Hawks – Berks Sports Report

Hamburg finds new Football Coach

Paul Roberts — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:42:06 +0000

It didn’t take Tyler Hartranft long to find his way back to “Hawk Hill.” Hartranft was Hamburg’s offensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023. He was unanimously approved last week as the Hawks’ new head football coach. “Coach Hartranft has a proven track record of both playing and coaching football at a high level. His knowledge of the sport, energy, work ethic, and ability to build positive and lasting relationships will be invaluable to developing our student-athletes for success both on and off the field,” said Hamburg Superintendent Dr. Chris Beissel.

Hartranft is a graduate of King’s College. He was the wide receivers coach there from 2015-18. He went on to become the passing game coordinator at McDaniel College in Maryland. Hartranft then returned to the high school gridiron as the quarterbacks coach at Spring-Ford in 2020. After one season as the running backs coach back at King’s College, he was hired as the offensive coordinator at Hamburg. The Hawks reached the District 3 semifinals in 2022. They set school records for points and yards per game that year. Hartranft helped quarterback Xander Menapace set 14 program records.

Hartranft takes over for Matt Hoffert who stepped down after three seasons. Hoffert guided the Hawks to a (21-13) mark. They went (6-5) this fall and lost to North Pocono 41-0 in the Eastern Conference 4A championship. Hamburg finished in fourth place in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Hartranft wasn’t far away. He was a little farther north on Route 61 at Pottsville High School. Hartranft served as the offensive coordinator under Mike Brennan. The Crimson Tide lost to Southern Lehigh in the District 11-4A semifinals this year.

Hamburg hasn’t had a losing season since 2018. Hartranft works at the high school as a special education teacher. “We are excited about Coach Hartranft’s vision for the program and know he will be a tremendous asset to our school community,” said Beissel.

Matt Hoffert Resigns at Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:06:01 +0000

Hamburg is looking for a new head coach of its high school football program. Matt Hoffert resigned after three seasons on Hawk Hill. Hoffert, a 2001 Hamburg graduate, was (21-13) overall including a (9-3) record in his first year. “We appreciate Matt’s contributions to our program over the past three years. Hamburg Area wishes him nothing but the best into the future,” said athletic director Aaron Menapace. Hoffert served as an assistant coach for the Hawks from 2005-09 and again from 2012-13. He took over the program from Jeff Chillot who was (7-4) in his only season at the helm.

Hamburg got off to a (5-1) start this fall before finishing (6-5) for the second consecutive season. The Hawks lost in the Eastern Conference Championship Game each of the past two years. North Pocono shutout Hamburg 41-0 to end the 2024 campaign. The Hawks averaged 25 points while allowing 23 ppg. They ended up in fourth place in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League with a (4-3) mark.

Hamburg will also be searching for a new quarterback and #1 wide receiver. Tyler Shuey and Ty Werley were two of the ten seniors on this year’s roster. Shuey set a school record with 4,256 career passing yards. As a junior, he established a single-season school record with 2,764 yards through the air. Werley holds the Hawks’ career records with 104 receptions and 1,788 receiving yards.

Hamburg hasn’t had a losing season since 2018. The Hawks reached the District 3 playoffs in 2021 and 2022. Hamburg moved up to Class 4A this year. “Our administration has started the search for new leadership and will make a hire when we find the right person to fit our student-athletes’ needs,” said Menapace.

Ty Werley-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:39:50 +0000

The 2024 football season could be a record-setting one for Hamburg’s Ty Werley. When it comes to playing wide receiver, Werley loves to go deep. “Trying to ‘Moss’ everyone that tries guarding me,” he replied when asked about his favorite part of the game. The 6’1, 190-pound rising senior has racked up 66 receptions, 1,097 yards, and 11 touchdown catches in his career on Hawk Hill. Mason Semmel holds the school records with 1,124 receiving yards and 17 scores. The All-State tight end is a freshman at East Stroudsburg. Cohen Correll, another member of the class of 2024, finished with 81 career receptions. Werley needs just 16 catches to break that mark. Ty Shuey, one of Werley’s good friends, will once again be throwing to him. Shuey established a new single-season passing record at Hamburg last fall when he threw for 2,764 yards. The rising senior was responsible for 25 touchdowns through the air and another 13 on the ground. Shuey ran for 564 yards while completing 56% of his passes. “We play basketball together. We play a lot of video games together. We hang out all the time. We have a really good connection,” noted Werley. As for hoops, Werley averaged a team-high 13.6 points for the Hawks. Hamburg went (6-5, 3-4) last year. They missed out on the District 3 playoffs and lost 40-21 to Berks Catholic in the Eastern Conference 3A Championship. Werley, who also plays outside linebacker, is motivated to get back to the District 3 tournament. The Hawks are moving up to Class 4A this year. Hamburg graduate Matt Hoffert is entering his third season as head coach with a (15-8) record. He returns five starters on offense and seven on defense. They begin the season at home on August 23rd against Octorara.

