38th Annual HC Sports Awards | Northeast Times

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024

6:00 PM — 9:00 PM EDT

Dear Winners,

Congratulations on your accomplishments as we celebrate the hard work you’ve invested during the 2023-24 school year and beyond! Our dedicated Northeast Times’ writers have watched you grow into amazing people on and off the field. We’re excited to celebrate with you next week at the 38th Annual Sports Banquet. Family and friends of the winners are invited to join in the celebration; if you have not already purchased your tickets, scan the QR code here!

A special thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters who make this event possible:

Sincerely,

38TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

FOOTBALL

CATHOLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tyler Yerkov

Father Judge

The Crusaders played one of the toughest schedules in the state with games against St. Joe’s Prep, Roman Catholic and a pair of games against La Salle, both during the regular season and playoffs.

Still the quarterback hung tough and helped the Crusaders finish 5-7 despite that crazy tough schedule. They also faced off with Central Bucks South and Spring-Ford, and once again knocked off Lincoln, this year’s Public League champion, in the annual Thanksgiving Day game.

Yerkov was a dual-threat star, using his legs and arm to help Judge. He also chipped in at defensive back at times.

PUBLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Gabriel Smalley

Abraham Lincoln

The Railsplitters have been improving steadily over the years. This year, they won their first Public League championship since 1979, and Smalley was calling the signals for that championship.

Another dual-threat QB, Smalley preferred to do damage with his arm, but was just as strong with his legs. Behind his play, the Railsplitters finished 7-5 against tough competition. They also knocked off defending champ Northeast in the championship game. He also helped out in the kicking game, and in the Public League semifinals, blasted a pair of field goals, the first was Lincoln’s first since 2011.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Hakeem Cooper Abraham Lincoln

It’s never easy to build a football program, but it’s particularly tough when you’re doing it at a school that’s not used to winning.

Lincoln always had a good program, but since 1979, it could never find a way to win the Public League championship. Until this year.

Cooper, a Lincoln graduate, returned to coach the team a few years ago and was promoted to head man in 2018.

Thanks to Cooper, Lincoln was not only able to win the Public League crown, but the Railsplitters were able to hang with teams like Imhotep Charter in a Public League intradivisional game and St. Joe’s Prep in the city championship. The rest of the schedule was also tough with games against Downingtown

West and Roman Catholic.

The Railsplitters lose some stars from this year’s squad, but should be in the mix for the championship again next year.

BOYS SOCCER

CATHOLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Abou Cherif

Father Judge

Since he arrived at Judge, Cherif has become one of the best scorers in the Catholic League. But this year, he had his finest season, scoring 20 goals and adding an assist for the Crusaders, who mowed through the Catholic League during the regular season and entered the Catholic League championship game undefeated and outscored foes 44-7 during the regular campaign.

For his efforts, Cherif, who ended his

38TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

career with 44 goals, was named the Catholic League Most Valuable Player.

Cherif will continue his soccer career at Mount St. Mary’s.

PUBLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ED Leom Dos Santos Northeast

The Vikings have been the best Public League boys soccer team for the better part of a decade, and every year they have a guy who can lead them. This year, that guy was ED Leom Dos Santos.

A great athlete, he could do a little bit of everything for Northeast, which once again won the Public League championship and played Catholic League champion La Salle to a tough game in the city championship.

The senior was also a First-Team AllPublic selection and was named Public League Most Valuable Player.

He’s currently looking at options to continue his soccer career beyond high school.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Ryan Haney

Archbishop Ryan

Ryan won the championship a year ago, but came into this year with a lot of questions. The Raiders had some great defensive players who were more than capable leaders, but there were plenty of question marks, and it’s not easy to win in the Catholic League with unproven guys in key positions.

It didn’t matter.

Haney guided the Raiders to a thirdplace finish in league play and then advanced to the Catholic League semifinals, where Ryan fell to eventual champion La Salle.

The Raiders then went on to win the city championship, and advanced to the state playoffs.

Not only did the Raiders enjoy a good season, but many of those inexperienced players who played during the season return next year.

GIRLS SOCCER

CATHOLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Gianna Rivera

Archbishop Ryan

A lot of top seniors come into the season riding the momentum of a great junior year. Rivera, who started as a freshman and sophomore, didn’t have that luxury due to an injury that sidelined her for her entire junior campaign.

