Warming Up
Phoenixville downs Upper Perkiomen in cross country opener
It was the lid-lifter for the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s boys cross country season.
And Phoenixville picked up from where it left off one year ago, running to a 20-40 victory over Upper Perkiomen on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
While Cameron Junk earned overall race honors for UP— the Indian senior covered Phoenixville’s home course in a strong 18:02 — the Phantoms took the next six places behind sophomore Gabe Puleo, who clocked an 18:19. Aaron Hin, Christian Schaaf, Zack Kleppe, Pat Darcy and Jake New followed Puleo across the line in a 70-second span to secure the win for a Phantom unit that went 4-1 in the PAC’s Frontier Division in 2016.
Evan Hanney, Lane Homan and Gage Gardner had other Top 10 finishes for UP, placing eighth through 10th.
On the girls side, the Phantoms countered the Indians’ 1-2 finish by taking the next four places to come away with a narrow 27-29 victory.
Serena Detweiler and LeeAnn Markwalter led the UP squad, Detweiler covering the Phoenixville course in 22:29. Emma Visnov led the Phantom pack with her third-place (23:19) effort, followed by Madison O’Neil, Meg Gibbons and Julia Hihi.
Boys cross country
OWENJ. ROBERTS17, PERKIOMEN
VALLEY 42 » Liam Conway got the defense of his PAC championship off in solid fashion, leading the Wildcats’ victory over the Vikings in their PAC Liberty Division pairing on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Conway covered PV’s home course in 17 minutes flat, outpacing teammates Andrew Malmstrom (second, 17:32) and Linus Blatz (third, 17:46). Dylan Danowski was the Vikes’ leading runner, coming home fourth in 17:47.
Girls cross country
OWEN J. ROBERTS 25, PERKIO
MEN VALLEY 30 » The Wildcats placed four of the next five spots behind PV race-winner Teagan Schein-Becker on the way to winning this PAC Liberty Division meet on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Mary Bernotas (20:03) and Autumn Sands (20:18) went 2-3 behind Schein-Becker, who ran a winning time of 19:43. Delaney O’Sullivan followed in 20:21, giving PV fourth place.
Girls volleyball
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 3, METHAC
TON0» Senior Ellie Min posted 32 assists — including the 2,000th of her career — during the Vikings’ 3-0 PAC win over Methacton on Wednesday night on Sept. 6.
Set scores were 25-22, 25-19 and 25-13.
Perk Valley’s offense was balanced throughout with Helena Clauhs, Lia Torrilo and Sarah Straub posting 11, 10 and nine kills, respectively. Liz Caruso, Grace Herbein and Clauhs each had 12 digs on defense. SPRING-FORD 3, BOYERTOWN0 » The Rams defeated the Bears in straight sets, 25-13, 25-13 and 25-12 on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Carly Swenson posted 24 assists and three kills while Lindsey Dadourian had five kills and two blocks. Alexis Palucki had
seven kills and a pair of blocks while Olivia Olsen had nine kills and three digs. Grace Kraft (three aces) and Lauren Stenson combined for 17 digs.
UPPER MERION 3, PHOENIX
VILLE 0 » The Eagles beat the Phantoms in straight sets during their PAC Frontier Division match on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Set scores were 25-11, 25-12 and 25-13.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 3, NOR
RISTOWN 0 » The Vikings opened their season with a sweep of the Eagles. PV took the PAC match by game scores of 25-10, 25-10 and 25-11 on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Lia Torrilo led the Vikes with nine kills, and Helena Clauhs added six kills and two aces on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
POPE JOHN PAUL II 3, PHOE
NIXVILLE 0 » Kayla Grammerstorf and Romina Broglia were the statistical stars for the Golden Panthers in their PAC match with the Phantoms. PJP swept by set scores of 25-9, 25-20 and 25-21.
GREAT VALLEY 3, PHOENIX
VILLE 1 » Kayla Grammerstorf was the statistical leader for the Phantoms in their non-league loss to the Patriots. Phoenixville won the second set 25-21 against Great Valley’s 26-24, 25-18, 25-18 run on Friday, Sept. 1.
Grammerstorf had five aces, 11 kills and seven blocks. Kearan Hennessey chipped in with five aces and 25 assists for the Phantoms, with Romina Broglia adding seven kills and four digs.
Great Valley defeated Phoenixville 3-1 (26-24, 2125, 25-18, 25-18).
SPRING-FORD3, UNIONVILLE
0» The Rams beat the Indians in straight sets behind Olivia Olsen’s 11-kill, four-ace showing on Friday, Sept. 1.
Carly Swenson added 24 assists while Alexis Palucki finished with nine kills. Set scores were 25-21, 25-13 and 26-24.
Field hockey
SPRING-FORD 10, NORRIS
TOWN 1 » Kaitlyn Hennessey and Clare Kennedy each scored a pair of goals to lead the Rams to a PAC Liberty Division win over the Eagles on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Katelyn Crist, Shannon Kennedy, Julia Forcey, Alexa Habermehl and MaryPat McKenna each
scored once while Kristen Grebe and Ashley Della Guardia combined for four saves in the cage.
