Kowen Gerner-Schuylkill Valley

Schuylkill Valley set a school record with nine wins in 2023, but the Panthers weren’t happy about sharing the Section 5 championship in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. They ended up in a three-way tie with Lancaster Catholic and Annville-Cleona. Schuylkill Valley is looking for an outright title this fall. “I think we got a really good chance to be better than last year,” stated Kowen Gerner. The 6’2, 180-pound rising senior caught eleven touchdown passes last year, the most in school history. Gerner had 48 catches for 976 yards. He also made 75 tackles at linebacker. During the winter, Gerner averaged nine points per game for the basketball team. The Panthers aren’t lacking for talent at the skill positions. Logan Nawrocki, Luke Spotts, Cooper Hohenadel, and Dillon Lackner are all returning for their senior seasons. Logan Cammauf, a rising junior, is also back at running back. Nawrocki threw for 2,048 yards and 21 scores last year. “The chemistry keeps growing because the more years we play together, the more connected we are. It just keeps getting better,” said Gerner. Nawrocki was named the second team quarterback in Section 5. Spotts was an All-Section pick at linebacker and tight end. He accumulated 100 combined tackles and two interceptions to go along with 23 receptions. Spotts gives Nawrocki another big target at 6’2 and 200 pounds. Hohenadel is a versatile playmaker on offense who also starts at safety. Schuylkill Valley will miss Theo Wysocki up front. The 6’5, 300-pound lineman is at Shippensburg University. Nate Kier and Noah Sonon both started on the offensive line as sophomores a season ago. “I don’t think we have the same size, but I think they’re a lot more athletic,” noted Gerner. The Panthers picked up their second victory all-time in the District 3 playoffs last year. They eventually fell at Wyomissing 48-0 in the District 3-3A semifinals. Bruce Harbach is entering his fourth season as head coach in Leesport. Harbach guided Lancaster Catholic to state championships in 2009 and 2011. He won 139 games and four District 3 titles with the Crusaders over 16 years. Harbach is (15-8) over the past two seasons at Schuylkill Valley. The Panthers’ opener is set for August 23 against a Berks County foe. They will travel to Muhlenberg in Week 1.