Apparently it didn’t matter much because Rivera came back and took over right where she left off, as one of the top scorers in the Catholic League. She finished the season with 15 goals.

And because of her dazzling moves on the field, Ryan got back to its winning ways, finishing in second place in the Catholic League, just getting edged out by Archbishop Wood at the end of the season.

She’ll continue her career next year at Kutztown University.

PUBLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jenna Beltle

Franklin Towne Charter

The Warriors are always one of the top teams in the Public League and this year was no different. Franklin Towne advanced to the Public League semifinals

And whenever they needed something taken care of, the Warriors turned to Beltle, who played halfback and striker.

She scored 12 goals in 12 games this year, took 25 corner kicks and recorded 19 steals on the season.

But what made her best was her attitude, according to coach Rebecca Gilborges, who said she’d “never seen another player wanting to succeed more.” That, coupled with her leadership skills, made her the key to the Warriors.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Bradley

Nazareth Academy

Perhaps the coach knew what he was doing when he helped the Pandas join the Catholic League. The PCL is one of the best around for girls soccer, and this year

Nazareth joined for the first time.

The Pandas finished fifth in a very competitive division during the regular season, but in the playoffs, they turned it on.

Nazareth needed double overtime to knock off Cardinal O’Hara in the first round, upset a very good Ryan team in the semifinals and after advancing to the championship game, it fell to Archbishop Wood in a competitive game.

The Pandas then went on to beat Masterman in the city championship game in the first year they were eligible to play in the game.

Bradley pushed all the right buttons in the playoffs and helped Nazareth make the biggest game in its first year. And while the Pandas graduate a lot of talent, they should be poised for another great season next year.

BOYS BASKETBALL

CATHOLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Darren Williams

Archbishop Ryan

When you play with one of the best players (Thomas Sorber) in the history of Northeast Philly, you could get overshadowed. Not Darren Williams.

The crafty scorer hit some of the biggest shots of the season for the Raiders en route to their magical postseason run that included advancing to the Catholic League championship in one of the greatest PCL games ever played, and a trip to the state semifinals.

Williams was not only an elite scorer, he was one of the best leaders in the league, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better teammate.

Next year he’ll continue his career at Florida Gulf Coast.

PUBLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Darrius Gaeta

Northeast

The Vikings enjoyed a great season this year. They advanced to the Public League

quarterfinals and won 19 games.

The team had a lot of young talent, but whenever they needed the perfect leader, they turned to their point guard.

Gaeta ended up leading the team in scoring and assists. He also was one of the better defenders in the Public League and whenever the young team needed a boost, he was there both on and off the court.

Next year, Gaeta hopes to continue his basketball career, though is unsure where as of now.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Joe Zeglinski

Archbishop Ryan Ryan had a fantastic season. Any time you can make the Catholic League championship, it’s a massive accomplishment. But to do so in a year where there were at least six elite teams, it took even more coaching care.

But Zeglinski’s greatest accomplishment might have been getting Ryan to rebound from losing one of the greatest games in Catholic League history.

Zeglinski is losing a lot, this team had nine seniors on the roster, and the ones who want to play at the next level are doing so.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

CATHOLIC LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Reese Power

Nazareth Academy

The Pandas sure have loved playing in the Catholic League.

After making the Catholic League championship during soccer season, the Pandas tried their luck in basketball, and they once again shocked everyone.

Despite playing in one of the most difficult leagues around, Nazareth advanced far in the playoffs, making it to the semifinals.

The Pandas were led by Power, who after starring last year as a sophomore in the Catholic Academies League, played just as well against the tough teams in the PCL.

38TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

PUBLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Meiara Staton

Franklin Towne Charter

Whatever the Franklin Towne girls basketball team needed, they didn’t have to look far to find it.

Their top player was always in the center of the action, leading the Warriors in both scoring and rebounding. And what made her stand out even more was her ability to lead the defense. She helped Franklin Towne reach the postseason in her final season. She’s unsure if she wants to continue her basketball career.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jonathan Michels Frankford

The Pioneers were one of the youngest teams in the Public League. But that didn’t matter.

Despite having a young lineup, Michels coached his Pioneers to a strong season. They won 15 games, including a playoff game, and went 8-3 against Public League foes.

