Joey – Berks Sports Report

Joey Polinsky-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:30:00 +0000

Joey Polinsky is moving from tight end to offensive tackle and it shows. The 6’5 senior at Berks Catholic has gone from 225 pounds to 270. Polinsky has enjoyed the transition. “It’s been really positive. Coach Esposito has helped me out a lot with going over our film in the offseason. Picking up the plays wasn’t too bad because in our offense it’s very similar to tight end,” he noted. The Saints like to move the chains on the ground with their Wing-T attack. Rick Keeley is entering his 38th season as a head coach. Keeley spent 22 years at Holy Name and three at Hamburg. He’s (113-35) over the past twelve seasons at Berks Catholic. The Saints are an impressive (19-5) all-time in the District 3 playoffs with four championships. “He tells us about all the District appearances and the rich history they have. It makes you want to live up to that image of Berks Catholic,” said Polinsky. Keeley has 275 victories in his career. Berks Catholic suffered its first losing season in 2022. The (5-6, 4-3) Saints did beat Pine Grove 49-14 to claim an Eastern Conference title. They return five starters on defense and four on offense. The schedule is daunting. Berks Catholic opens with four teams that are ranked in PennLive’s preseason poll. First up, a trip to Loyalsock (#4 in Class 3A). The Saints’ first home game is against Executive Education Charter (#10 in 2A). In Week 3, Berks Catholic hosts Pope John Paul II (#5 in 4A). That trifecta is followed by the “Backyard Brawl” at Wyomissing (#2 in 3A) on Saturday, September 16th. The Saints must also tackle Cocalico and Lampeter-Strasburg in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Those squads combined for 19 wins a season ago. Berks Catholic will certainly be battle-tested. Polinsky would like to play football in college and get a quality education. “Right now, I’m talking to mostly Patriot League and Ivy League schools. That’s where I’m hoping to end up,” he replied. The Saints are hoping to return to their winning ways.

Joey Schlaffer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 01:23:00 +0000

Exeter made history in 2021 by winning its first District 3 championship and advancing to the state semifinals in Class 5A. The Eagles lost four all-state selections and their starting quarterback to graduation. If you think they’re going to take a step back this year, you haven’t spoken with PSU commit Joey Schlaffer. “I think that was one of the biggest motivators going into the season. A lot of question marks were put around our name. I think this should be a little bit of an indicator as to what’s to come,” he said. The 6’6, 215-pound senior had two touchdown grabs in a 35-0 rout of Daniel Boone. The Eagles, who return six starters on each side of the ball, get to keep the Pig Iron Trophy. This was the 64th meeting between the rivals from Reiffton and Birdsboro. Sophomore Carter Redding broke off a 34-yard run late in the first quarter. Redding finished the drive with a 1-yard score to put Exeter on the board with 58 seconds left in the opening period. Schlaffer made his first appearance at quarterback on the Eagles’ next possession. He immediately took off for 26 yards. Exeter failed to capitalize, however, as Ryan Poore hit Richie Karstien just in front of the goal line. Karstien fumbled the ball into the end zone and the Blazers recovered with 8:22 remaining in the second quarter. After a 35-yard scamper by sophomore Pharrell Caceres, the Eagles were back in business. A 10-yard shovel pass from Mason Rotelli to Schlaffer gave them a 14-0 edge midway through the quarter. One play after Exeter junior Zach Zandier missed a 37-yard field goal, senior defensive tackle Kyle Lash recovered Ethan Kryman’s fumble at the 7-yard line. Rotelli’s 1-yard run extended the Eagles’ advantage to 21-0 with 1:11 before the break. Exeter got the ball back at the Blazers’ 47-yard line with nine seconds to go until halftime. Rotelli went up top to Zandier as time expired. The 6’5, 220-pound tight end reeled it in to stun the Blazers. Schlaffer was very proud of Rotelli’s effort in his first start. “Great job, no question about it. He threw a deep bomb before half to Zandier which was freaking great. Oh my God was that great. He wasn’t afraid to stick his nose in between the lines,” he said. Rotelli went 12-of-16 for 158 yards and 3TD. He found Schlaffer over the middle for a 34-yard touchdown with 42 seconds to go in the third quarter. Schlaffer had four receptions for 53 yards and 2TD. He rumbled for 37 yards on three carries in his lone series at quarterback. He mentioned, “It felt really good. I felt like we got a lot of positive plays, linemen were doing a great job. It definitely was a confidence booster.” Schlaffer is also playing defensive end for the first time. He emphasized, “The sack was great. It felt amazing. I love defense. I love pursuing the ball.” The Eagles limited Daniel Boone to 62 yards in the first half. Things got much worse for the Blazers in the third quarter when junior quarterback Dean Rotter suffered a collarbone injury. He didn’t return to the game. Rotter was 6-of-14 for 34 yards. Senior Caden Tolosky led Daniel Boone on the ground with nine touches for 48 yards. Exeter lost a player of its own in the same period when Joey Reedy hurt his shoulder. The 6’3, 220-pound DE was taken off the field in an ambulance. Caceres chipped in with a team-high 64 yards on nine carries. The 5’9, 155-pound RB is hard to find behind an offensive line that includes Anthony Caccese at RT. The Delaware commit is 6’6 and 280 pounds. Lash and Lucas Palange are back as the starting guards. Schlaffer’s expectations haven’t changed. He said, “I don’t believe it’s any sort of drop-off. We’re just picking up right where we left off.”

