Athletics News

Tom Heston ’12 moves over one chair on the bench to replace his mentor Tony Chapman ’71, who retired after 45 years of coaching Holy Ghost Prep basketball with a mind-boggling 928-351 record. Heston will build his first Firebirds squad around two returning starting guards, 6-2 junior Adrien “Ace” Varella (pictured) and 6-foot senior Gavin McLaughlin. 

Holy Ghost Prep senior Tim Devine has been the starting varsity soccer goalie for the Firebirds for the past four years. And like anyone who has played the game, Devine has dreamt of playing collegiately at the Division One level. On Nov. 15, Devine saw his Division One dream become a reality as he signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of South Florida (USF). (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio) 

The Holy Ghost Prep cross-country team captured a fourth straight PIAA District One Class 2A cross-country team title on October 27 at Lehigh University. The Firebirds had four top-10 finishers in the District One race and all four were district medalists: senior Papakojo Danquah (fourth place), junior Daniel Perez (fifth place), senior Maurece Jean-Brian (ninth place), senior Brendan DiEnna (10th place).

Nine former Holy Ghost Prep student-athletes will be inducted into the HGP Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at the Bensalem Township Golf Course, joining this exclusive group of people (and others) as Hall of Famers. 

The Northeast Times profiled HGP soccer players Michael and Matt Cancelliere, a pair of brothers who each play prominent roles for the Firebirds. 

Holy Ghost Prep celebrated its legendary basketball coach Tony Chapman ’71 and the many lives he impacted on Thursday, Sept. 28 with an all-day celebration. Chapman is pictured here with all of his former players who attended the evening celebration. (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio)

Holy Ghost Prep alum Nolan Jones ‘16, one of the National League's top rookies this season, was mic-ed up by ESPN for a half-inning of the Colorado Rockies game vs. the San Francisco Giants on "Sunday Night Baseball" on Sept. 10. In 89 games, Jones is batting .275 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.

With three determined lead returners in seniors Papakojo Danquah and Brendan DiEnna and junior Daniel Perez, the Holy Ghost Prep cross-country team has begun its season with some top finishes. 

The Holy Ghost Prep cross-country team has captured three straight PIAA District 1 Class 2A cross-country team titles and shows no signs of slowing down this fall

Through a new partnership with NovaCare Rehabilitation, Holy Ghost Prep has hired BJ Carolan as the school’s new athletic trainer, effectively immediately.

With five returning varsity players, led by 2022 district qualifier Eric Holt, third-year Holy Ghost Prep head coach Norm Muller has high hopes for Ghost golf this fall. 

Isaac Acosta is a three-year starting first baseman on the HGP baseball team. He is also a volunteer fireman nearing the end of a six-month fire academy course that will enable him to become an interior firefighter upon graduation in late June. Read more about Isaac in this excellent Bucks County Courier Times profile by Tom Moore. 

On a postcard-perfect May 10^th morning, Holy Ghost Prep celebrated a landmark day in its 125-year history with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Duaime Athletic Complex (DAC).

After an extensive search, Holy Ghost Prep realized that the best man for the job was already on campus and hired Tom Heston ’12 to be HGP’s next head varsity basketball coach. Heston has taught chemistry at Ghost and has been a varsity assistant basketball coach at his alma mater under the legendary Tony Chapman. 

On April 25 in the Chapman Arena, seven members of HGP’s Class of 2023 officially signed with colleges to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio)

On April 15, the HGP track and field team competed in the Bensalem Invitational and continued to improve with 12 personal records out of 18 individual performances. The sprint relays fared well, with the 4x400 meter relay—composed of junior Papakojo Danquah, senior Jack Evans, senior Jack Frain, and junior Maurece Jean-Brian (pictured)—placing second. 

John Ritchie ’06 has landed his dream job, being named the new head ice hockey coach at his alma mater Holy Ghost Prep.

Holy Ghost Prep athletic director Craig Conlin was one of 15 new inductees into the City of Philadelphia chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on April 18. 

On April 4, Holy Ghost Prep president Gregory J. Geruson '79 announced that the school will receive $1,250,000 in state funding from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to aid in the cost of the construction of the school’s new Duaime Athletic Complex.

In the April 9th edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer, writer Isabella DiAmore profiled Holy Ghost Prep's legendary hoops coach Tony Chapman, who recently announced his retirement after 45 seasons. 

Gump Whiteside, the head ice hockey coach at Holy Ghost Prep for the past 15 years, has decided to retire from coaching. He will remain at Holy Ghost Prep as the assistant director of facilities and assistant director of athletics. (photo courtesy of Robert Barnes) 

Holy Ghost Prep’s legendary coach Tony Chapman, one of only six high school basketball coaches in Pennsylvania history to reach the 900-win plateau, has decided to retire from coaching. Chapman finishes his illustrious coaching career at Holy Ghost Prep with an impressive 928-351 record.  

