Wilson sits atop the poll after winning its 13th BCIAA championship. The Bulldogs went (3-0) against their rivals from Shillington. Wilson defeated Waynesboro 7-3 in the District 3-6A third place game. That victory kept the Bulldogs’ season alive. Gov. Mifflin was the Berks League and District 3-5A runner-up. The Mustangs continue to search for their first District title. They’ll be a serious contender again next year.

Twin Valley earned the Division 2 crown. The Raiders won both meetings with Fleetwood. Twin Valley had a tough exit in the District 3-5A bracket. The third-seeded Raiders fell at home to #14 seed Lower Dauphin 8-7 in the opening round. Fleetwood eliminated James Buchanan 5-2 in the District 3-4A third place game. The Tigers have had a nice season under first-year head coach Jon Chwatek.

Muhlenberg was bounced from the Berks County and District 3 tournaments in one-run affairs. The Muhls came up short against Fleetwood 1-0 in the BCIAA quarterfinals before losing to Lower Dauphin 5-4 in the consolation round of the District 3-5A playoffs. Berks Catholic finished on top of the Division 3 standings. Kutztown claimed the Division 4 crown, however, Oley Valley got the nod over the Cougars in my rankings. The Lynx beat Kutztown twice during the regular season.

“The Great 8”

1. Wilson (18-7)

2. Gov. Mifflin (20-5)

3. Twin Valley (15-7)

4. Fleetwood (15-9)

5. Muhlenberg (14-9)

6. Berks Catholic (16-5)

7. Oley Valley (11-10)

8. Kutztown (12-11)

Muhlenberg had eleven seniors on its roster in 2023 when the Muhls qualified for the state tournament. The cupboard is far from bare in Laureldale. All-County selection Cam Burr is headed to Kutztown University and senior catcher Shane Rosenberry will continue his career at Wilmington. Eli Keller was starting at shortstop as a sophomore for longtime head coach Brian Kopetsky. Keller and Aaden Lopez are two more impact juniors in Berks County. Oley Valley won Division 3 and reached the District 3-3A semifinals with just two seniors. All-County pick Paul Petersen is the anchor for the Lynx. Lefty Chase Kegerise and third baseman Gryffin Cappellano were both All-Division choices as freshman last year. Twin Valley suffered some key injuries early last season and never got on track. The Raiders should bounce back with Elizabethtown commits Owen Rhoads and Jon Oxendine on the mound. First baseman Paul Colombo is a tough out from the left side. He’s going to Division II Anderson University in South Carolina. Outfielder Kevin Eden will be playing at DeSales next year.

Berks Catholic fell out of my poll at the end of last season. Keep in mind, however, that the Saints only had one senior in their starting lineup. Parker Nein and Trey Stricker give Brandon Shurr a nice one-two punch on the bump. Nein averaged 17 points for the basketball team this winter. He’ll play baseball at Penn State Harrisburg. Exeter coach Justin Freese picked up his 300th career victory a season ago. He will be guiding a very young squad this year. 6’6, 230-pound righty Deven Sheerin left some big shoes to fill, literally. Sheerin moved on to Mount St. Mary’s. The good news is that Alex Kelsey will be patrolling the outfield again in Reiffton. The St. Joseph’s commit is one of the most dangerous hitters in the county. Jon Chwatek takes over in Fleetwood after Roland Green retired. Green, who helped Reading win a state title in 1983, had been the Tigers’ head coach since 2000. Fleetwood returns five starters including outfielder Aiden Soumas. He will stay close to home and play at Kutztown University.

Speaking of Kutztown, the Cougars finished atop the Division 4 standings and captured their sixth District 3 championship last year. They had a special senior class. Dalton Furst, Nick Hugo, Bryce Schafer, Matt Remick, and Dom Pizzelanti led Kutztown to 19 wins. Hamburg has some key pieces to replace as well. Conner Licklider, Luke Bensinger, and Nate Gilbert graduated. Mark Dietrich is the new skipper on “Hawk Hill.” Nick Evangelista moved on to the college level as the head coach at Penn State Schuylkill. Taylor Grim is now running Schuylkill Valley’s baseball program. He’s been the Panthers’ boys basketball coach for a dozen years.