Falling to Imhotep Charter, which the Pioneers did in the second round of the playoffs, is nothing to be ashamed of. And that game will help this team next year when it returns most of the players.

WRESTLING

CATHOLIC LEAGUE

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Rickie Melendez

Father Judge

The Crusaders had some strong wrestlers, but Melendez proved to be one of the great leaders of this team.

The senior finished with a 29-6 record and ended his career with 85

career wins. He likely would have joined the 100-win club if he had a freshman season.

For the year, Melendez scored 14 pins with four major decisions. He finished second in the All-Catholic tournament, falling to Jeffrey Spofford of Conwell-Egan in the finals.

PUBLIC LEAGUE

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Deshawn Woodhouse

Northeast

The Vikings had a solid wrestling team this year, and were led by their junior 189-pounder who compiled a 29-9 record

Woodhouse, also a star football player, recorded 19 pins, a tech fall and three major decisions. He also had a huge hand in helping Northeast win another Public League championship.

He’ll return next year for his senior season.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Mike Siravo

Northeast

It’s not easy to build a program into one that is expected to produce championship after championship, but that’s what Siravo has done at Northeast.

This year, it didn’t start out that way. Northeast lost its first Public League match, falling to rival Central by 18 points. The Vikings turned the season around and went on to win another Public League championship.

The Vikings had some key pieces in place, but the bulk of the team consisted of inexperienced wrestlers, and Siravo turned the team into a championship squad in a couple of months.

SWIMMING

BOYS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Oleksandr Zholob

Philadelphia Academy Charter

Zholob wasn’t just one of the best swimmers in the area, he was one of the best in the state.

The junior was First-Team All-Public in the breaststroke. He also won a

District 12 championship in the event and went on to finish fourth in the PIAA State AA Championship.

Zholob also excelled in other races. He finished second in the 50-yard freestyle in both the Public League and District 12.

GIRLS SWIMMER

OF THE YEAR

Clara Ciamaichelo

Philadelphia Academy Charter

For the second year in a row, the best swimmer in our area is Ciamaichelo, and she might have had an even better year this year.

The senior collected a lot of golds this year, taking first place in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke at both the Public League and District 12 championships.

She then went on to finish 13th in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 breaststroke at states.

Next year Ciamaichelo will continue her swimming career at La Salle University.

SWIMMING COACH OF THE YEAR

Ed Roussel and T.J. Farrell

Nazareth Academy

The Pandas’ coaches made sure their swimmers took to the Catholic League. Thanks to a great showing in both swimming and diving, the Pandas were able to win two championships in their first year of competition.

Nazareth first won the Catholic League championship, and followed that up with a District 12 championship.

The team also posted great times in the race, including some personal records, showing the Pandas were swimming and diving at their best when it mattered most.

BASEBALL

CATHOLIC LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

David Rodriguez

Father Judge

Last year, Rodriguez was the best baseball player in the state, leading the Crusaders to the state championship.

38TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

This year, he’s picked up right where he left off.

The St. John’s signee has become one of the better hitters in the Catholic League this year, but he’s still old reliable on the mound. After a slow start, he’s picked up two Catholic League wins and has the Crusaders in position to defend their Catholic League championship.

PUBLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Braedyn Clinton

Franklin Towne Charter

The Warriors have put together a stellar team this year, and their star outfielder is one of the main reasons.

The five-tool player can do anything Franklin Towne needs. He’s fast, has a great arm, can hit for power, hit for average and is one of the best at track-

ing down balls in the outfield.

Last year he helped the Warriors reach the Public League championship.

The Widener commit is hoping he can do the same this year, and potentially win the title.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Juan Namnun Frankford

The Pioneers were expected to be rebuilding this year, but sadly nobody told the team. Instead, Namnun has Frankford where it’s used to being –atop the Public League standings. They sit at 10-1 as May begins.

The young team is competing in Public League play, having suffered just one loss. This season should pay dividends for Frankford not just this year, but beyond.

SOFTBALL

CATHOLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mya Diorio

Archbishop Ryan

Whenever the Ragdolls need a big hit, they turn to their senior power hitter. Diorio, a first baseman and captain, is hitting .500 on the season and is one of the early favorites to win the MVP of the league.

Ryan is 7-0 on the season and should once again compete for a Catholic League championship.

