SPORTS

Haven Football Fosters Community

How high school football brings people together like no other

Colwyn Hals, ‘21

Staff Writer

In today’s divided world, nothing brings a community together like football. That could not be more apparent at Strath Haven. You can feel it in the energy of the ticket lines, which stretch to hundreds of people long. You can hear it in the music of the band, which reaches my house a good mile away. You can see it in the thousands of people who voted, some of them countless times, on the CBS game of the week poll. This school and its surrounding communities care. According to forecasts, Friday night was supposed to be miserable, but that didn’t stop fans from the community from showing up in the unseasonably cold and drizzly weather to watch the Panthers embarrass Ridley in the game of the week. They sat on cold, wet benches, ignored the cold rain, and stayed even after the Chick-filA ran out. Students gave up their hard-earned Friday, and parents came straight from work. There is a sense of togetherness at high school football games that can’t be experienced elsewhere. NFL football is expensive, and while exciting, is usually watched from a couch or the nosebleeds. College football is more about where your parents went than where you live, and your friends often root for different schools. But high school football is special. There’s something magical in seeing people you know personally lay out running backs and bowl over safeties. There’s a sense of many different people with one common goal. In today’s climate, a group of people bonding over one team, one event, is invaluable. Strath Haven football engenders hope that one day we can all live happily in a high school football wonderland, filled with visions of jet sweeps and end arounds. This sense of community isn’t a recent thing, either. After Ibo Pio took a handoff and broke free for a 22yard touchdown, extending the Panthers’ lead to 14-0 to end the first quarter, the 1999 state champion team was honored on the field. Even 20 years later, the team remained bonded and agreed to come back. Football has been like this for generations: a place where we can all get along and share this one beautiful thing. John Prochniak summed it up well when he told the Delco Times “we’re a family and we stick together.” That’s what football is about: being a big family.

Football Faceoff | Panthers dominated 49-13 in game against Ridley / Rie Duncan, ‘20

SPORTS SCHEDULES

SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

3:00 PM Golf: Boys and girls Varsity Vs. Harriton High School @ Bluestone Country Club 3:45 PM Football: Boys Freshman Vs. Ridley High School @ George L. King Field 3:45 PM Tennis: Girls Varsity Vs. Haverford High School @ TBD 3:45 PM Tennis: Girls Junior varsity Vs. Haverford High School @ TBD 4:00 PM Soccer: Girls Varsity @ Radnor High School @ Creek Field 4:00 PM Field Hockey: Girls Varsity @ Radnor High School @ Encke Field 4:00 PM Soccer: Girls Junior varsity @ Radnor High School @ Loop Field 5:15 PM Field Hockey: Girls Junior varsity @ Radnor High School @ Encke Field 5:30 PM Soccer: Boys Junior varsity Vs. Radnor High School @ George L. King Field 7:00 PM Soccer: Boys Varsity Vs. Radnor High School @ George L. King Field

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

7:00 PM Football: Boys Varsity @ Haverford High School @ HHS Stadium, Cornog Field

SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

10:00 AM Soccer: Girls Varsity Vs. Sun Valley HS/Northley MS @ George L. King Field 10:00 AM Soccer: Girls Junior varsity Vs. Sun Valley HS/Northley MS @ TBD

Varsity Girls Soccer Kicks-Off Season With A 2-1 Win

Varsity girls shine in game against Unionville

Emma Henry, ‘20

Editor

Starting the new season off with a bang, the Strath Haven Varsity Girls Soccer team won an impressive kick-off game against Unionville High School 2-1 last Tuesday evening at Talen Energy Stadium. Junior midfielder Maggie Forbes scored in the first half, and freshman Lily Ostiguy scored the winning goal in the last 45 seconds of the second overtime, eliciting an exciting reaction from the Haven audience members and loud drum cadence from the Strath Haven pep band. Mr. Miraglia, the varsity girls soccer coach, stated in an interview with PA Pep Live that “Unionville’s the most talented technical team I’ve seen in a long, long time.” Similarly, senior goalie Claire Wolgast mentioned that “last year [the team] narrowly beat [Unionville] 1-0, so [they] knew [they] had to put in a good effort on Tuesday.” Wolgast finished with nine saves and stated that the best moment of the game was definitely Ostiguy’s winning shot. Despite the daunting task of playing in the Talen Energy Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, the team played an exciting game and is looking forward to a great season.

Strath Haven Frisbee Celebrates Best Year in Program

Memorial Day tournament kicks of promising year for boys and girls ultimate frisbee

Lilian Liu, ‘20

Staff Writer

Last Memorial Day Weekend, the Strath Haven Ultimate Frisbee team traveled to Pittsburgh and dominated at the State Championships. The boys team placed second overall in the boys division after coming in sixth last year. The girls, only in their second year of the program, battled it out against Radnor at the end of the last day to place third. They placed seventh at the tournament the year before. The girls team was also given the Spirit of the Game Award, voted on by other teams, for their enthusiasm and stellar sportsmanship. 2019 graduates Dagny Lott and Sam Barnett were given the MVP awards of last season, and Tim Jensen and Grace Hodges were recognized for their spirit. In a few short years, the ultimate program has grown immensely, going from just 14 players to over 60 across three teams. This year the fall season kicks off with practices from 5-7pm, Monday to Thursday. New players are wanted and welcome as the boys and girls teams gear up for our 2020 spring season. Come out and support Strath Haven Ultimate!