UPPER PERKIOMEN 6, PHOE
NIXVILLE 0 » The two-goal outings of Hope Flack and Kaylie Siwy keyed the Indians’ PAC Frontier Division victory over the Phantoms on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Colleen Creneti and Michaela Fredzek rounded out the UP point production, with Morgan Fiorito, Liz Fox, Autumn Gahman, Abriana Gatto and AiYi Young getting credit for assists. Goalie Carly Eidle needed to make only one save to record the shutout.
DOWNINGTOWN EAST 7,
SPRING-FORD 0 » The Cougars were all over the Rams from the start en route to picking up a non-conference win on Saturday, Sept. 2.
Kayla Barr scored twice and added an assist while Paige Wolfe finished with a goal and an assist. Kristen Grebe and Ashley Della Guardia combined for five Spring-Ford saves.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 4, PEN
NRIDGE 0 » Sisters Danielle and Taylor Hamm connected for two goals during the Vikings’ season-opening win over Pennridge on Friday, Sept. 1.
Danielle Hamm scored off a feed from her sister at the 11:42 mark during the first half and the two connected again two minutes into the second half. Danielle Hamm finished with a pair of goals while Taylor Hamm had a goal and two assists as the Vikings had their way with the Rams throughout. Isabel Lobiondo added a goal while Gabby Martina and Paige Calfapietra each had assists in front of Hannah Roerden’s four-save showing in the cage.
UNIONVILLE2, SPRING-FORD 1» Maddy Detweiler and Claire Donovan each registered a goal to lead the Indians past the Rams in nonconference action on Friday, Sept. 1.
Erin Wilson scored Spring-Ford’s goal at 17:15 during the second half off a feed from Katelyn Crist. Kristen Grebe and Ashley Della Guardia combined for 22 saves in the cage.
Boys golf
SPRING-FORD 184, POTTS
GROVE 242 » Ben Pochet headed the Rams’ solid showing against the Falcons in their PAC match at Turtle Creek on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Pochet shot a one-under 35 to finish ahead of teammate Luke Watson, who
was an even-par 36. SpringFord saw its top five all card scores lower than Pottsgrove leader Josh Keepley’s 40.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 214,
PHOENIXVILLE223» Though Phoenixville’s Mitchell Schwartz got low-man honors with a 40, the Vikings had the next three scores in their PAC victory at Raven’s Claw on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Boys soccer
METHACTON4, SPRING-FORD 2» The Warriors struck four times during the second half to erase a one-goal deficit and claim a PAC Liberty Division win on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Chris Meehan scored twice while Trevor Rambo and Brett Jabour registered solo tallies in the win. Colin Trainor scored off a feed from Colin Trainor while Spring-Ford also benefitted from Methacton’s own-goal.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 1, POTT
SGROVE 0 » Matt McCabe scored the game’s lone goal in the 15thminute as the Vikings picked up a PAC non-divisional win over the Falcons on Saturday, Sept. 2. MikeWeir assisted the eventual game-winner while Andrew Daub en speck came up with five saves to earn the shutout. Pottsgrove keeper Ryan Long made 15 saves in net.
SPRING-FORD 1, CENTRAL
BUCKS EAST 0 » The Rams were able to tally a win against the perennial Suburban One standout Patriots on Saturday, Sept. 2. After a 1-1 tie last season, Spring-Ford was able to secure a victory this time around. Nate Alban headed off a Cole Dampf throw in the 37th minute. Hunter Hudak was strong in goal, recording 11 saves as East pushed hard in the second half, looking for an equalizer.
PHOENIXVILLE 2, GREAT
VALLEY 2 » The Phantoms played to a draw with Great Valley in non-conference play on Friday, Sept. 1.
Kyle Tucker scored twice, once with an assist from Jake Perillo. Gavin Perillo had six saves in goal.
SPRING-FORD 3, NORRIS
TOWN 0 » Ronnie Minges scored a goal and added two assists during the Rams’ shutout of the Eagles on Friday, Sept. 1.
Nathan Alban and Calvin Thomas each added a goal while Hunter Hudak finished with four saves to preserve the shutout.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 3, MAR
PLE NEWTOWN 1 » Firsthalf goals by Brian Love and Max Chamorro proved enough to secure the Vi-
kings’ season-opening win over Marple Newtown on Friday, Sept. 1.
Matt McCabe gave PV insurance with another goal in the 65th minute of the second half. Ryan Dao was credited with assists on both the Vikes’ firsthalf tallies, with Andrew Daubenspeck making one save on the day.
Girls soccer
POPE JOHN PAUL II 7, PHOE
NIXVILLE 1 » The Pope John Paul II girls soccer team had built a big lead on Phoenixville before.
This time, there was not going to be any letting up.
With last year’s 4-3 overtime defeat – after holding a 3-0 lead – serving as constant motivation, the Golden Panthers were relentless Wednesday afternoon in dispatching Phoenixville 7-1 at Washington Field.
