The Panthers have won nine games in back-to-back years. They claimed their first outright section championship in 2024 by going (7-0) in league play. “We’ve changed the culture. We’re a winning culture now,” emphasized Cammauf. Schuylkill Valley reached the District 3-3A semifinals last year before falling to Trinity 20-17 in overtime. Logan Nawrocki tossed a remarkable 37 touchdown passes in twelve games. He broke the school record for career passing yards with 5,109. Nawrocki and tight end Luke Spotts were All-State selections. Skill position players Cooper Hohenadel, Kowen Gerner, Dillon Lackner, and Johnny Kowalski were also lost to graduation. Alex Aletras, a 6’ junior, will take over at quarterback. “He has the potential to be really good,” noted Cammauf. The Panthers return six starters on each side of the ball, including some key linemen. Seniors Nick Moyer (6’1, 285) and Noah Sonon (6’1, 220) were both first team picks in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League in 2024. They’re captains this year along with Cammauf and Aletras.

Bruce Harbach enters his fifth season as the head coach in Leesport. Harbach has an all-time mark of (165-75) over twenty years. He led Lancaster Catholic to two state titles, four District 3 championships, and eight section crowns before stepping down there in 2017. Harbach was inducted into the PSFCA Hall of Fame this summer. “His intensity, I fit right in with that. He pushes me, he pushes the whole team. He’s a great coach,” replied Cammauf. Schuylkill Valley went (2-9) in Harbach’s first season. However, it didn’t take the Wilson graduate long to turn things around. In 2022, the Panthers put together a winning season for the first time since 2013. They won just their second District 3 playoff game in program history in 2023.

Schuylkill Valley begins a new chapter tomorrow night when Muhlenberg heads up Route 61 to Leesport. The Muhls took this matchup 29-20 last fall. The Panthers will host Berks Catholic on September 26th. They’ll be home again on October 10th for the 51st Frost Bowl. Schuylkill Valley has a very slim (25-24-1) edge over Hamburg in the rivalry. “It’s always good to win, but it’s just another game on the schedule…We’re looking at District championships now, not Frost Bowls,” stated Cammauf. The Panthers wrap up the regular season with a big Section 5 battle at Lancaster Catholic.

Camara’s father, Francis, had been Reading’s boys basketball head coach the past two years. He was informed last week that his coaching position was being opened. The Red Knights went (13-12) and reached the BCIAA Championship Game. They didn’t qualify for the District 3 playoffs.

Berks Catholic won the District 3-4A title and advanced to the state final before falling to Devon Prep 55-39. The Saints will return two-time All-State selection Kingston McKoy, as well as Gavin Welker, Brady Altimar and Carmelo Harper. Berks Catholic finished (25-6) during the 2024-25 campaign.

Camara also played football at Reading. The Saints open their football season this Friday at Twin Valley.

All five starters on the offensive line from last year’s (10-3, 6-1) squad have graduated. Andrew Bresnahan is moving from tight end to offensive tackle. Diamante Strong will take over at the TE position. Hardy has been impressed with Strong and wide receiver Andrew DiFabrizio this offseason. They’re both juniors. Wyomissing returns seven starters on defense and six on offense. There’s plenty of experience on the sideline as well. Bob Wolfrum is set to begin his 39th year as head coach with a record of (372-92-1). He also spent 15 seasons as an assistant. Wolfrum has the most victories in District 3 history. “He’s on us all the time about getting things right, but it’s just because he wants us all to be great. It’s a really good guy to look up to as a person, not just as a coach,” said Hardy. The Spartans have gone (71-9) over the past six years. Their streak of five consecutive District 3 championships came to a halt last season. They fell to Lampeter-Strasburg 30-27 in overtime in the District 3-4A Final.

Wyomissing kicks off the regular season this Friday night at Southern Columbia. Tigers’ head coach Jim Roth holds the state record with 506 all-time wins. Southern Columbia has captured 14 state titles. The Tigers lost at Wyomissing 35-21 last year and ended up an atypical (7-5). The Spartans have a tough challenge in Week 2 when they host Haverford. The Fords defeated Wyomissing 20-3 a season ago. The Spartans entertain Twin Valley on October 11th and visit Lampeter-Strasburg in the regular season finale. The Pioneers prevailed 20-7 at Bob Wolfrum Field last year, ending Wyomissing’s 36-game home winning streak. Hardy, who has an offer from Liberty, is looking forward to all of the challenges that lie ahead. “I think our team can play with anyone, no matter who it is and no matter what level it is,” he stated.