Evangelista Steps Down at Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:19:00 +0000

There will be a significant change on “Hawk Hill” this spring. Nick Evangelista is stepping down as Hamburg’s head baseball coach. The Hamburg graduate has been named the new head baseball coach at Penn State Schuylkill.

Evangelista has been the Hawks’ skipper since 2009. He compiled a record of (181-107). Evangelista guided Hamburg to the state semifinals in 2019. The Hawks were the Berks County runner-up that year. Hamburg finished (9-11, 7-5) last season. The Hawks will return several key players in 2024 including Isaac Krick, Ty Shuey, Scottie Dunleavy, Ricky Clark, Braden Fetherolf, and Ethan Horvath.

Evangelista will continue to coach the Hamburg legion baseball team.

Ty Shuey-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 13:58:00 +0000

The bar has been raised up on Hawk Hill. Hamburg has won a District 3 playoff game in each of the past two seasons. The Hawks won nine games last year before falling at Wyomissing in the District 3-3A semifinals. Ty Shuey is hoping they can take the next step and reach the championship game in 2023. Hamburg got off to a good start by soaring past Halifax 49-19 in its opener. Shuey had a monster night in his debut at quarterback with 356 passing yards and four touchdowns. The 5’10, 175-pound junior ran for 76 yards and two more scores. Ty Werley also posted huge numbers. The 6’2, 185-pound junior made five catches for a whopping 253 yards and 3 TD. “We’ve been friends for awhile now. Back in elementary [school], we always played football together…really good friends,” said Shuey. Mason Semmel added 93 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. The athletic 6’3, 220-pound linebacker finished with a team-high eight tackles. Shuey is an all-division baseball player who also plays basketball. “It helps me keep my grades up all year,” he noted. His older brother, Hunter, was an all-county pitcher for the Hawks. The 6’3 righty is at UNC Greensboro. Hamburg ended up tied for second place in Section 5 of the new Lancaster-Lebanon League a season ago. The Hawks were (5-2) in league contests. Shuey replied, “It’s fun changing it up, playing new schools.” Lancaster Catholic ran the table in Section 5 last fall. Shuey admitted that he’s a Seahawks’ fan, but he likes watching Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence. Hamburg hits the road this Friday to battle Warrior Run.

Nick Evangelista-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Nick Evangelista has been around long enough to know that winning isn’t easy in Berks County. “I truly believe that we have some of the best baseball in the state,” said Evangelista. The former Hamburg standout pitcher has been the Hawks’ skipper for 14 years. He guided them all the way to the state semifinals in 2019. Hamburg went (14-8, 9-3) a season ago to capture the Division 3 championship. The Hawks fell to third-seeded Exeter 6-3 in the BCIAA quarterfinals. Hamburg is competing with Oley Valley, Berks Catholic, Schuylkill Valley and Wyomissing in what’s expected to be a tight race for the division crown. The Saints are (3-0) and the Lynx reached the Berks County championship game last year. “I think our division is up for grabs. I think there’s a lot of parity in our division. I think anyone can win on any given day,” replied Evangelista. The ball hasn’t bounced the way of the Hawks through five games. They’ve had tough non-league losses to Fleetwood, Blue Mountain, and Mount Carmel. “We’ve just gotta continue to believe. We’re not a (1-4) baseball club. This is a team that can run off 7-8-9-10-12 wins in a row. We’ve had four heartbreakers to start,” emphasized Evangelista. Scottie Dunleavy provides speed in the outfield and at the top of the lineup. The sophomore was an all-division selection in 2022. Dunleavy stroked two doubles in a 7-5 loss to Fleetwood on Wednesday. He’s followed in the batting order by seniors Conner Licklider, Luke Bensinger, and Nate Gilbert. “I think we have a lot of pop right there in 2-3-4. They’ve got a lot of doubles in their future,” said Evangelista. Licklider went 4-for-4 against the Tigers. The all-division second baseman scored a pair of runs and knocked in another. Hamburg will rely on Braden Fetherolf, Isaac Krick, Ty Shuey, and Licklider on the mound. While their velocity may not blow hitters away, they have the ability to command multiple pitches. Hamburg fell to #5 seed Littlestown 6-4 in the District 3-4A quarterfinals a season ago. Despite their early season struggles, don’t be surprised to see the Hawks back in the District 3 tournament this year.

