Nene Mokonchu leapt to new heights for the Spring-Ford track team this past winter, capturing a state championship in the high jump at the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor State Championships.

The senior, who is among the top high jumpers in the nation, solidified herself as a favorite in the spring season in the event.

Senior Alex Teufel finished 13th overall in Pennsylvania at the PTFCA Indoor State Championships. The group of Travell Wellons, Justin Russell, Colby Basalyga, and Leo Aguilar finished sixth in the state during the winter in the 4×200 relay. Vania Mokonchu also dominated her competition at states placing 5th in shot put and almost throwing it 39 feet.

Other accomplishments throughout the season included Wellons ranking 5th in the 60 meter dash at the Meet of Champions with a time of 7.14 seconds (personal best). In the Wyomissing Area Team Challenge, Kenny Grant placed 8th with a time of 25.17 seconds for the 200 meter dash and Matthew Patel ranked 6th.

— Anthony Goldsmith, Sports Editor

Boys Basketball

After a quite thrilling start to the season, including two overtime wins in the team’s first two games, the Spring-Ford boys basketball team could not have ended the season in a more heartbreaking fashion.

An overall regular season record of 13-8 under first-year head coach Joe Dempsey was quite solid and good enough to host a first-round District One-6A Tournament game. However, the regular season did not finish off on a great note when the Rams failed to take a win-and-in contest against Norristown for a PAC Final Six tournament appearance. A 47-28 loss to the Eagles concluded the regular season with a bitter taste before districts.

Districts followed a similar narrative too, where a first-round squandered lead resulted in a 53-50 home loss to lower-seeded Garnet Valley that sent the Rams to the playbacks. The Rams proceeded to then suffer a crushing double-overtime loss to Penn Wood at home to finish the year.

While the season ended in unfortunate matters, the Rams still have some positives to take away from the season. For example, playing on the new floor in the Ram gymnasium was something the Rams were unsure of happening this winter. Congratulations to Gavin Schauder, Jake Kressley, Cole Turner, and Braden Huntington on all great careers as these seniors graduate from the Rams program. Kressley earned first-team, All-PAC honors while Turner was selected to the second team.

— Andrew Eross, Sports Editor

Boys Swimming

Following a 2020-21 season shortened by COVID-19, the Spring-Ford boys swimming team looked to return to their prior glory after a 1-3 record. Full of ambition, the boys were able to complete a thrilling 9-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference regular-season campaign.

The District 1 Championships at the York YMCA succeeded PAC play. The squad faced difficult competition in Class 3A and finished with an overall team score of 6, placing them 29th. Spring-Ford’s Patrick Baganski finished with a time of 54.62 in the 100 Backstroke.

Among the PAC All-Conference teams, Spring-Ford Boys achieved second-team free relay with a time of 1:30.82. This group featured the likes of Patrick Baganski, Devon Dayrit, Jacob Dourte, and Nate Reagan. Baganski also made second-team 100 backstroke at 56.53 and received an honorable mention in the 50 Freestyle at 22.12.
Next year, the team will be without graduating seniors Dayrit, Dourte, and Adam Drover. Baganski, a current sophomore, will return for another two years. Juniors Cameron Wilson and Owen Burry will return for a final season, looking to build on what the team has accomplished.

— Jack Baumgardner, Assistant Sports Editor

Girls Swimming

By returning several key swimmers, the Spring-Ford girls swimming team enjoyed another successful year while additionally showing promise for the future.

This Rams team was a dominant group in the PAC. Their 9-1 record along with a second-place finish in the PAC girl’s championship meet proved the Rams as a formidable lineup in league play.

Junior Ashley Gutshall is certainly one to give credit for the team’s near perfect season- her dominant 50-yard free and 100-yard free won her individual conference first-place finishes. She additionally was a large part of the 200-yard medley relay team consisting of Maris Sadowski, Sydney Koehler, and Abby Koehler that was first in the PAC.

While the Rams did not have as much success in Districts (with Gutshall as the team’s highest finisher at fifth in 100 free and sixth in 50 free), the Rams are still set for another huge season in the coming year. Gutshall, Sadowski, Koehlers, Griffith, Gutshall and Maris Sadowski look towards a dominant senior year, and Sydney and Abby Koehler will work for a strong 2022-2023 campaign.

— Andrew Eross, Sports Editor