Class 6A (14 teams qualify)

8. Wilson

13. Muhlenberg

14. Gov. Mifflin

19. Reading

Class 5A (14 teams qualify)

7. Exeter

13. Twin Valley

14. Daniel Boone

28. Conrad Weiser

Class 4A (8 teams qualify)

7. Oley Valley

10. Hamburg

11. Fleetwood

14. Schuylkill Valley

17. Tulpehocken

Class 3A (6 teams qualify)

3. Berks Catholic

4. Kutztown

6. Wyomissing

14. Brandywine Heights

Class 2A (4 teams qualify)

6. Antietam

Wilson is unbeaten in its three league contests. The Bulldogs have a very demanding non-league schedule. They lost to last year’s PIAA-6A runner-up North Penn and Owen J. Roberts by one run. West Chester commit Ben Kulp (3-1, 2.41) has 35 strikeouts and just five walks over 20.1 innings. The 6’2, 215-pound senior is also hitting .500 with a team-high 12 RBI.

Exeter is riding a three-game winning streak since falling to Wilson 14-5. Matt Woram is off to an unbelievable start. The junior has four home runs in only 15 at-bats! Woram is batting .400 and leads the Eagles with ten walks.

The rest of Division 1 is jammed up like Route 422 East near the Lancaster Avenue exit. Muhlenberg has a 4-2 victory over Gov. Mifflin on its resume, however, the Muhls lost to an improved Reading squad 7-4. Muhlenberg has a big week ahead with Exeter and Wilson making the trip to Laureldale on Wednesday and Friday respectively. Meanwhile, the Mustangs are trying to get back on track after losing to Wilson and Exeter by a combined score of 19-1 last week.

Division 2 leader Fleetwood has won three in a row. The Tigers squeezed past Daniel Boone 1-0 and Schuylkill Valley 12-11. Fleetwood has a tough test at home versus Exeter tomorrow.

Twin Valley is trying to overcome injuries to Nate DiRocco and Grant Moser. That’s not an easy task for the Raiders. Daniel Boone’s (2-6) record is deceiving. The Blazers have dropped three games by one run. On Saturday, they came up short to Boyertown 15-13 in twelve innings. Daniel Boone needs to improve its .213 team batting average.

Wyomissing sits atop Division 3. The Spartans have prevailed in all three of their league games. Ryan Graham, Teddy White, and Austin Lecher are each hitting .500 or higher. Hamburg, Berks Catholic, and Schuylkill Valley are lurking behind the Spartans. We will learn more about this division on Wednesday with a pair of rivalry matchups. Wyomissing visits Berks Catholic and Hamburg battles Schuylkill Valley on “Hawk Hill.”

Oley Valley is the hottest team in Berks County right now with five consecutive victories. The Lynx are (3-0) in league action and in first place in Division 4. Tim Fries (3-0, 0.76) has 29 strikeouts and just four walks over 18.1 innings. The senior is also batting .520 with a team-high 11 RBI and seven extra-base hits. Oley Valley defeated Kutztown 4-1 last Wednesday. The Cougars are stuck in a three-game losing skid.

It’s always tricky to compare teams this early in the campaign, especially considering the differences in strength of schedule. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow! Without further ado, here are the “Roberts Rankings” for the Berks Baseball League.

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (4-3)

2.Exeter (5-2)

3.Oley Valley (6-2)

4.Muhlenberg (2-3)

5.Gov. Mifflin (4-4)

6.Fleetwood (4-2)

7.Wyomissing (3-2)

8.Hamburg (5-3)

Berks Catholic won its first county title since 2018. The Saints went on to capture their seventh District 3 crown and second in a row at Class 4A. Snip Esterly will enter next season with 865 career victories.

Reading was the runner-up in the BCIAA tournament after falling to Berks Catholic 62-57 in overtime at Santander Arena. Jostin DeCastro, Cameron “Bron Bron” Jones, Javon Merriweather, Jamier Jacob, and Raybin Rubio will all be back for Rick Perez.

Exeter knocked off Wilson 43-41 in the Berks County quarterfinals thanks to Aidan Dauble’s bucket with one second left. The Eagles qualified for the PIAA field for the fifth consecutive year.

The Bulldogs advanced to the state playoffs for the fifth time in the past eight seasons. Wilson has a talented group of sophomores to keep an eye on. Matt Coldren holds the school record with 449 wins.

A promising season in Laureldale ended in a flash. The Muhls dropped a nailbiter to rival Reading 60-57 in the BCIAA semifinals. Muhlenberg was eliminated in the first round of the District 3-6A bracket by #13 seed Cedar Crest. The Falcons stunned the Muhls 66-60 in overtime. The good news is that Eli Hemmings, LJ Armstrong, and Nelson “Coco” Malave will return.