Xander Menapace-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 01:56:00 +0000

It certainly wasn’t the start that the Hawks envisioned. They trailed #5 seed Upper Dauphin 14-0 with two minutes left in the opening quarter. Hamburg senior quarterback Xander Menapace remained confident. “There was not a doubt in my mind and anyone else’s mind that we could keep driving down the field and punching it in every single drive,” he emphasized. That’s exactly what fourth-seeded Hamburg did in the third period of the District 3-3A quarterfinals. The Hawks reached the end zone on all four of their possessions in that quarter and went on to win 49-35. The (8-3) Trojans arrived on Hawk Hill with a 7-game winning streak. An interception by Tegan Engle on Hamburg’s first series set Upper Dauphin up at the Hawks’ 45-yard line. 220-pound senior Brandon Snyder capped the drive with a 3-yard run. After forcing a three-and-out, the Trojans quickly marched 56 yards for another score. Alex Hepler’s 1-yard run made it 14-0. Menapace responded with a 4-yard touchdown run with 55 seconds remaining in the quarter. Hamburg evened things up on Pierce Mason’s 22-yard score midway through the second period. The 6’1, 185-pound senior was just getting warmed up. Ricky Clark’s 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Upper Dauphin as time expired. The Hawks’ offense shifted into another gear after halftime. Menapace connected with sophomore Ty Werley in the left corner of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown. Derek Ruiz then picked off Aidan Bingaman’s pass along the sideline and returned it to the 23-yard line. Mason cashed in the turnover with an 11-yard score for a 28-14 advantage. He ripped off a 56-yard touchdown on Hamburg’s next possession. Ruiz raced 62 yards for another score with 34 seconds to go in the quarter. The Trojans found themselves down 42-21. They didn’t go away quietly. Bingaman flipped a 4-yard pass to Landon Mace early in the fourth quarter. The 6’3, 195-pound tight end had four catches for 22 yards and 2TD. Mace entered the game with just seven receptions, but three of them were touchdowns. On fourth-and-three, Bingaman scrambled for an 11-yard score with 6:37 left. All of a sudden, Upper Dauphin was within 42-35. Mason’s 48-yard touchdown run was erased due to a holding penalty. However, the Hawks wouldn’t be denied. Menapace gave a hard count on fourth-and-four from the Trojans’ 43-yard line with 4:33 remaining and Upper Dauphin jumped offside. Mason sealed the victory with an 8-yard run off the left side with 76 seconds to go. It was his fourth rushing touchdown of the night and 35th of his career which tied Vreeland Wood’s school record. Mason racked up 268 yards on 25 carries. “They couldn’t stop him. We knew that so we just kept giving it to him. He’s a beast,” said Menapace. The 6’5, 210-pound quarterback enjoyed playing at home one last time. “We have great fans, great crowd all the time no matter if it’s a District game or a regular game. You were at the Frost Bowl, great atmosphere. I can’t thank everyone enough,” he stressed. Menapace went 13-of-17 for 141 yards and an interception. He threw for one touchdown and ran for another. Menapace set the school record for completions in a career with 229. He also established a new single season record for passing yards with 1,710. Hamburg finished with 516 total yards including 375 on the ground. The (9-2) Hawks allowed 389 yards. Bingaman, a 6’1 sophomore, was 12-of-30 for 156 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Brady Morgan played through an injury and wound up with 74 yards on eleven carries. The 5’8, 160-pound senior also tossed a touchdown pass to Mace late in the third quarter. Morgan ran for a team-high 1,059 yards and 13TD this season. 190-pound senior fullback Branden Fetterhoff provided 65 yards on eleven touches. Eight different players got a carry for the Trojans for 217 rushing yards. This was Upper Dauphin’s tenth appearance in the District 3 tournament. They claimed the Class 2A championship in 2019. Hamburg is in the District 3 postseason field for the eighth time. The Hawks picked up a win for the second year in a row. Menapace talked about a culture shift that has occurred with the team. He replied, “I think it starts with the players. It starts in the locker room. It’s a drive that you want to get up every day and win it for your town, and win it for your program.” Hamburg will travel to unbeaten Wyomissing next Saturday for the District 3-3A semifinals. The Hawks are averaging 45 points per game. Only Manheim Central has scored more points in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Menapace and I also discussed the Eagles’ Super Bowl chances and his favorite Halloween candy.