It’s time to unveil my high school baseball rankings for the Berks League. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow! The records listed below are from last season.

“The Great 8”

1. Gov. Mifflin (18-5)

2. Wilson (19-9)

3. Muhlenberg (16-10)

4. Oley Valley (14-9)

5. Twin Valley (10-10)

6. Berks Catholic (13-8)

7. Exeter (12-11)

8. Fleetwood (13-9)

Rudy Tomjanovich once said, “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.” After struggling early in the season, Reading is rolling now. The Red Knights have won eight of their last nine games. They hammered Muhlenberg 83-46 for the Division 1 championship. Reading is trying for a three-peat in the BCIAA tournament.

Exeter remains second in my poll. The Eagles are riding a five-game winning streak which includes a 63-55 victory over Berks Catholic. If Exeter gets hot from beyond the arc, look out. The Saints traded places with Reading in my rankings. Berks Catholic has dropped two of its last three contests. Sophomore Kingston McKoy was a Player of the Year candidate in Berks County before suffering a fractured tibia.

Muhlenberg and Wilson have flip-flopped in my poll. The Muhls held off the Bulldogs 61-56 last week in Laureldale. Wilson has come up short in three of its last four games. Fleetwood stays put at #6. The Tigers earned their third straight Division 3 title.

Gov. Mifflin is back in the rankings after showing significant improvement since mid-January. The Mustangs took down Hempfield and Muhlenberg. They led Reading after the third quarter late last month. Schuylkill Valley is allowing just 49 points per game. The Panthers qualified for the BCIAA playoffs as the second place team from Division 3. The (8-14) Conrad Weiser Scouts fell out of my poll, but keep an eye on them next season. There’s a nice junior class in Robesonia.

“The Great 8”

1. Reading (15-7)

2. Exeter (15-7)

3. Berks Catholic (19-2)

4. Muhlenberg (13-8)

5. Wilson (14-8)

6. Fleetwood (19-2)

7. Gov. Mifflin (8-13)

8. Schuylkill Valley (15-5)

Here is my All-County team for the 2023-24 campaign. My mission was simply to pick the best five players. If three of them happen to be from the same school, so be it. Why punish individuals because they play with other outstanding players? That makes no sense. Last year, three Reading players made the All-County team and they certainly deserved the recognition. The best of the best should be honored. What school they compete for shouldn’t matter.

Unfortunately, Kingston McKoy suffered a season-ending injury. However, he still played in two-thirds of Berks Catholic’s regular season contests and averaged 15 points. McKoy is also an elite defender. If you don’t think he’s one of the top five players in the county, it’s probably time for an eye exam. The players are not listed in any particular order.

First Team:

Yadiel Cruz-Reading-Sr.

Kevin Saenz-Exeter-Sr.

Kingston McKoy-Berks Catholic-So.

Josh McKoy-Berks Catholic-Sr.

Parker Nein-Berks Catholic-Sr.

Bench:

Shermar Killen-Muhlenberg-Jr.

Alex Collado-Muhlenberg-Sr.

Nick Chapman-Reading-Sr.

Brendan Gaines-Daniel Boone-Jr.

Alex Kelsey-Exeter-Sr.

Donovan Gingrich-Conrad Weiser-Jr.

Aiden Soumas-Fleetwood-Sr.

Madyx Gruber-Wilson-Jr.

Berks Catholic is playing the best basketball of any team in the county right now. The unbeaten Saints opened their campaign with impressive performances against Cedar Crest and Allentown Central Catholic. Berks Catholic won those matchups by 33 points combined! Sophomore Kingston McKoy is as advertised and Parker Nein has improved tremendously. Wilson is also off to a fast start including a thrilling overtime victory against Muhlenberg in West Lawn. When Tommy McFadden gets back to 100%, the Bulldogs will be even tougher.