The Red Knights return just three starters on each side of the football. Godinet, who’s entering his fourth season at the helm, is proud of the rising seniors. “I think our older guys are doing a great job of holding that standard and holding everybody accountable,” he remarked. Godinet believes his defensive line will be a strength. Jamier Jacob, Isiah Ruiz, and Emere Woods are back. They will be joined by promising freshmen Ja’Sian Welmaker and Brandon Jones. Jeremiah Camara, Idris Weaver, and Daron Wilkins are expected to get the bulk of the carries with senior Jason Plylaharn at quarterback.

Reading ended up (2-8) overall and (1-5) in league play in 2024. Wilson, Manheim Township, Cedar Crest, and Hempfield all qualified for the District 3-6A playoffs out of Section 1. “Section 1 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League is one of the tougher sections in Pennsylvania. It’s not just from an athletic standpoint; there are really good head coaches that develop really good programs,” emphasized Godinet. The former All-County linebacker for the Red Knights isn’t backing down from the challenge. “Iron sharpens iron so we’re looking forward to competing against those guys,” replied Godinet.

Reading, which started its football program in 1892, begins a new season next Friday at Phoenixville. That opener will get underway at 6:30pm. The Red Knights make the short trip to Muhlenberg in Week 2 for the “Battle of the Border.” The Muhls have lost three in a row in that series. Reading and McCaskey will square off for the 99th time on Saturday, August 4th. It’s a 4pm kickoff at Lancaster Catholic because of a construction project at McCaskey’s stadium. The Red Knights have a (49-44-5) edge over the Red Tornado. Godinet has a (6-24) record, but he knows that there’s more to a program than wins and losses. “We’re getting kids into college. We’re trying to do things the right way. At the end of the day, no matter where you’re at, the relationships matter,” he said.

Owen Schalk, Cole Harter, and Aidan Curley helped the Saints capture the District 3-3A baseball championship this spring. They’re going to be key pieces on the gridiron. Schalk, who hit .416 with 39 RBI, will be getting a lot of carries. Schalk and Curley each ran the ball just 31 times in 2024. They were more of a factor on defense with 86 combined tackles. Meanwhile, Harter takes over for Zach Suski at quarterback. Senior Xavier Gerald made the most of his touches last year. He ran for 334 yards and four touchdowns on only 27 carries. “He’s got so much speed. He’s like the Flash back there and he’s got some muscle on him too,” replied Reber. Gio DiSabatino will be at wide receiver, along with Josiah Turman and sophomore Logan Gonzalez.

Berks Catholic will be missing some familiar faces. Nate Rose is at Germantown Academy, Jackson Kozik transferred to Exeter, and Gavin Welker opted not to play. Rose ran for a team-high 1,066 yards and 11 TD a season ago. Kozik led the Saints with 24 catches and 70 tackles. Welker, a 6’3 senior, turned 17 receptions into five scores at wide receiver. In addition, defensive coordinator Pat Sisk has gone from Berks Catholic to Gov. Mifflin. Eric Hancock is the Saints’ new DC. The Holy Name graduate was a former head coach at Twin Valley. Hancock was an assistant at Schuylkill Valley last season.

Speaking of the Panthers, they won the Section 5 title outright in 2024. Berks Catholic and Lancaster Catholic finished two games behind at (5-2) in league play. Hamburg was in fourth place with a (4-3) mark. The Saints ended up (7-5) overall and got back to the District 3 playoffs after a two-year absence. They fell to eventual champion Bermudian Springs 42-25 in the District 3-3A semifinals.

Dave Stahler, a Holy Name and Kutztown University graduate, enters his second year as head coach at Berks Catholic. The Saints have an intriguing opener at Twin Valley next Friday night. The Raiders have reached the District 3 semifinals in three straight seasons. Berks Catholic hosts Lancaster Catholic on September 19th. The Saints travel to Leesport the following week to face Schuylkill Valley. We will learn a lot about Berks Catholic in the first month of the season. We already know that they have some heavy hitters in the trenches.

