Parkland’s perseverance pays off in strange year
The bus ride home after a big win.
Every scholastic athlete to ever play can vividly recall details of that joyous occasion, whether it occurred days ago or decades ago.
“Definitely our best one of the year was after the District 11 final win,” said Parkland senior Alex Marsteller. “Everyone celebrated on the bus while singing very loud.”
That celebration was wellearned after a challenging, and at times frustrating, 2020 season for the Trojans.
COVID-19 delayed the start of the season and abbreviated their schedule as well. Then the coronavirus hit home when the team’s coach, Al Haddad, contracted it late in the season.
But Marsteller and Parkland proved undeterred, claiming a fifth District 11 championship in six seasons and reaching the state semifinals for the first time since 2004. The Trojans finished 14-1 and are the pick as The Morning Call Team of the Year.
Parkland shut out its three district tournament opponents, including 13-0 Nazareth 2-0 in a highly anticipated Class 4A final.
The Trojans, in Haddad’s return to the sideline, then routed Williamsport 3-0 in a state quarterfinal before a 4-3 overtime loss to Pennridge in the PIAA semifinals.
“I felt the game we played against Pennridge was one of the finest games a PHS team has ever played,” Haddad said.
Marsteller, an outstanding midfielder, was the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Lehigh County Division co-MVP along with classmate Jocelyn Fowler, a defensive ace.
Seniors Teresa Gonzalez, Maeve Leonzi, Zuzu Mohamed and Emma Schock, and junior Marissa Olenwine, also were selected to the division’s all-star first team. Abby Lytle, Katey Kunz and Maddy Amadio were key contributors as seniors.
“The culture of our team is built on family,” Marsteller said. “And being able to play with this group of girls was truly an amazing experience.”