PUBLIC LEAGUE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Aubrey Seider

Franklin Towne Charter

Ever since she arrived as a freshman, Seider has been the starting pitcher on

the Warriors, and she’s been nothing but great the entire time.

Seider has not only led Franklin Towne to the postseason every year, the team has advanced to the championship every year.

This year, the Warriors are 6-1 on the strength of her arm, and should once again make a deep run in the Public League playoffs.

COACH OF THE YEAR

John Kidwell

Archbishop Ryan

It’s never easy to win in the Catholic League, but the Ragdolls are making it look easy this year.

Not only are they winning, they’re a perfect 7-0 in Catholic League play, and they’re doing it convincingly. Ryan has outscored foes 93-24.

Last year Ryan advanced to the cham-

38TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

pionship and went on to make a run in the state playoffs. The team should once again be one of the favorites heading into Catholic League playoff action.

OVERALL AWARDS

SPECIAL HONOREES

Bill Koch

Father Judge

If you’re a fan of the Crusaders, you’re a fan of Bill Koch. Because nobody is more Father Judge than the longtime coach.

An assistant football coach has done it all over the years for the Crusaders, and he might be the all-time winningest junior varsity coach in the country.

PICTURE PERFECT AWARD

Dave Picariello

Father Judge

He didn’t play baseball, but nobody had a better eye than Dave Picariello.

But what he’s taught kids about sports doesn’t scratch the surface of what he’s done for the school over the years. This year marks his 50th with the school. Koch isn’t about publicity. He’s there for the kids. But few have done as much as he’s done and anyone who played at Judge over the years in any sport will tell you that.

The senior was one of the busiest people in all of sports. He served as the team photographer for just about every school. He did it last year when Judge won a state baseball championship, he was front and center when the soccer team ran roughshod through the Catholic League, he snapped photos at some of the biggest football games of the year and he was

the man running the show at the Palestra when Judge returned this year.

Picariello not only gets great shots because he has a great eye, he takes great care in his work. Any athlete at Judge will tell you Dave made their athletic career better by capturing the highlights.

HOLY FAMILY MALE ATHLETE

Kouto Anyika Track

The sophomore from Penn Wood High School enjoyed a great season during the winter with indoor track and is having just as much fun during the outdoor season.

Anyika qualified for All-American during the winter in the 400-meter final, where he broke his own school record with what at that point was the fourthbest time in Division II this year.

During the East Coast Conference

indoor championships, Anyika won two individual golds, in the 200m and 400m, and was also part of the 4x400m relay team that broke both a championship and near 10-year-old indoor school record after combining to finish in 3:20.60.

HOLY FAMILY FEMALE ATHLETE

Maura Kilkenny Soccer

The Little Flower graduate has been tearing it up at Holy Family since she got there.

The defender was twice named to AllCentral Atlantic Collegiate Conference First Team, and once made second team. This year she was also named to the CACC All-Tournament Team and won the 2023 Women’s Soccer Alumni Scholarship. She finished the year with a goal and an assist.

38TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

MOST COURAGEOUS ATHLETE

Chris Coulter

Father Judge

If you’ve ever seen Coulter play football, you’d know why he’s courageous. The big guy was in the center of both the offensive and defensive lines, and he more than held his own against some of the best in the area. He also is one of the best shot put throwers in the state. And Coulter did all of this without his biggest fan there for his senior year. Coulter’s father, Craig, passed away last year. Coulter always made his dad proud, and this year would have been no different.

MOST DEDICATED

Qadir Carr

George Washington

When Carr joined the Washington football team, it wasn’t very good. It was

in the middle of the pandemic, there weren’t many kids on the team and the Eagles needed some work.

With Carr leading the way, they put in that work, and then cruised to great seasons his junior and senior year.

Carr was the man leading that charge. He helped his younger teammates get acclimated to the game, and also served as almost a player-coach to make his teammates better.

He helped the Eagles finish 8-3 and guided them to the playoffs.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

Seamus Hart

Father Judge

Some players are willing to go the extra mile for their team. Hart did it for his school.

The lacrosse star is one of the top athletes in the school, and he’s been a

leader on the team since his sophomore year when he was named captain. But Hart also helps other teams, including the basketball squad, where he was a manager.

Hart is also a credit in the classroom, where he is the president of student council and is also ranked in the top 10 percent of his senior class.