Schuylkill Valley defeated Wyomissing 63-52 to reach the District 3 semifinals for just the second time. The Panthers made their third appearance in the PIAA tournament.

Antietam finished on top of the Division 4 standings. The Mounts blew out Wyomissing 61-40 in a key crossover matchup on January 8th. Antietam’s season ended with a 87-71 loss to Lancaster Catholic in the District 3-3A third place game.

The Spartans overcame some midseason turmoil to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time since 2011. Second-year head coach Konlan Krick deserves credit for keeping his troops together after two starters quit. Wyomissing took fifth place in the District 3-4A field.

Gov. Mifflin receives an honorable mention. The (10-12) Mustangs didn’t have a single bad loss on their resume. Life in Division 1 of the BCIAA is no picnic.

Without further ado, here is the final edition of the “Roberts Rankings” for the Berks Conference. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (25-3)

2.Reading (18-8)

3.Exeter (18-11)

4.Wilson (17-11)

5.Muhlenberg (16-8)

6. Schuylkill Valley (16-11)

7.Antietam (16-9)

8.Wyomissing (16-11)

Exeter is tied with Twin Valley for first place in Division 2. They’re both (4-2) in league play. The Raiders will battle the Eagles on January 26th in Reiffton. Addison Harper is a name to remember. Exeter’s 5’9 sophomore guard is scoring 16.4 ppg. Hailey Kilgore can fill it up as well. The Twin Valley senior is averaging 18.4 ppg. and committed to Shippensburg. Reading is the defending BCIAA champion. The Red Knights are one of the deepest teams in the county and their pressure can create easy transition opportunities.

Don’t be fooled by Berks Catholic’s record. The Saints have faced a brutal schedule. They still have Lancaster Catholic and Delone Catholic on their non-league slate. Longtime coach Bob Birmingham is starting a trio of sophomores in Abby Cannon, Esperanza Zudie, and Janaiyah Ford. Keep an eye out for freshman guard Jaylianni Ortiz down the road. Schuylkill Valley is in full control of the Division 3 race. The Panthers are riding a four-game winning streak. The final spot in my poll came down to Conrad Weiser and Division 4 leader Oley Valley. The Scouts beat the Lynx 39-35 in overtime so they got the nod. Conrad Weiser doesn’t have a single senior on its roster so the Scouts are building for the future.

Without further ado, here are the “Roberts Rankings” for the Berks County Girls Basketball League. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (13-2)

2.Gov. Mifflin (9-4)

3.Exeter (9-5)

4.Reading (8-7)

5.Twin Valley (6-8)

6.Berks Catholic (5-9)

7.Schuylkill Valley (9-3)

8.Conrad Weiser (6-7)

As of January 1st, nine schools from the Berks Boys Basketball Conference are headed to the District III playoffs. Of course, a lot can change over the next two months. Daniel Boone is one of the squads that’s currently on the bubble in Class 5A. The Blazers are (5-4) after finishing (8-13) a season ago. Gov. Mifflin, Fleetwood, Schuylkill Valley, Brandywine Heights, and Kutztown have some work to do in order to make the District III tournament. There aren’t any teams from the Berks Conference in Class A or Class 2A.

Class 6A (16 teams qualify)

2. Wilson

4. Muhlenberg

6. Reading

19. Gov. Mifflin

Class 5A (16 teams qualify)

8. Exeter

15. Daniel Boone

18. Fleetwood

28. Conrad Weiser

30. Twin Valley

Class 4A (8 teams qualify)

2. Berks Catholic

4. Wyomissing

5. Oley Valley

9. Schuylkill Valley

13. Tulpehocken

14. Hamburg

Class 3A (6 teams)

4. Antietam

7. Brandywine Heights

8. Kutztown

Twin Valley and Exeter are the top two squads in Division 2 of the Berks League. Shippensburg commit Hailey Kilgore is providing 19 ppg. for the Raiders. Addison Harper, a sophomore for the Eagles, isn’t far behind at 17 ppg. Twin Valley is (3-0) in the league standings, but has dropped all six of its non-league matchups.

Schuylkill Valley hosts rival Hamburg in a key Division 3 battle on Tuesday. The Panthers have a nice one-two punch with Hannah West and Elyssa Sellers. West is contributing a team-high 13.6 ppg., while Sellers adds a dozen points a night.

