ lacrosse head coach Brody Bush said, “His speed and mental toughness are his best attributes as a lacrosse player.” Last fall, Reilly received All-Central League second team honors as a receiver for the Conestoga football team.

 

 

Fun facts – Patrick Reilly 

Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones.

Favorite movie: Patriots Day.

Favorite athlete: Bryce Harper.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Low Life (Future and the Weeknd).

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: “The beach.”

Favorite pre-game meal: Banana.

Family members: Parents Jim and Chrissy, older brothers Jack and James, and younger sister Eileen.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

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Mesaros’ grand slam puts Garnet Valley back on track

CONCORD — Morgan Mesaros provided two highlights on Garnet Valley’s senior day Monday.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The James Madison-bound shortstop ended the Jaguars’ offensive doldrums in the third inning by crushing a pitch over the fence in left-centerfield for a grand slam. Later in day, she made a diving stab at short and threw a bullet from her knees to first base for the final out in Garnet Valley’s 7-3 win over Marple Newtown.

Afterward, GV honored Mesaros and classmates Annie Bechtold, Kayleigh Saboja, Cori Jenkins, Dani Schmoyer and Dinah Stabinski with the usual pomp and circumstance … via a socially distanced celebration.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we all sort of just came together and it was a great team win,” Mesaros said.

It was probably the biggest victory of the season for Garnet Valley, which was tied with Marple Newtown entering the day atop the Central League standings. They were two of four one-loss squads in the conference. It was imperative the Jags left the field with a ‘W’ and keep pace with the rest of the top teams. But they were at a disadvantage from the start.

Two starters, Anna Sidlowski and Maura Coleman, were injured in a 2-0 loss at Interboro on Friday. To add insult to injury, the Jags’ potent offense was held without a hit.

So, it was up to the senior class to kick the team back into gear.

“We wanted to win this for each other, “ said Bechtold, starting catcher and future East Stroudsburg Warrior. She had a hit in three plate appearances. “It was a big game, especially with all the adversity we’re facing right now with injuries and stuff.”

The underclassmen played an important role, too. Garnet Valley received an outstanding pitching performance by Kelly Cornog, who has split mound duties with Sidlowski this year. Both are sophomores brimming with potential.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Smiles on senior day at Garnet Valley as the Jaguars defeated Marple Newtown 7-3 on the power of
Morgan Mesaros, center, who had a grand slam in the third inning. Teammates including Emily Orsini
(16), pitcher Kelly Cornog (35) and Kate Dugery (31) congratulate each other after the final out.
(Pete Bannan/Medianews Group)
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Central League All-Delco Wrestlers

Congratulations to the following wrestlers in the Central League who were named to the All-Delco teams.

1st Team

Cole McFarland, Haverford: Became the first freshman in program history to reach the equivalent of the state tournament when he qualified for the East Super Regional. McFarland began his career with 10 straight wins, eight by major decision, tech fall or fall. Finished 14-6 overall, 13-5 at 106 pounds. He won the Central League 106-pound title, finished second in the District 1 Class 3A Section South tournament and fourth at the South East Regional.

Matt Ricci, Garnet Valley: A staple in the lower weights for three years, the junior went 16-7 wrestling at 120 and 126 to help the Jaguars to their fourth straight Central League title. Ricci earned his second Central League title when he captured the 120-pound crown. He went on to take fourth at both the District 1 Class 3A South Section and South East Regional tournaments to earn a spot in the East Super Regional.

Griffin Hollingsworth, Garnet Valley: The senior closed out his career with a record of 104-44, which included 67 victories by major decision, tech fall or fall to earn All-Delco honors for the third time. A shoulder injury at the South East Regional cut his season short. Hollingsworth earned his third Central League title with a victory at 132 pounds. He took second at the District 1 South Section and sixth at the South East Regional to close out the season with a 16-4 record.

Kelton Brunner, Strath Haven: Versatility was one of Brunner’s strengths. He competed at 132, 138 and 145 for the Panthers while compiling a record of 14-6. He finished third at 138 pounds at the Central League championships to help Strath Haven to a second-place finish in the team competition. He went on to place third at the District 1 South tournament and fourth at the South East Regional to qualify for the Super Regional, where he had to pull out because of swelling in his knee.

Kevin Rainey, Ridley: He went 18-5 as a senior to cap a solid career with a 92-39 record that included 69 victories by major decision, tech fall and fall. He won the Central League 138-pound title and then went on to place fourth at the District 1 South Section tournament and fifth at the South East Regional, just missing a trip to the East Super Regional.

C.J. Wood, Garnet Valley: A solid performer in the middle of the lineup for the Jaguars, Wood went 16-5 overall, 2-1 at 138 and 14-4 at 145 as a junior to earn All-Delco honors for the second time in his career. He finished second at 138 pounds at the Central League championships before moving up to 145 for the postseason, where he was second at the District 1 South Section and fifth at the South East Regional.