Pierce Mason-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 21:46:00 +0000

Pierce Mason wanted to “stick out” so he decided to dye his hair blonde before the football season. His haircut isn’t the only thing that stands out. Mason’s statistics jump off the page. In just five games, he’s rushed for 837 yards while averaging 14 yards per carry for the (5-0) Hawks. The 6’1, 185-pound senior tied the school record with 292 rushing yards against Eastern York on September 9th. Bryan Wagner set that mark versus Kutztown in 1996. Mason came back in Week 4 and put up 277 yards and five touchdowns at Annville-Cleona. That’s 569 yards on the ground in two games. Mason gives credit to the guys opening the holes. “I think that whole O-line doesn’t get what they deserve. I couldn’t do it without any of those guys up front,” he said. Mason is 14 yards shy of 2,000 for his career. Hamburg is scoring nearly 52 points per game. The Hawks established a school record with 75 points against Warrior Run in Week 2. Xander Menapace, a 3-year starter, is completing 67% of his passes with eight touchdowns and only one interception. “It’s amazing to be able to lean on someone like that. He’s so smart. He knows that offense inside and out. He keeps that offense together like glue,” emphasized Mason. Menapace, a 6’5, 211-pound senior, has thrown for 719 yards in the Hawks’ spread offense. Mason has piled up 18 combined touchdowns for first-year head coach Matt Hoffert. The former Hamburg player and assistant coach is preparing for a key Section 5 matchup in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Hawks travel to unbeaten Lancaster Catholic on Friday. I asked Mason about the importance of this week’s game in the race for the Section 5 championship. He replied, “I think it’s huge. I think everyone knows that [we’re] the two top competitors for it. This game might be the decider for it.” The Crusaders hung 55 points on Northern Lebanon last week. Mason stressed that the Hawks need to limit penalties and stay focused for four quarters. He has seven tackles for loss at outside linebacker. Hamburg is allowing 19 points per contest. Defensive tackle Charles Sheppard has collected 13.5 TFL and a team-high three sacks. Mason joked about what would happen if he had to square off against Sheppard. “I think he would eat me. He’s a force to be reckoned with. He would definitely obliterate me,” Mason said. Sheppard finished 8th at 285 pounds in the PIAA-2A wrestling tournament last season. Charlie Zettlemoyer, a 180-pound inside linebacker, leads the Hawks with 43 tackles. Derek Ruiz has come up with three of Hamburg’s nine interceptions. He’s one of just eight seniors on the roster. Mason told me that he enjoys playing Call of Duty in his free time, and ‘The Longest Yard’ is his favorite sports movie. Mason is an Eagles fan. He believes they’re a top five team in the NFL. The Eagles and Hawks are flying high so far this football season.