Joey Chapman-Reading

Paul Roberts — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 10:49:00 +0000

December 18, 2018 was the date of Joey Chapman’s first game for the Red Knights. He scored 12 points and had four assists. Those numbers become much more noteworthy when you consider the opponent and site of that contest. Chapman’s first varsity appearance came against perennial power Chester at the “Clip Joint.” That’s certainly not a place that allows anyone to ease into their high school basketball career. Chapman has never been intimidated on the court. It helps when you can bench press 350 pounds! The 6’1 senior guard has always been known for his tremendous vision. On Saturday night in Hershey, he showed that he can score as well. Chapman erupted for a career-high 19 points in a 68-43 rout of #7 seed Warwick. Reading claimed its record 23rd District 3 championship and second in a row. The (25-3) Red Knights were up 35-23 at halftime after outscoring the (20-6) Warriors 18-8 in the second quarter. The Section 2 champs from the Lancaster-Lebanon League cut the deficit to five in the third quarter when Reading committed six turnovers. Ruben Rodriguez gave the Red Knights momentum in the closing seconds of the period. The all-state guard stole an inbounds pass and banked in a deep 3-pointer at the horn for a 50-36 advantage. Chapman provided the first six points of the fourth quarter; part of a 16-2 run by Reading that sent their fans into a frenzy. Chapman told me that he was more focused on defense than scoring. He did a terrific job of passing out of the high post, especially in the second quarter when he found Xavier Davis alone on the baseline. Davis, a 6’2 senior forward, had five points in that quarter. He finished with nine. Myles Grey added seven points and nailed his 53rd trey of the season. Chapman once again wore #21 in honor of his close friend Daniel Alcantara. The all-county forward broke his left hand in the District 3-6A quarterfinals versus Wilson. Chapman said he feels like Alcantara is with him on the floor when he puts on his jersey. Alcantara, a 6’5 senior who was averaging 16 points, gives Chapman words of encouragement before each game. Chapman emphasized that while he loves playing at the Giant Center, the Geigle Complex is still his favorite venue. Warwick fell to (1-4) all-time in the District 3 Finals. The Warriors’ lone title was in 1984. Tate Landis, Avery Sapp, and freshman Caleb Johnson had ten points apiece. Landis, the grandson of legendary Warwick coach Dave Althouse, made three triples to increase his season total to 44. The 5’11 senior averages 18 points, but was limited to three in the second half. Landis is committed to York College. He was guarded most of the night by Amier Burdine, one of Reading’s top defenders. The top-seeded Red Knights improved to (134-51) in the District 3 playoffs. This is the fourth District 3 championship for head coach Rick Perez. Chapman, who has 548 career points, stressed that he’s taking the state tournament one game at a time. Finally, keep an eye out for a guest appearance during the interview by sophomore Malik Osumanu. His brother, Moro, guided Reading to a state title last year.

Joey Chapman-Reading

Paul Roberts — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 00:10:00 +0000

Joey Chapman made the biggest steal in the history of Reading High basketball. His defensive effort in the final seconds helped the Red Knights hold off Archbishop Wood 58-57 in last season’s Class 6A state championship game. Chapman came up with another defensive gem tonight to close out Reading’s 60-57 season-opening win over Imhotep Charter. Chapman stripped Ahmad Nowell with one second left to end the thriller at Albright. Nowell is one of the highest-ranked sophomores in the nation. He finished with 20 points to lead the Panthers who were without Rider commit Mo Abdullah for the Hoop Group showcase. The Red Knights raced out to an 11-2 advantage. They trailed 28-24 at halftime before outscoring Imhotep 16-9 in the third quarter. Reading was up eleven with six minutes to go, but the Panthers didn’t go away. They clawed within two points in the final minute. Chapman made two critical free throws down the stretch. He shot just 42% from the foul line last season. The physical senior guard spent a lot of time practicing this offseason. Chapman told me that he’s looking to score more this year. He didn’t disappoint with 16 points against Imhotep; one shy of his career high. Chapman averaged just six points as a junior. He has been a fixture in Rick Perez’s rotation since his freshman year. Chapman opened a lot of eyes with 12 points in his first game at Chester. We talked about the fan support at Albright, and the bond that Chapman has with his teammates. He managed to keep his composure during our interview despite the antics of Xavier Davis who made two unexpected appearances. Chapman stressed that Davis is a tremendous leader. We also discussed the advice that Chapman received from his coaches before the game. Daniel Alcantara erupted for 27 points, tying his career high. All-state guard Ruben Rodriguez added six points. Rodriguez took a hard fall and left the game late in the third quarter. He later told me that it was just a cramp and he’s fine. Reading struggled at the FT line. The Red Knights were 6-for-13. 6’8 junior Justin Edwards came alive late for the Panthers. He scored 13 points while dealing with foul trouble. Edwards is ranked #16 in the Class of 2023 by ESPN. He has nearly twenty Division I offers including Kentucky. Reading will now get ready for a matchup with McCaskey on Tuesday.