Chase Barlow, Strath Haven: A three-time state qualifier and three-time All-Delco wrestler, Barlow earned his first state medal with a seventh-place finish at 152 pounds in the PIAA Class 3A championships. Just a junior, he went 22-4 overall, 19-4 at 152, to claim his three straight Central League and District 1 South championships. He would finish third at both the South East and East Super Regionals to punch his ticket to Hershey. He is 89-23 in three seasons with the Panthers.

Desmon Perry, Garnet Valley: After taking second at the Central League championships at 172 pounds, the senior earned his third straight trip to the South East Regional with a second-place finish at the District 1 Class 3A South championships to earn All-Delco honors for the second time. He finished the season with a 14-5 record to help the Jags claim the Central League title for the fourth year in a row, three outright and one shared.

Sam DiTrolio, Garnet Valley: Teamed with Perry to form a solid 1-2 punch at 172 and 189 pounds for the Jaguars. DiTrolio began his season with 16 straight wins. He finished with 19-5 mark at 189, winning the Central League title, taking second at both the District 1 South and South East Regional tournaments and sixth at the East Super Regional.

Julien Laventure, Upper Darby: The Royals junior clearly was the top 285-pounder in Southeastern Pennsylvania. A two-time All-Delco, Laventure became the 19th Upper Darby wrestler to medal at the state meet with a sixth-place finish at the PIAA Class 3A championships. He won the Central League, District 1 South and South East Regional titles, and took fourth at the East Super Regional to get to Hershey for the second year in a row.

Daetrel Jerome, Radnor: The senior made the most of a second chance, being a last-minute replacement at the South East Regional when Strath Haven’s Ben Farabaugh had to withdraw due to COVID protocols. Jerome finished fourth to earn a berth in the East Super Regional, placing sixth before being forced to forfeit twice due to injury.

 

2nd Team

Gabe Broome, Strath Haven Fr.
Rocco Hartfuss, Ridley So.
Daniel Husain, Garnet Valley Jr.
Nikko Partsanakis, Penncrest Jr.
Stephen Lozano, Haverford Sr.
Jimmy Hally, Marple Newtown So.
Gabe Federico, Strath Haven Sr.
Jon Harwood, Haverford Jr.
Ben Farabaugh, Strath Haven So.
Nick Mahoney, Garnet Valley So.

 

Honorable Mention

Garnet Valley: Ethan Bliss, Frank Reagan.
Haverford: Jack Lacianca, Don Reimer.
Marple Newtown: Will Evans, Joe Goodman, Alex Tenaglia.
Penncrest: George Bostwick, Liam Stauffer.
Radnor: Gave Vandevere, Zack Fluck.
Ridley: Chris Green, Victor Ninson, David Rainey, Alex Treloar.
Springfield: Eddie Cullen, Matthew Klein.
Strath Haven: Simon Bolinger, Anthony Crawford, Charlie Dawes, Alex Hemingway, Sal Kaufman.
Upper Darby: Farhan Chowdhury, Samuel Kimmel.

Haverford’s Cole McFarland scrambles with Boyertown’s Gavin Sheridan

before pinning him in the 106-pound semifinals. McFarland finished second.

(Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

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Lower Merion’s Yi brothers capture Central League doubles title

The Lower Merion doubles team of brothers Justin Yi and Brian Yi, captured the Central League doubles title April 24, defeating Conestoga’s Peter Auslander and Justin Xu, 6-1, 6-3, in the championship final.

Radnor’s Ryan Klein and Garrett Spillerman finished in third place, defeating Conestoga’s Aaron Sun and Manas Dhawah, 6-2, 6-4 in the third-place match; and Lower Merion’s Ethan Blum and Mark Lancaster finished fifth, defeating Radnor’s Ariston Fonseca and Hyeonjin Kim, 6-2, 6-4 in the fifth place match.

In the semifinals, Lower Merion’s Justin Yi and Brian Yi defeated Radnor’s Ryan Klein and Garrett Spillerman, 6-1, 6-0. In the other semifinal matchup, Conestoga’s Peter Auslander and Justin Xu defeated their teammates, Aaron Sun and Manas Dhawah, 6-2, 6-1.

In the quarterfinals, Lower Merion’s Justin Yi and Brian Yi won a close victory against teammates Ethan Blum and Mark Lancaster, 6-4, 6-4, while Conestoga’s Peter Auslander and Justin Xu defeated Garnet Valley’s Srihari Raman and Shiven Patel 6-1, 6-2.

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Flyers Cup Class AA: McClelland has special game, Haverford wins title

WEST GOSHEN >> The way Downingtown West goalie Aidan McHutchinson was playing Tuesday night, it was going to take something special to beat him.

Lucky for Haverford, that’s Jagur McClelland’s specialty.

McClelland broke through on the Fords’ 29th shot of the game to break the top-seeded Whippets’ resolve, and Jacob Orazi netted the game winner as the third-seeded Fords won the Flyers Cup Class AA final, 4-1, at IceLine.

