By: Alec Eskin
This Garnet Valley winter sports season has been a wild one to say the least. A lot has happened over this past moth and a half as the regular season for all teams is coming to a close. Both basketball teams have two more games until Central League playoffs and the Wrestling team has just wrapped out the Central League tournaments and are now going to compete in districts. While this season has been different in a lot of different ways, the spirt and enthusiasm has been there every step of the way. With everything that has happened over the past calendar year, just being able to watch teams play each other and battle it out is a blessing. With that being said, lets get into each teams’ season . . .
The wrestling team has been on a torrid pace since the beginning of last year. They just won their fourth Central League Title in a row thanks to star wrestlers Griffin Hollingsworth, Desmon Perry, Matt “Chew” Ricci, and CJ Wood. All of whom are going to qualify for districts (individuals). Then, this team has not lost a single meet this year as they have improved every year. Lastly, Griffin Hollingsworth just got his 100th match win and Coach Fantazzi just picked up his 250th meet win. Their next challenge will be in districts as they were able to make it to states as a team last year.
Both swim teams have also had a very good year. The girls swim team has just finished their central league championship game as they took 3rd place in that meet. The girls team was 3-2 coming into Centrals. They currently have a few college recruits on that team as they have built up quite a program in the last few years as well. The boys swim team is on a similar path. The boys and girls swim team run a joint program as they often share a pool and meets as well. The boys team is currently playing in their Central League championship meet as they look to get the Central League crown. They have had a good season as they are currently 2-3 and look to make some noise coming out of the regular season.
The girls basketball team after starting off the year 2-5 has been 5-1 in their last six game to get to a 7-6 record. This is largely due to the emergence of a few players. First, there is point guard Ava Possenti who has started to find her rhythm after assuming the position late last year due to Kendall DiCamillo injuring her leg. Possenti has done a very nice job of picking the defender’s pocket, which means getting steals, and has started to make more and more shots too. Then, Jess Brewer has done a very nice job of developing that midrange jumper and her presence in the paint has become more felt as the season has gone on as well. This team has two more regular season games, one away at Harriton and one at home against Marple Newtown. They are currently 23rd in the District One standings.
The boys basketball has picked up from where they left off last year. The team is currently 11-3 and been red hot as of late. Carl Schaller has been his MVP self and he continues to hurt teams from beyond the arc and in the paint. He just committed this last offseason to Gettysburg University. Then, the dominance from the three point line between Gannon McKee and Justin Langan has been huge for Garnet Valley this season. Both continue to pester their opponent in the paint as they are able to create turnovers and get boards at a high rate. It amazes me to think that just a few short years ago, this team did not have a single win in a season, now they are one of the top programs in District One, which they currently rank number six.
Overall, it has been a nice winter sports season as all the teams have had a very difficult and complicated year. But no matter what, every team has still been able to compete. It has been a pleasure to write about these teams and I cannot wait to continue to write about the winter sports teams and spring sports teams when that season starts up. Stay safe everyone and cannot wait to write more and for what is to come.