Joey Schlaffer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 01:05:00 +0000

The Eagles were holding onto a 31-28 lead at Gov. Mifflin with just over three minutes left in the District 3-5A championship. Exeter was facing a 4th & 4 at the Mustangs’ 38-yard line. The coaches were going to punt until Colin Payne and Joey Schlaffer convinced them to go for it. They didn’t let their coaches down. Payne hit Schlaffer for five yards and the Eagles were able to run out the clock. #7 seed Exeter earned its first District 3 title. Schlaffer had five catches for 55 yards and 2TD. The 6’6 junior told me that their team has gone through a lot of difficult moments this year. The Eagles lost to Gov. Mifflin 54-21 on October 8th. Schlaffer said they weren’t just looking to compete with the top-seeded Mustangs in the rematch; they were playing for keeps. Schlaffer called Colin Payne “a warrior.” Payne went 13-21 for 161 yards and 3TD on a very windy night. Schlaffer added that Eric Nangle has taken his game to another level in the postseason. Nangle ran for 223 yards on 40 carries against Gov. Mifflin. He had a 31-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and a 33-yard TD reception that gave Exeter a 21-7 advantage midway through the second quarter. The (10-3) Eagles finished with 399 total yards while holding the (10-1) Mustangs to 219. Schlaffer has a lot of respect for fellow Penn State commit Nick Singleton. The Gov. Mifflin star was limited to 40 yards on eight carries. Singleton did score two touchdowns including a 51-yard reception. He holds the Berks County record with 116 career touchdowns. Schlaffer got a call from PSU tight ends coach Ty Howle after the game. Exeter is going to the state semifinals for the first time!

Joey Schlaffer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 17:01:00 +0000

How impressed has Joey Schlaffer been with Penn State head coach James Franklin? Schlaffer told me that Franklin is “the best coach in college football.” We talked about Franklin’s new 10-year contract and the family environment in State College. Schlaffer, who committed to Penn State one month ago, was named a first-team wide receiver in Berks County. The 6’6, 210-pound junior has a team-high 36 catches and 6TD. He’s averaging nearly 19 yards per reception. Seventh-seeded Exeter travels to Shillington on Friday to take on unbeaten Gov. Mifflin in the District 3-5A championship. Schlaffer explained what it’s like competing against Nick Singleton, another PSU commit. Singleton holds the Berks County record with 6,286 career rushing yards. The Mustangs beat the Eagles 54-21 in early October. Singleton ran for 248 yards and 4TD. Schlaffer said this year’s Exeter team is built different than others. We discussed their dominant performance at #2 seed Manheim Central in the quarterfinals. The (9-3) Eagles rolled to a 43-26 victory. They took down #6 Cedar Cliff 42-35 in the semifinals. Schlaffer also revealed his favorite food on Thanksgiving. His answer will definitely surprise you!

Joey Schlaffer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 23:30:00 +0000

Penn State assistant coach Ty Howle and Maryland assistant Mike Miller made the trip to Reiffton to see Exeter’s Joey Schlaffer. The 6’6 junior TE/WR didn’t disappoint vs. Wilson. Schlaffer had five catches for 78 yards and 2TD. The Eagles rolled in the second half to a 42-14 win. Schlaffer said, “This was a statement.” He talked about playing in front of Division I coaches. Schlaffer filled me in on his postgame conversation with his half-brother Michal Menet. The former Exeter star and Penn State captain was in attendance. Schlaffer also gave some great insight into his first TD catch against the Bulldogs. The Eagles improved to 2-1. This was their first victory in seven meetings with Wilson.

Joey Svoboda-Fleetwood

Paul Roberts — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 19:51:00 +0000

How many of us have tried to lose weight and failed? Imagine going from 295 pounds to 235 in one year. You’re going to hear the incredible story of how Fleetwood senior Joey Svoboda dropped 60 pounds! The Tigers’ standout lineman told me that he’s in the best shape of his life. I also asked Svoboda who are the funniest and strongest players on his team. Fleetwood is (1-1) heading into this Friday’s game at Upper Perkiomen. When he’s not playing football, Svoboda enjoys playing video games. He’s extremely confident in his Madden NFL skills!

Joey Schlaffer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:54:00 +0000

Joey Schlaffer already has more than a dozen Division I offers including Tennessee, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Arizona State, and Nebraska. The 6’6 junior is Michal Menet’s half-brother. Menet is one of the best players in Exeter history. He went on to become a captain at Penn State, and is now in training camp with the Arizona Cardinals. Schlaffer was the Berks County WR of the Year last season. He averaged 23 yards on his 19 catches with 6TD. Schlaffer said this year’s team has a lot of weapons. I loved his comments about senior Ty Yocum. Schlaffer also told me what shows he’s watching on Netflix.