Tucker Bellanca-Muhlenberg

Tucker Bellanca is entering his fourth season as a starter on Muhlenberg’s football team. While there have been few victories on the field, Bellanca keeps everything in perspective. He noted, “It’s not so important to focus on the wins as much as it is how am I improving, how is the team improving.” The 5’11, 215-pound G/DT is wise beyond his years. Bellanca has an impressive 4.98 GPA. Highly rated universities like Johns Hopkins, Washington and Lee, and the University of Chicago are on his radar. The Muhls are (3-24) over the past three years. However, Bellanca has seen plenty of success on the wrestling mat. He was the Berks County runner-up at 215 pounds last season. Tucker’s father, Kriss, is the head coach of Alvernia’s wrestling program. Tucker believes that sport has been beneficial to him on the gridiron. “Wrestling works pretty much everything. I don’t think there is a muscle in the body that wrestling doesn’t help with,” said Bellanca. He plans on wrestling in college. In addition, Bellanca is practicing different forms of martial arts. He was named a second team center in Section 2 of the new Lancaster-Lebanon League a season ago. Muhlenberg has more depth on its roster this year so Bellanca will focus on the defensive side of the ball. He provided 21 tackles and three sacks in 2022. If needed, the veteran lineman can step in at guard. The (2-8) Muhls won just one league game last year. Section 2 includes Exeter and Manheim Central. The Eagles and Barons were (23-3) combined, while Warwick and Conestoga Valley both ended up (5-5). Gov. Mifflin is expected to be improved after an atypical (3-7) campaign. Bellanca is looking forward to the challenge. “The whole middle of our schedule is pretty rough, but you can’t get better without facing good competition. It’s the same mentality I have in wrestling…those are the best times to learn,” he acknowledged.