Everything seemed to click into place for Pope John Paul II (2-0 PAC, 2-0 overall) in a game that matched last year’s top two finishers in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division. Liz Kropp and Kayla Mesaros each scored twice while Avery Cotter (assisted by Julia Owens), Carson Tracy and Mary Kate Shannon added solo scores as PJP scored seven goals unanswered after Phoenixville’s Jesi Rossman put her team on the board less than six minutes into the game.
“We didn’t expect to win by that much ... but it was pretty nice,” said Cotter, a senior midfielder. “That was the first time all year we’ve played that well, so it was pretty surprising, but hopefully we keep it up. It is probably going to motivate us ever more because we know what we’re capable of.”
After winning the PAC Frontier Division last year, the Phantoms (0-1, 0-2) are a work in progress after graduating some key pieces, especially on defense.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We have a lot of young kids and kids who don’t play club soccer so we’re trying to teach right now and that’s a tough spot to be in against a team that starts 10 seniors,” head coach Tim Raub said. “We’ve been on the other end of that but now we’re rebuilding and we’re trying to do what we can to get back in line. We’re going to have some ups, we’re going to have some downs; it’s not going to be the consistent team we’ve had, but we’re going to try to get there.”
SPRING-FORD4 ,METHACTON
3» Kelly Franz scored twice while Ella Curry and Gabby Kane scored single goals as the defending PAC champion Rams (2-0, 2-0) fended off Methacton in a PAC Liberty game on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Methacton’s Michaela Tommarello made it 3-2 on a shot from distance in the second half but the Warriors (0-2, 0-2) couldn’t find the equalizer. Lee Eubank scored a consolation goal with three seconds to play while Mariah Romano opened Methacton’s scoring in a 1-1 first half. Kendall Ozorowski had two assists.
SPRING-FORD 10, NORRIS
TOWN 0 » Katie Sites, Izzy Branco and Felicia Vagnozzi each tallied two goals apiece to lead the Rams past the Eagles in PAC play on Friday, Sept. 1.
Emily Higgins, Kelli Dombroski, Emily Moore and Ally Napier each added a goal in the win.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY1, QUAK
ERTOWN 0 » Nikki FollerMoll’s goal proved sufficient for the Vikings to claim victory in their season-opening non-league outing with the Panthers on Friday, Sept. 1.
Leslie Adams insured PV’s narrow victory with an 11-save day in goal. Cassidy Polignano was credited with the assist on FollerMoll’s tally.
GREAT VALLEY 3, PHOENIX
VILLE2» Gabrielle Perrotto figured in on both the Phantoms’ goals as they were edged by the Patriots in both teams’ season opener on Friday, Sept. 1.
Perrotto scored once, in addition to assisting on Leeza Galli’s tally.
Girls tennis
RADNOR 4, SPRING-FORD 3 » The Raiders used wins at first and third singles to nail down a non-conference win over the Rams on Friday, Sept. 1.
Kanan Ciarracchi posted a 6-0, 7-5 win at No. 1 singles while Bridget Dougherty won 6-2, 6-3. Kathryn Alvarez posted SpringFord’s lone singles win, a 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory.
Baseball
Phoenixville Area High School student-athletes continue to excel academically, as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) has named PAHS Baseball recipients’ of the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award. The ABCA honored over 200 programs from every level of college and high school baseball with the award, which recognizes teams coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA over 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the 2016-17 academic year. Phoenixville Area High School was the only school in Pennsylvania to receive the honor.
“This is a significant accomplishment for the PAHS baseball team,” PAHS Principal, Dr. Craig Parkinson, on the ABCA award. “Our student-athletes continue to work very hard in the classroom, understanding and respecting that nothing great can happen on the field without a strong academic foundation. Coach Herman has developed a high level of pride and dedication in his players and is creating a baseball program that will continue to grow and see many more accomplishments in the years to come. We are fortunate to have students who have a love for learning, both on and off the field.”
The American Baseball Coaches Association has a long tradition of recognizing the achievements of baseball coaches and student-athletes. The ABCA/ Rawlings All-America Teams are the nation’s oldest, founded in 1949, and the ABCA’s awards program also includes the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Awards, the ABCA/ Diamond Regional & National Coaches of the Year and several other major awards such as the ABCA Hall of Fame and the Ethics in Coaching Award. The complete list of award winners can be found at https:// www.abca.org/ABCA/ News/2017/2016_2017_ Team_Academic_Excellence_Award_Announced. aspx.
PAHS Head Coach Neil Herman knows the work that his student-athletes put in and appreciated the recognition from the ABCA. “In the Phantom Way of baseball, we preach academics and discipline above all else and it is a great honor to receive such a high team award in academics. This award is a testament to the players and their hardwork. This award is not just about the baseball team, it is a school-wide award. The faculty and administration work on a daily basis to help our students reach their potential academically.”
Phoenixville Area High School will open the new Doc Kennedy Field on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 against Upper Perkiomen.