Oley Valley has won seven of its first ten contests. The Lynx prevailed 29-26 in a defensive tilt against Kutztown in mid-December. Oley Valley has a one game edge over the Cougars in Division 4. The Lynx will be tested on Saturday when they host Twin Valley.

Let’s take a look at how the local teams are doing in the District III power rankings. As you can see, numerous Berks League members need to pick up the pace in order to qualify for the District III tournament. None of the schools in the Berks League fall into Class A or Class 2A.

Class 6A (16 teams qualify)

8. Wilson

16. Gov. Mifflin

18. Reading

29. Muhlenberg

Class 5A (14 teams qualify)

10. Exeter

17. Conrad Weiser

22. Twin Valley

25. Daniel Boone

Class 4A (8 teams qualify)

11. Berks Catholic

12. Schuylkill Valley

14. Hamburg

19. Wyomissing

20. Fleetwood

Class 3A (6 teams qualify)

4. Oley Valley

5. Kutztown

10. Tulpehocken

11. Brandywine Heights

12. Antietam

Berks Catholic is still holding down the top spot. The Saints have double digit wins over Muhlenberg and Wilson. Kingston McKoy has improved his strength and perimeter shooting from a season ago. The Colgate commit is averaging 21.6 ppg. He dropped a career-high 40 points on the Muhls in a 69-55 victory last Friday. Berks Catholic visits Reading on Monday.

Muhlenberg earned a quality road victory by defeating the Red Knights 71-68 two weeks ago. The Muhls rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit. Head coach Matt Flowers has a balanced attack. Eli Hemmings, “Coco” Malave, and LJ Armstrong are each averaging between 12-15 points.

Wilson is riding a five-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are gaining valuable experience and will continue to improve as the season progresses. Head coach Matt Coldren is playing ten guys every night, including four sophomores. Wilson will rely on its defense. The Bulldogs have allowed 44 points or less in six consecutive contests.

Reading snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive 72-51 rout of Exeter on Monday. Jostin DeCastro, a 6’3 junior, is putting up 21.7 ppg. While the Red Knights may lack depth and 3-point shooting, they’re dangerous as always in transition. Keep in mind, four starters will be returning next year.

The good news for Exeter is that Aidan Dauble is back from injury. The bad news in Reiffton is that Dylan Donate remains out with a calf strain. Donate scored 57 points and hit 10 triples in the Eagles’ first three games. Exeter has won six of its eight matchups despite only having Dauble in the lineup twice.

Gov. Mifflin’s record is deceiving. The Mustangs have played a very challenging early season schedule. They’ve squared off with Berks Catholic, Muhlenberg, Wilson, and unbeaten West York. This is an inexperienced group in Shillington that’s still trying to find its way on the offensive end.

Wyomissing has a nice one-two punch with Dom Arguelles and Danny Fleischood. Arguelles is running the point and contributing nearly 20 points a night. Fleischood uses his strength and athleticism to get buckets on multiple levels. The 6’1, 190-pound senior is averaging 14.3 ppg. The Spartans came away with a hard-fought 56-48 victory at Schuylkill Valley earlier this month.

Without further ado, here are the “Roberts Rankings” for the Berks Conference. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (6-1)

2.Muhlenberg (7-2)

3.Wilson (6-2)

4.Reading (4-3)

5.Exeter (6-2)

6.Gov. Mifflin (3-5)

7.Wyomissing (5-2)

8.Schuylkill Valley (5-5)

Colgate commit Kingston McKoy is a two-time All-State selection and the reigning Berks County Player of the Year. He averaged 21.5 points per game and surpassed 1,000 career points in the state quarterfinals last season. Gavin Welker, Carmelo Harper, Johnny Giesa, and Brady Altimar are all back for the Saints. They’re joined by Reading transfer Jeremiah Camara who averaged a team-high 14.3 ppg. for the Red Knights during the 2024-25 campaign. Snip Esterly enters his 37th year as a head coach with a mark of (840-228). Berks Catholic is looking for its first BCIAA title since 2018.

Muhlenberg lost its top two scorers in Shermar Killen (18.6 ppg.) and Jayden Kantner (12.3 ppg.), but the Muhls still have plenty of experience. They should also have a chip on their shoulder after missing out on the Berks County playoffs and losing in the first round of the District 3 tournament. If Eli Hemmings can take the next step, they will have a dangerous team in Laureldale. The junior guard provided 9.4 ppg. last year. Mike Miller, LJ Armstrong, and Jadin Perez are united with Reading transfer Nelson “Coco” Malave.