Matt Hoffert-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Matt Hoffert has a lot of reasons to smile. He’s saving money on gas and tolls because he no longer has to drive to Philadelphia. He has more time to spend with his family. Plus, he has a 3-year starter to work with at quarterback. The former Hamburg lineman and assistant coach has returned to Hawk Hill as the head football coach after serving as the offensive coordinator at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. “Never thought I’d be back here again, back home. I’m raising my kids here. They’re in the youth program here so to actually be back here where it all started, it’s awesome,” he said. The 2001 Hamburg grad played for current Berks Catholic head coach Rick Keeley. Hoffert was an assistant on the Hawks’ staff from 2005-‘09 and 2012-‘13. He moved on to become the head coach at Kutztown High School from 2014-‘16. Hoffert also spent time as an assistant at Fleetwood, Boyertown, and Allentown Central Catholic. Hamburg won seven games last year under Jeff Chillot who stepped down after one season. The Hawks earned their first District 3 playoff victory by defeating sixth-seeded Bermudian Springs 31-27 in the Class 3A quarterfinals. They fell to #2 seed Boiling Springs 35-7 in the semifinals. Hamburg ran the rock 34 times per game while averaging 9.5 pass attempts. That ratio will change in 2022. Hoffert explained, “We’re going to spread the field and be aggressive. It’s going to definitely be a different Hawk Hill this year.” Xander Menapace will be running the show at QB again this season. The 6’4, 205-pound senior completed 63% of his passes last year with 9TD and 4INT. “Xander was a hard worker all summer. We’re putting in a new offense and he spent a lot of time learning what we’re doing now. I call him a coach on the field,” Hoffert said. The Hawks won’t be able to rely on all-state selection Diohnny Ruiz. He’s at West Chester playing rugby. The 3-year starter piled up more than 1,300 rushing yards and 21TD last season. Ruiz also had a team-high 20 receptions. Cameron Harris, the Defensive Back of the Year in Section 2 of the Berks Football League, also graduated. Daregan Motto and Mitchell Watt will be missed up front. Both were all-section picks. The cupboard, however, isn’t bare. Pierce Mason and promising sophomore Aiden Readinger will handle the running back duties. Mason rumbled for 669 yards on 65 carries last season. Derek Ruiz, Diohnny’s younger brother, is expected to be one of Menapace’s primary targets. Charles Sheppard could be a force at the line of scrimmage. The 6’2, 280-pound senior plays OT and DT. Hoffert said, “Shep is a character and I love it. Linemen are a different breed. He just has that swag. He’s a strong kid and he’s very aggressive. His feet are great.” Sheppard finished 8th in the PIAA-2A wrestling championships at 285 pounds. Hoffert told me that he’s looking forward to joining the Lancaster-Lebanon League because of the opportunity to face new opponents. The Hawks are in Section 5 along with longtime rival Schuylkill Valley and Kutztown. When he’s not on the sidelines, Hoffert enjoys hunting, fishing, and camping. The Hawks are hoping to be in the hunt for a section title and a return trip to the postseason.

Tristan Baer-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 19:54:00 +0000

Tristan Baer’s bullpen session before the Hawks’ season opener against Fleetwood wasn’t good. The Tigers would probably be surprised to know that considering how Baer performed when he took the mound last Friday. The 6’2, 205-pound senior was locked in. Baer went the distance in a 2-0 victory. He struck out 10 and walked just one. Fleetwood was held to three hits. Baer threw 91 pitches (66 for strikes) and 87 of them were fastballs. Head coach Nick Evangelista said his command was outstanding. Baer is committed to PSU-Harrisburg. He was an all-division selection last year when he punched out 43 batters over 35 innings with a 2.40 ERA. He also did plenty of damage at the plate with a .397 average and 24 RBI. Baer told me that he’s been working on his curveball grip with Evangelista. Baer has high expectations for this year’s team, but he knows Division 3 will be very competitive. Wyomissing won the division title a season ago and Oley Valley captured its ninth District 3 championship. The Hawks return Conner Licklider (2B), Luke Bensinger (SS), Nate Gilbert (C), and Connor Gruber (RF). All four of them started last year as sophomores. Licklider hit .361 and Gilbert had a .503 on-base percentage. Bensinger finished with eight doubles while batting .316. Austin Miller, who’s headed to Albright, is back on the mound and Brayden Kamp (PSU-Berks) returns at first base. All-county pick Hunter Shuey has moved on to Division I UNC-Greensboro. His younger brother, Tyler, will be at the hot corner for Hamburg as a freshman. Baer is looking forward to being Hamburg’s #1 starter in 2022 with a fastball in the upper 80’s. He’s looking to guide the Hawks back to the county playoffs. They didn’t qualify in 2021 after going (13-9, 8-4) and ending up third in the Division 3 standings. Baer suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during this past football season which limited the FB/LB/P to four games and 34 carries. He was a three-year starter on the gridiron. Baer ran for 1,033 yards, putting him 18th in Hamburg history. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry for his career. Baer was an all-division wrestler as a junior. I asked him if he would rather pin his opponent, score a touchdown, or hit a home run. We also talked about his favorite video games and teachers. You’ll find out who the best gamer is at Hamburg. Baer gets the ball again on Thursday when the Hawks take on Annville-Cleona.