Wilson claimed its record 30th section title in the Lancaster-Lebanon League last fall. The Bulldogs finished (11-2, 6-0) and reached the District 3-6A championship before falling to Harrisburg 42-14. They enter the 2025 campaign with 611 all-time wins.

Wilson will have a new quarterback following the graduation of All-State pick Madyx Gruber. Mason Young and Cole Peterson have been battling this offseason for the starting job. “We don’t have another Madyx in the wings. Cole has a little bit better grasp offensively, but Mason is a little bit better athlete. Right now, Mason has the edge. He has the physical tools to have a really good year,” explained Dahms. The Bulldogs won’t be the biggest team this season, but they have plenty of speed. Correll Akings returns at running back after rushing for 1,078 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns as a junior. The All-County basketball player added 27 receptions a season ago. All-State tight end Michael Glover (6’3, 225) caught a team-high 40 passes as a sophomore. “If he was 6’5, every school in the country would want him, but he’s 6’3…He’ll play Division I football, but probably FCS unless he grows,” replied Dahms. Glover finished with 670 receiving yards and 7TD last year. Senior receiver Jaiden Carpenter will supply the speed on the outside. Offensive tackles Avery Manara and Jesse Etchberger are back. Manara has slimmed down to 215 pounds. EJ Brownback and Ethan Harding will be in the middle of Wilson’s defense at linebacker. Rahmel Gaston (6’1, 240) will cause trouble on the defensive line. Meanwhile, Chase Herb, Monty Greer, and Akings should form a solid secondary.

The Bulldogs kickoff the season at home against Cheltenham on August 22nd. They host Nazareth on September 5th in a marquee non-league matchup. Wilson ends the regular season versus Manheim Township at John Gurski Stadium. That battle on October 24th could once again decide the Section 1 title. One thing is for certain; Dahms is very happy in West Lawn. “The community is behind you. The alumni are behind you. The school is behind you. The players buy into everything you want to do,” he said.

Class 6A:

Bryce Detwiler-Gov. Mifflin-Infielder (1st Team)

Travis Jenkins-Gov. Mifflin-Catcher (1st Team)

Ethan Grim-Gov. Mifflin-Utility (1st Team)

Matt Koehler-Gov. Mifflin-Infielder (2nd Team)

Branson Adams-Gov. Mifflin-Outfielder (2nd Team)

Janser Paredes-Reading-Utility (2nd Team)

Class 5A:

Jake Hafer-Exeter-Utility (2nd Team)

Class 4A:

Tyler Shuey-Hamburg-Infielder (1st Team)

Scottie Dunleavy-Hamburg-Utility (2nd Team)

Class 3A:

Trey Stricker-Berks Catholic-Pitcher (1st Team)

Owen Schalk-Berks Catholic-Outfielder (1st Team)

Ryan Graham-Wyomissing-Infielder (2nd Team)

Class A:

Landon Richard-High Point Baptist-Infielder (1st Team)

Bradon Howe-High Point Baptist-Outfielder (2nd Team)

Stewart was voted to the first team in Class 4A for the third consecutive season. The 6’1 forward averaged 19.5 points as a senior and led the Spartans to 24 victories. Stewart poured in a school-record 37 points against Twin Valley on January 2nd. The Albany commit finished her remarkable career with 1,904 points, the most in program history. She also pulled down more than 1,000 rebounds. Stewart was named Berks County Player of the Year three times. In late February, Wyomissing defeated Lancaster Catholic 26-24 for its third straight District 3-4A championship.

Super is a third team All-State pick in Class 6A. The 5’7 sophomore increased her scoring output from 12 points per game as a freshman to 19 ppg. this year. She knocked down 49 triples during the 2024-25 campaign. Super exploded for 30 points at Conrad Weiser in mid-January. She helped a young Mustangs’ squad win 16 games. Gov. Mifflin reached the BCIAA Championship at Santander Arena. In the Berks League semifinals, Super had 25 points in a 60-56 victory over rival Wilson. The Mustangs fell to Reading 63-57 in the BCIAA Final, but Super kept them in the game. The All-County guard ended up with 28 points and four 3-pointers.

The All-State boys basketball teams will be announced in early May.