Speaking of the Red Knights, Rick Perez has returned to the “Castle on the Hill.” After spending two seasons as an assistant under Matt Flowers at Muhlenberg, Perez is taking over for Francis Camara at Reading. Over a dozen years, Perez guided the Red Knights to three state titles. His 281 victories are a school record. Perez has a nice backcourt to work with in senior point guard Weshly Rosario and Jostin DeCastro. Rosario was an All-County pick last winter and DeCastro poured in 13 ppg. as a sophomore. Cameron “Bron Bron” Jones and Javon Merriweather are a pair of sophomore guards to keep an eye on. Jeremiah Camara, “Coco” Malave, and 6’9 senior Blake Adams are no longer with the program, but it’s never wise to count out Reading. In addition to their three state crowns, the Red Knights have claimed 24 District 3 championships, 25 BCIAA titles, and 20 Central Penn League trophies.

Wilson has cut down the nets at Santander Arena in four of the previous six seasons including two in a row. The Bulldogs, however, lost eight players and four starters to graduation. Madyx Gruber finished an outstanding career as a two-time All-County selection. He’s one of just seven players in Wilson history to hit the 1,000 point milestone. Matt Coldren begins his 25th season with an inexperienced group. Coldren is the program’s winningest coach with 432 victories. The Bulldogs aren’t wasting any time. They have a difficult opener at Central Dauphin tomorrow. The Rams were the District 3-6A runner-up last year. Correll Akings, an All-County guard, is just shy of 700 career points. His football teammate, Mike Glover, will provide the muscle in the paint at 225 pounds.

Exeter was the District 3-5A runner-up a season ago. The Eagles have made four straight trips to the state playoffs. Once again, the basketball team will have a strong football vibe to it. Aidan Dauble, Jayden Ware, and Braylon Reinert are returning starters for third-year head coach Jeff VanGorder. Dauble averaged 16 points last winter and knocked down 42 triples. Sharpshooter Brady Murray graduated after connecting 73 times from beyond the arc. Dylan Donate and Michael Fisher will have an increased role for the up-tempo Eagles this season.

In his first year at the helm, Garrett Etzel led Gov. Mifflin to 20 wins and its first appearance in the PIAA tournament. That was a senior-heavy club. Matt Koehler (14 ppg.), Andrew Galantuomo (11.5 ppg.), and Jahmair Johnson (11 ppg.) have moved on. Ian Fleming, a defensive specialist, is the lone returning starter. There is good news in Shillington with the return of Lebron Leaf. The talented quarterback missed the entire 2024-25 basketball season due to an injury that was suffered on the gridiron. Leaf is definitely a player to watch who also provides tremendous leadership skills off the court.

Konlan Krick steered Wyomissing to 15 wins and the BCIAA and District 3 playoffs in his first year as head coach. The Spartans’ top two scorers are back in Danny Fleischood (13.7 ppg.) and Dom Arguelles (12.4 ppg.). They’ll be battling again with Schuylkill Valley in Division 3. The Panthers have to replace their top three scorers in Cooper Hohenadel (14.6 ppg.), Luke Spotts (11 ppg.), and Kowen Gerner (11 ppg.). Head coach Taylor Grim will be counting on Logan Cammauf and Derek Grim, who both started last season, along with Ervin Ortiz.

Antietam captured the Division 4 title last year and brings back AJ Scheifley. The senior is just short of 900 career points. He averaged 16.2 ppg. a season ago with 40 three-pointers. Conrad Weiser went (12-12) in Joey Negron’s first year as head coach. The Scouts qualified for the District 3-5A tournament. There will be a lot of new faces on the floor in Robesonia this winter. Conrad Weiser lost its top six scorers to graduation including Donovan Gingrich, Brady McKee, and Gavin Rapp. They all averaged double figures last season. Gingrich (15.7 ppg.) and McKee drilled 103 combined triples.

Without further ado, here is my preseason poll for the Berks Basketball Conference. The records listed below are from last year. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (25-6)

2.Muhlenberg (15-8)

3.Reading (13-12)

4.Wilson (24-7)

5.Exeter (15-13)

6.Gov. Mifflin (20-10)

7.Wyomissing (15-10)

8.Schuylkill Valley (15-10)

Twin Valley left second-seeded West York with a 45-14 victory. Drew Engle ran for 250 yards and four touchdowns. He’s now the Raiders’ all-time rushing leader with 3,690 yards. While we’re discussing records, Exeter’s Leo Brown became Berks County’s single-season rushing leader with 2,444 yards. He surpassed David Gilmore’s mark of 2,403 yards which was set at Central Catholic in 1983. Back to Twin Valley, the third-seeded Raiders battle #1 seed Susquehanna Township for the District 3-4A crown. They square off at 7pm on Friday at ELCO. Both teams are (12-0) and searching for their first District title.