Don’t be fooled by Reading’s record. As usual, the Red Knights have played an extremely tough non-league schedule. Central York is the early favorite in District 3 and Imhotep Charter is a defending state champ with UConn commit Ahmad Nowell leading the way. Yadiel Cruz has emerged as Reading’s top scoring option. After losing all five starters to graduation, Muhlenberg is gelling quickly. Alex Collado and Shermar Killens have stepped up in Laureldale. You can’t relax for a minute against the Muhls.

Exeter has won three straight. The Eagles will get better with time. They lost two All-State selections and went through a coaching change. Jeff VanGorder has brought an up-tempo offense to Reiffton. Exeter is averaging 83 points over its last three contests. Fleetwood was challenged by Boyertown, Oley Valley, and Schuylkill Valley. The Tigers keep finding ways to remain unblemished. They have an interesting mix of multi-sport standouts.

The GMACC has received a lot of attention in Shillington. The Gov. Mifflin players love the new facility. Matt Koehler can knock down shots from long range. He’s one of ten juniors on the Mustangs’ roster. Schuylkill Valley isn’t flashy, but the Panthers have wins over Conrad Weiser and Wyomissing. The Scouts and Spartans could enter my poll as the season marches on.

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (5-0)

2.Wilson (7-1)

3.Reading (3-3)

4.Muhlenberg (6-3)

5.Exeter (3-2)

6.Fleetwood (7-0)

7.Gov. Mifflin (4-4)

8.Schuylkill Valley (6-3)

To quote Ric Flair, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man!” Reading has won three consecutive District 3 titles and two straight BCIAA championships. That’s the good news. The bad news is the Red Knights lost four starters including a trio of All-State selections. Plus, Rick Perez stepped down after a school record 281 victories over a dozen years. Perez is now an assistant to his good friend Matt Flowers at Muhlenberg. Meanwhile, former JV coach Francis Camara takes over at the castle on the hill. We’ll see which knights emerge to protect the fortress now that Ruben Rodriguez, Aris Rodriguez, Myles Grey, and Amier Burdine have moved on. Yadiel Cruz’s point production should increase. Nick Chapman and 6’5 Malik Osumanu will have bigger roles as seniors. Sophomore guard Weshly Rosario is a player to keep an eye on.

Jeff VanGorder replaced Matt Ashcroft at Exeter after Ashcroft was named the Class 5A Coach of the Year in Pennsylvania. He wanted to spend more time with his family. VanGorder brings twelve years of experience as a college coach to Reiffton. Don’t be surprised to see the Eagles out and running this season. Kevin Saenz has assumed the point guard duties from All-State pick Zyion Paschall. Anthony Caccese is playing football at Delaware. Exeter will miss the presence of the 6’6, 280-pound All-State center. The Eagles have multiple shooters including Saenz, Reece Garvin, and sophomore Aidan Dauble. St. Joseph’s baseball commit Alex Kelsey gives Exeter a physical guard. They’re searching for their first county title since 1974.

Snip Esterly has to find four new starters at Berks Catholic. Esterly enters his 35th season as a head coach with 792 wins. JayJay Jordan and Ryan Koch, both 1,000 point scorers, helped Esterly claim his 14th District 3 championship a season ago. The McKoy brothers, Josh and Kingston, will be the main attractions at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. Parker Nein, a standout baseball player for the Saints, is much stronger and more athletic.

Wilson will also have four newcomers in the lineup this winter. Tommy McFadden was slated to be a starter, but the junior guard is dealing with an ankle injury. Madyx Gruber averaged nearly 9 points as a sophomore. Tommy Hunsicker, who threw touchdown passes to Gruber this fall, will get more minutes this year. The Bulldogs’ quarterback is also one of their top baseball players. Remember the names Kellen Green and Michael Glover for down the road. They’re both freshman.