LEADERSHIP AWARD

Elizabeth Haney

Archbishop Ryan

The Ryan senior field hockey player is a leader in everything she does. This year she was not only a captain in her sport, she was the student body president.

A member of the musical theater, she served as the president this year and is co-editor-in-chief of the yearbook. She also helped start Tribe a THON, a fundraiser. She’s also in jazz band, where she won three vocal awards.

Next year, she’ll continue her education at Scranton.

SPIRIT AWARD

Caitlin Cranston

St. Hubert

Cheerleaders naturally light up a room, but few shine as bright as Cranston. She is a four-year member of the Hubert’s cheerleading team that won two state championships and a national championship during her career. She also led the Bambies to a pair of second-place finishes at nationals.

Cranston also shows her Bambie spirit in other ways.

She’s a member of the National Honor Society and also plays on the school’s flag football team. She will likely continue cheering in college.

UNSUNG HERO

Jaden Murray

Archbishop Ryan

When you play on a team with two of the best players in Southeastern Pennsylvania, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. That never happened to Murray

mostly because he was the guy who did whatever the Raiders needed.

A capable scorer, Murray deferred to his teammates at times for the good of the team. And he’s one of the main reasons the Raiders were playing in late March.

TEAMMATES OF THE YEAR

Frankie Monaco and Owen Stock

Archbishop Ryan

One of these guys had to get the award, and after everything they’ve done in their careers, it only makes sense they get it together.

Both defenders, Monaco and Stock came into high school and were promoted directly to the varsity team. After helping the team get back on track during their first two years, the duo led Ryan to its first Catholic League championship in 19 years.

This year, after watching most of the championship team graduate, they helped the Raiders get to the semifinals before falling to eventual champions La Salle.

Monaco and Stock have been playing soccer together their entire lives.

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIAN

AWARD (MALE )

Zach Curtin

Penn Charter

The Normandy native has been putting up huge numbers at Penn Charter for years.

This year he was the featured back, and he also helped out in the defensive backfield. The Quakers finished 4-5, but had some huge wins, including beating Inter-Ac rival Germantown Academy.

Curtin also plays lacrosse, and maintains a 3.8 grade point average in the classroom.

A second-team All-Inter-Ac selection, he’ll continue his career at Amherst College.

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIAN

AWARD (FEMALE)

Kendall Gayton

Villa Joseph Marie

38TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

The Jems senior doesn’t get a lot of rest.

The Mayfair native’s best sport is soccer, where she plays centerback and midfield. She’s also a star basketball player during the winter and has become a star lacrosse player in the spring.

On top of playing three sports, she’s a star in the classroom and a member of Athletes Helping Athletes.

She hopes to play soccer next year and will major in occupational therapy.

FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE

Zoe Steinmetz

Little Flower

It really didn’t matter what the Sentinels needed, they had the perfect person. Steinmetz did virtually every

race there is to do, and at the same time did anything she could to help her teammates.

As great as she did in the pool, she was even better in the classroom.

Steinmetz is ranked atop her senior class at Little Flower and is the valedictorian of her senior class.

Next year, she’ll study at Penn State.

MALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE

Tim Gress

Father Judge

Best known for being one of the best pitchers in the Catholic League, but it’s not even his best sport. Gress is also a great golfer, and hopes to play that sport in college. That means he’ll give up baseball, and he’s having a great final year on the mound. Just as he did last

2024 Northeast Times Sports Award

year, Gress has been mowing down batters all year.

When he’s not excelling in sports, he’s starring in the classroom. He’s a Diocesan Scholar, has earned first-honors every marking period and is ranked in the top 20 of his senior class.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Devon Cheeseman

Nazareth Academy

Nazareth Academy came into the season looking to find its way in the Catholic League. Not only did the Pandas hold their own, they went to the Catholic League championship game. All year, they were led by their senior captain, who went on to make AllCatholic.

Cheeseman is also one of the leaders

on the Pandas lacrosse team.

Next year, she’ll continue her soccer career at Muhlenberg.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Thomas Sorber

Archbishop Ryan

It’s hard to dominate in the Catholic League, but the Ryan senior big man found a way to do it. And because of his efforts, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the PCL. He also led Ryan to the Catholic League championship game, and the semifinals of the state playoffs.

In three years, Sorber made two Catholic League championships and two deep runs in the state playoffs.

Next year he’ll continue his career at Georgetown.••