Without further ado, here is my new poll for Berks County high school football. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Twin Valley (12-0)

2.Wilson (9-3)

3.Wyomissing (10-2)

4.Exeter (10-3)

5.Muhlenberg (8-3)

6.Berks Catholic (9-3)

7.Boyertown (6-5)

8.Gov. Mifflin (4-7)

#3 seed Twin Valley travels to #2 seed West York. The Raiders have reached the District 3 semifinals for the fourth consecutive year. The (10-1) Bulldogs are making their 18th appearance in the District 3 tournament. They’ve won three championships with the most recent title coming in 2008. Jensen Ferber has thrown for 2,408 yards and 29 touchdowns this season. The 6’1, 176-pound sophomore is completing 62% of his passes. West York’s only loss came in Week 8 against undefeated New Oxford.

#4 seed Wilson visits #1 seed Central York in the District 3-6A semifinals. The Bulldogs knocked off the Panthers 28-20 in this round last year. Old Dominion commit Brooklyn Nace is putting up eye-popping numbers. The 6’3, 195-pound senior has passed for 2,513 yards while completing 78% of his attempts. Nace has tossed 34 touchdowns and just one interception! His top target is Kent State commit Brendyn Smith. The senior receiver has 70 receptions for 1,116 yards and 21 TD. Legend Johnson provides Central York with balance on offense. The 6’1, 195-pound junior has 1,094 rushing yards and 19 TD. Johnson is averaging 8.5 yards per carry. The (10-1) Panthers are in the District 3 tournament for the 19th time. Their lone championship was in 2020.

#4 seed Wyomissing makes the trip to top-seeded Susquehanna Township in the District 3-4A semifinals on Friday. The (11-0) Indians are led by Torin “TD” Evans. The Marist commit has 32 touchdowns through the air and a dozen more on the ground. The 6’, 175-pound senior has 2,429 passing yards and 773 rushing yards. Evans has completed 69% of his attempts with only 3 INT. Jarrett Kern, a 6’2 senior, has reeled in 39 catches for 652 yards and eight scores. Susquehanna Township qualified for the District 3 bracket for the 19th time. The Indians are searching for their first title. The Spartans have claimed the crown on twelve occasions.

#7 seed Exeter is on the road versus #3 seed Bishop McDevitt in the District 3-5A semifinals. These squads squared off in the final a season ago with the Crusaders prevailing 48-14. Bishop McDevitt earned its 18th District 3 championship and 4th in a row. The (9-2) Crusaders have won nine straight games since falling to Harrisburg 29-21. Bishop McDevitt has a loaded backfield that includes Eastern Michigan commit Nazir Jones-Davis, sophomore Jerome Larue, and Maurice Barnes. Larue has already received offers from Tennessee, Baylor, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. Barnes is a force on defense with more than 250 career tackles. The 6’2, 215-pound linebacker has several offers including Penn State, Pittsburgh, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Tyler Reinhart controls the secondary with a team-high five interceptions. He’s committed to Monmouth. Liam Fuller, a 6’6 senior tight end, is headed to UConn. Sebastian Williams has taken over at quarterback for Stone Saunders. The 6’1, 190-pound junior has completed 70% of his attempts for 1,502 yards and 14 TD. The Crusaders are a staggering (70-9) all-time in the District 3 playoffs. The Eagles, who won it all in 2021, are (15-14).

#1 seed Berks Catholic battles #3 seed Trinity in the District 3-3A championship at ELCO. The Saints’ winning streak stands at eight. The (9-3) Shamrocks have caught fire after dropping their first two contests. Their leading rusher and tackler is 230-pound sophomore Brandon Harris. Senior quarterback Mason Boyer has two big targets in wide receiver Maddox Jarzynski (6’2, 210) and tight end Marcus Yeager (6’4, 225). Jarzynski erupted for 3 TD receptions and a pick-6 in the first half last week against Annville-Cleona. He has 1,000 receiving yards this fall. Yeager, a Richmond commit, leads Trinity in sacks and tackles for loss. The Shamrocks are going for their fourth title, while the Saints are looking for their fifth. Berks Catholic has an overall mark of (21-6) in the District 3 tournament.

Without further ado, here are my Berks County high school football rankings. There aren’t any changes in the poll this week. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Twin Valley (11-0)

2.Wilson (9-2)

3.Wyomissing (10-1)

4.Exeter (10-2)

5.Muhlenberg (8-3)

6.Berks Catholic (9-2)

7.Boyertown (6-5)

8.Gov. Mifflin (4-7)