All five of Muhlenberg’s starters graduated. The Muhls have a new guard in the mix. Jayden Kantner transferred from Brandywine Heights where he led the Bullets with 12.6 ppg. as a sophomore. Kyle Archie and Alex Collado return along with promising sophomore Michael Miller. It will be great to see Matt Flowers and Rick Perez working together again. Their coaching roles have been reversed from their days at Reading High.

Conrad Weiser is #6 in my poll which may surprise some after the Scouts managed just seven wins. The Scouts were impressive during the West Reading Summer League playoffs. They advanced to the championship before falling to Berks Catholic. Donovan Gingrich and Brady McKee give new head coach Mike Dooley a nice 1-2 punch. They combined for nearly 27 points a night as sophomores. Soccer star Gavin Rapp and Josh Plummer are also part of a talented junior class. They’re both 6’4 forwards.

Jake Karnish has moved on from Fleetwood to King’s College. He became the Tigers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,420 points. Karnish led Fleetwood to the state tournament for the first time since 1990. The Tigers will be relying on three multi-sport athletes with starting experience. Aiden Soumas, Nate Herb, and Hunter Svoboda (6’7, 270) are back. Svoboda is committed to William & Mary for football. Herb was instrumental to the success of Fleetwood’s soccer team which won Berks County and District 3 championships.

These are exciting times in Shillington. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday morning at the GMACC. There are four video boards inside the new gymnasium. There is also seating on the second level. The facility includes eight locker rooms, a weight room, a turf room, offices and a classroom to watch film. This is Brian Wrobel’s second year as the Mustangs’ head coach. The McNeil twins graduated, but Andrew Galantuomo and Cole Renninger return. Matt Koehler and Bryce Detwiler are part of a big junior class. You will hear a lot about them in the spring when baseball season arrives.

Wyomissing is one of the few squads in the county that has a great deal of varsity experience. Three starters are back, as well as sixth man Aiden Schippers. Alex Campbell averaged a team-high 9 points and connected 39 times from beyond the arc. The Spartans are hoping Drew Forrey (6’4, 210) has a speedy recovery from a leg injury that he suffered during football season. Former Gov. Mifflin and Alvernia standout guard Garrett Etzel takes over as head coach. He was an assistant under Ryan Ludwig last year.

“The Great 8”

1.Reading (32-1)

2.Exeter (27-7)

3.Berks Catholic (23-5)

4.Wilson (19-10)

5.Muhlenberg (18-11)

6.Conrad Weiser (7-15)

7.Fleetwood (22-5)

8.Gov. Mifflin (7-15)

Honorable Mention: Wyomissing (8-14)

“The Great 8”

1.Wyomissing (12-1)

2.Wilson (7-4)

3.Exeter (8-3)

4.Twin Valley (10-2)

5.Gov. Mifflin (5-6)

6.Berks Catholic (5-6)

7.Schuylkill Valley (9-3)

8.Fleetwood (6-5)

#2 seed Harrisburg won at #1 Manheim Township 34-28 in overtime in the District 3-6A championship. The (12-1) Cougars trailed 28-7 in the third quarter. Harrisburg claimed its third straight District 3 title and sixth overall. The Blue Streaks suffered their first loss of the season.

#3 seed Cocalico defeated #5 Ephrata 23-9 in the District 3-5A championship. The (12-1) Eagles go back-to-back. It’s their fifth District 3 title in school history. The (12-2) Mounts made just their second appearance in the District 3 tournament this year.

#1 seed Bishop McDevitt rallied past #3 Manheim Central 23-17 in the District 3-4A championship. The (11-2) Barons led 17-8 at halftime. The (13-0) Crusaders have won 26 consecutive games. This is their third straight District 3 title and 17th overall. Only Manheim Central has more trophies with 18.