The Spring-Ford Rams boys basketball team returns to the court this year following a season that saw the Rams finish 23-8 and in the PIAA Class 6A Quarterfinals.
The Rams will be led by guard/forward Jacob Nguyen and forward/center Tommy Kelly. Nguyen, a four-year starter, is the Rams’ leading scorer and will be leaned on offensively. Kelly is a three-year starter for the Rams.
Coach Joe Dempsey enters his fourth season at Spring-Ford with a 272-168 record. Seniors Jordan Marsilio and Luke Pufko at forward as well as Ian Pettica at guard will also play. Juniors Jack Kennedy, Blake Turner, and Syaire Barnes will also contribute, as will sophomores Bryce Robinson and Matteo Magazzolo.
EJ Campbell, the area’s Player of the Year, at guard and Jake Dellangelo have graduated from last year’s team. Senior contributor last year Matt Zollers will not play this year due to injury.
Girls Basketball
The Spring-Ford seniors ended their high school careers with a second PIAA 6A championship game appearance last spring. Of that group, only senior Kareena Preuss returns as a starter this winter for the Rams. Christina Tiffan also returns after contributing off the bench last year. Other returning varsity players include Haley Prophet, Devon Chamberlain, Emma Kaercher, and Miley Maloney. Lilly Brescia also returns after missing last season with an ACL injury.
Those players will have a tough task replacing departed starting seniors Anna Azzara, Mac Pettinelli, Katie Tiffan, and Aaliyah Solliday from last season’s 27-7 squad.
“After losing 80 percent of our offense and 80 percent of minutes played, we need to focus on all the little things such as ball pressure, block out on rebounding, setting solid screens, making excellent decisions,” coach Mickey McDaniel said. “Our main goal is get better each day and be playing our best basketball at the end of the season.”
Winter Track Preview
As the 2024-25 Winter Track season begins, Spring-Ford will have to do without their amazing class of 2024 runners such as sprinters Chris Brittingham, Mason Scott, and Andre Jackson, middle distance runners Belal Abdelrahman and Jack Stanick, District One shot put champion Luke Ellor, and long distance runners Ethan Tharpe and William Wiles.
As for departing girls athletes, hurdler and sprinter Emily Starek, jumper Mary McNelly, and distance runner Caley Kuestner will also be missed.
Upcoming promising athletes for the boys are sprinter Justin Johnson and distance runners Elijah Dunham and Gus Smith, and Jedidiah King as well as pole vaulter Abe McNelly. As for the girls, sprinters Nave Jacobs, Akaylia Grey, and Maddy Johnson, and distance runner Abby Tuturice look for a strong season.
Last year the boys 4×200 and 4×800 were able to qualify for Nationals and that can be continued next year with a couple runners last year and upcoming ones looking to make their mark. The team looks in good condition to dominate the Liberty Division and grasp the PAC title as they did back to back for Spring Track in 2023 and 2024.
– Tim Schediwy
Wrestling
The Spring-Ford wrestling team returns this winter, led by state qualifier Mason Richards. As a team, the Rams won the Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship Tournament last winter with first-place finishes from returning starters Richards and Gus Smith. Connor Hudak and James McGill are other returning starters. New starters Gavin Maguire, John Rose, Mike Stead, Evan Dinh, Christian Ruiz, and Tutan Lyles are also looking to contribute for the Rams.
Swimming
Spring-Ford’s boys swimming team finished undefeated in the PAC and won the league championship.
State qualifiers Nate Reagan, Blaise Sadowski, Justin Delp, and Ben Brucker return for the Rams in their quest for a repeat, as do district qualifiers Declan Behl, Raole Khaye, and Clayton Heinzeman.
The girls team returns District One Tournament qualifying swimmers Kaia Griffith, Abby Koehler, Chloe Fennimore, Megan Curran, and Eva Gibbons as well as diver Jordyn Gutshall. The Rams swam to a 9-1 record in the PAC for a second place finish.
Bowling
The Spring-Ford bowling team returns Ben Larck, Zack Uba, TJ Waltemyer, and Declan Bromirski as returning starters while the girls team returns bowlers Morgan Trinley, Sara Ford, and Marcella Kucera. New competitors for the boys this year include Chase Hanson and Josh Reagan while the girls welcome bowlers Emma Connors, Alaina Olinick, and Piper Hill. The boys finished 43-21 last season while the girls finished 48-15-1.
“The Boys team returns four of the five varsity starters and adds some young talent,” coach Ryan Souder said. “We should be very competitive in the league and have the potential to be very competitive at the state level. We have great senior leadership and look forward to the season. The girls team graduated four of five starters from last year and we have a lot of unproven, but hardworking talent. Our senior leader Morgan Trinley has been our anchor bowler since Freshman year, and we expect her to be one of the better bowlers in the league.”