The Bensalem Township Council unanimously approved the $4 million, 320,000-square-foot Duaime Athletic Complex project, including the John Mundy Track, at Holy Ghost Prep during its recent bimonthly meeting.

The Northeast Times profiled HGP junior Papakojo Danquah, who has blossomed into one of the area's best 800-meter and cross-country runners.

Holy Ghost Prep will break ground on the new $4-million Duaime Athletic Complex in early May. Bucks County Courier Times reporter Damon C. Williams recently wrote about the project. 

Holy Ghost Prep has entered into a multi-year partnership with Yardley Makefield Soccer (YMS), allowing the highly recognized Bucks County soccer club to run some of its youth programs on the school’s brand-new Duaime Athletic Center synthetic turf field beginning in the fall of 2023. 

Peter Cerenzo MS, LAT, ATC, CES, became Holy Ghost Prep’s new athletic trainer, effective February 6. In addition to working in clinical settings, Cerenzo’s professional experience includes working with student-athletes at the Division I and Division III college, high school, and junior high levels.

The Northeast Times profiled HGP senior basketball player Mel Lindsey, the son of a high school coach who hits the books as hard as he hits the glass for the Firebirds. A Maguire Scholar, Lindsey maintains a 3.16 grade point average in the classroom.

On Jan. 11, the Holy Ghost Prep ice hockey team scored three times in the first period and went on to a 6-5 win over Malvern Prep in the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference (APAC) Outdoor Classic at Spring Mountain in Schwenksville, Pa.

The Holy Ghost Prep varsity basketball team is now 8-6 on the season—thanks to its current four-game winning streak. With seven games left in the regular season, the senior-laden Firebirds are seeded seventh in the current PIAA District One Class 5A rankings. 

The Northeast Times profiled HGP senior basketball player Ian Hendrix, who arrives at school at 6 a.m. to get up extra jump shots before school starts. A true scholar-athlete, Hendrix maintains a 4.25 grade point average in the classroom. (Photo courtesy of Douglas Benedict/Academic Image)

The 2022-23 HGP swim team should be strong, led by returning swimmers like Aidan Sloan, TJ Farrell, Brian Chewning, Liam Halligan, and Peter Patrick. 

Holy Ghost Prep head coach Tony Chapman ’71 enters his 45^th season with 914 career victories. With a 16-man roster that includes 13 seniors who clearly know the Ghost way, Chapman’s impressive win total should continue to grow. (photo courtesy of Douglas Benedict/Academic Image)

The 2022-23 Holy Ghost Prep ice hockey team will be led by its 10 seniors, including this year's captains Landon Stout, Brady Baehser, and John Seravalli. 

The Northeast Times profiled Holy Ghost Prep senior Labrant "Deuce" Davis, the starting left wing on the Firebirds' soccer team who is excelling on the field and in the classroom. (photo courtesy of Robert Barnes/Pro Action Sports)

HGP's cross-country team captured a third straight PIAA District 1 Class 2A cross-country team title on October 28 at Lehigh University. The Firebirds had five top-20 finishers in the District I race: Ciaran Chambers (second place), Papakojo Danquah (third place), Daniel Perez (fourth place), Brendan DiEnna (11th) and Jack Evans (18th).

At the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 11, Holy Ghost Prep president Gregory J. Geruson ’79 delivered his annual state-of-the-school address—announcing a “Tradition Rising” capital campaign that will result in a new Duaime Athletic Complex and a $3 million increase in the school’s endowment.

Holy Ghost Prep has entered into a five-year partnership with Under Armour, naming the global performance brand as the official outfitter for HGP athletics. (photo courtesy of Douglas Benedict/Academic Image)

Six former Holy Ghost Prep student-athletes and one longtime coach (Bruce Simon) were inducted into the HGP Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 29 at the Bensalem Country Club. (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio) 

Third-year HGP bowling coach Norm Muller is excited about his team—and with good reason. Led by senior Tyler Muller, the Firebirds are off to a 2-0 start, defeating both Devon Prep, 3-1 on Dec. 6 and Dock Mennonite, 4-0 on Dec. 7.

Tony Chapman enters his 44^th season at the helm of the Firebirds with 901 career wins. His eye-popping win total figures to grow considerably this winter—given Chapman’s X-and-O acumen combined with the overall skill level of the 2021-22 Firebirds. 

Co-head coaches Ed Roussel and T.J. Farrell have an exciting team with several strong returning seniors in PIAA state swimmer Patrick Lichtner (pictured), PIAA District 1 swimmer James Samuel, and PIAA District 1 qualifier Kamil Rozanski.