“The shots were there, the goals weren’t,” McClelland said. “We kept going. The outcome was there. That’s all we could really worry about.” The win is the Fords’ fifth Flyers Cup and first since 2007. They advance to Saturday’s state final to take on the Penguins Cup winner, Baldwin.

The Fords peppered McHutchinson early and were in danger of never beating the senior netminder until McClelland turned the momentum. The West goalie was spectacular in the first period, stopping 25 shots thrown his way, including a late shutting of the five-hole with Orazi bearing down.

“I think I was really in the zone until that (McClelland) shot,” said McHutchinson, who finished with 46 saves in an outstanding performance. “We definitely collapsed as a defense. It happens. I let in goals, I save shots, it’s what I do.”

The Fords’ 29th shot of the game was McClelland’s short-handed rush up the left wing, hit by an Orazi stretch pass. McClelland strode in and finally found a sliver of space above McHutchinson’s right shoulder on the short side.

“I saw his shoulder go down and that’s my role, so I’ve got to put those away,” McClelland said. “I shot where I saw the opening, and it went in.”

The Fords could’ve taken the lead 37 seconds later when Dan Quartapella was hauled down on a breakaway and the referee awarded a penalty shot. Quartapella glided in and deked to his forehand, but McHutchinson kept his post and kicked out his right leg to deny the Fords centerman.

McHutchinson said it was the first penalty shot he’s faced in high school. He and Quartapella don’t know each other, so he had no tendencies to go on, just read and react in what had the potential to be a big momentum-changer.

“I think if I let that in, that’s a 2-1 game, but I saved it,” McHutchinson said. “We got some motivation out of that.”

Click HERE to read the full article.

Haverford captain Jacob Orazi carries the Flyers Cup

Class AA as they defeated Downingtown West Tuesday

evening (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

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Clark goal with 4.4 seconds left lifts Conestoga past Garnet Valley, 9-8, in Central League showdown

As she stood waiting to take a free-position shot late in the second half of Thursday night’s game at Garnet Valley, Conestoga senior Rachel Clark pictured the situation she found herself in when the Pioneers hosted Penn Charter last weekend.

“The shot I took that day flashed through my mind,” Clark said of an unsuccessful attempt in overtime against Charter in a game which ended tied.

Thursday night, the clock showed 4.4 seconds remaining in the second half when Clark whistled a bullet into the back of the GV (ranked No. 3) cage as Conestoga (6-0-1, ranked No. 1) earned a 9-8 Central League decision in a battle of undefeated teams.

“Everyone knows I want to get to the goal and get my shots,” said the University of Virginia-bound Clark, whose contributions Thursday included three goals, one assist and five draw controls.

“The coaches were saying that they wanted to get the ball to me. I cut through and got the chance to take a shot. The first time I did that I missed, and then I got the shot that went in.”

Garnet Valley (8-1) grabbed a 4-2 lead 10 minutes into the game, with junior Kaitlyn Stankavage picking up two of her four goals. Melissa Hewitt, Kate Galica and Clark (from Galica) closed out the scoring in the first half for Conestoga, which led at the break, 5-4.

“We knew that we didn’t play that well and things were kind of hectic,” Clark said. “I guess it was because we were playing Garnet Valley. We just knew we had to play our game.”

Garnet Valley’s scoreless woes reached 25 minutes before Stankavage picked up the first point of the second half. Gabby Ridder and GV’s Sophie Kingsborough (two goals) traded goals to keep the score even, then it was Galica, who finished with six draw controls, and Hewitt giving the visitors a two-goal advantage with five minutes to play.

Kaitlyn Henning set up Stankavage for a goal with two minutes left, and Sydney Pyon got the tying goal 31.3 seconds before the final whistle on a play on which she was injured and had to leave the game.

“The conditions weren’t ideal,” Conestoga coach Amy Orcutt said about playing on a very cold and windy night. “I’ve never seen our girls play like this with all those turnovers. Garnet Valley was very tough.

Click HERE to read the full article.

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Conestoga’s Rachel Clark is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week

The senior attack is off to a great start, scoring 26 goals and winning 27 draw controls for the Pioneers (5-0-1 as of April 19). As a sophomore, Clark was a first team All-American, All-Central League and All-Main Line girls’ lacrosse selection, and Conestoga won the District 1 3A championship. In the fall, she will be headed to the University of Virginia, where she will play lacrosse. Conestoga girls lacrosse coach Amy Orcutt said, “Rachel is one of the most dedicated and hard-working players I have ever coached. She is constantly playing lacrosse and working on improving her game. She has an incredibly quick first step and her ability to change direction on point makes her difficult to defend. Rachel’s quick hands, quick release and insanely accurate shot make it hard for any goalie to see the all coming out of her stick. It has been such a joy seeing Rachel grow as a player, person and leader on and off the field over the last four years.”

Fun facts – Rachel Clark 

Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds.

Favorite movie: Secretariat.

Favorite athlete: Kayla Treanor.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Dreams to Nightmares (Meek Mill).

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: Cape Cod.

Family members: parents Ron and Amy, older sister Sarah, younger brother Weston.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

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