Athletics News

On April 27 in the Chapman Arena, eight members of HGP’s Class of 2021—including swimmer Fred Li (pictured)—will officially sign to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.  

Ninth-year head coach Ryan Tessler has built one of the area’s top lacrosse programs at Holy Ghost Prep. A quick 2021 season preview is available here. (Photo courtesy of Douglas Benedict/Academic Image)

On March 5, Holy Ghost Prep’s iconic basketball coach Tony Chapman ’71 was honored during a special senior class assembly. During the assembly, U.S. congressman Brian Fitzpatrick presented HGP’s iconic coach with a flag that had flown over the Capitol Building. (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio)

With his team's 71-41 victory over Dock Mennonite on March 4, Tony Chapman became just the sixth high school basketball coach in Pennsylvania history to reach the 900-win plateau. (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio)

The Holy Ghost Prep baseball team, a traditional PIAA District One power, will face a top-shelf 2021 schedule, a slate that includes nine games against Philadelphia Catholic League teams and three contests vs. Inter-Ac competition. 

Sweet-shooting junior wing Shane Reilly (pictured) has taken on a much more substantial role for Holy Ghost Prep’s 2021 varsity hoops team. (photo courtesy of Robert Barnes, Pro Action Sports LLC)
 

Holy Ghost Prep seniors Matt Long (baseball) and Luke Slavin (lacrosse, pictured with his parents) recently signed their letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers in the fall at Immaculata University and St. Andrews (N.C.) College, respectively. (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio)

Led by HGP senior Elliot Puckett (pictured), who edged Pottstown’s Darius Smallwood by a whisker to earn the district title, the Firebirds were crowned 2020 PIAA District 1 Class AA cross-country team champions.

HGP junior Calen Sanderson made eight birdies, including three consecutive ones on the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes, to card a 4-under-par 67 and capture the 2020 PIAA Class AAA state title by one shot on Oct. 20. He is the third HGP golfer to win a state title in the last six years—joining Steve Cerbara (2015) and Liam Hart (2017).

The Northeast Times profiled Holy Ghost Prep junior Joey Reteneller, the starting centerback on the Firebirds' soccer team who is a 3.9 GPA student in honors and AP classes.

Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Phil Anastasia wrote about how the soccer alliance formed among Holy Ghost Prep, La Salle College High School, Devon Prep, and Saint Joseph's has resulted in Radnor Premier club soccer teammates Tony Colon and Joey Reteneller from HGP and Sam McShane from La Salle (all pictured together) becoming rivals in high school games this year. 

On September 21 at the Spring Mill Country Club, nearly 100 golfers participated in the school’s 2020 HGP Golf Classic. Thanks to the generosity of the golfers and the tournament sponsors, the event raised $37,000 for Holy Ghost Prep athletics. 

Tom Kaczor, a man who coached Holy Ghost Prep to two state championships in the 1970s, passed away peacefully last week at his daughter’s house at the age of 77. Kaczor (right) is pictured here with his then-assistant coach Tony Chapman '71. 

The varsity soccer teams of four Philadelphia area independent Catholic schools—Holy Ghost Prep, Devon Prep, La Salle College High School, and Saint Joseph’s Prep—will compete for the first-ever President’s Cup.

USA Hockey recently honored Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside with the 2020 Bob O’Connor Award for Excellence in Coaching Education. At Holy Ghost Prep, Whiteside has compiled an impressive 206-61-10 record with one state championship (2015) and two Flyers Cup titles (2015, 2017).

HGP golfer Calen Sanderson, a University of Notre Dame recruit, will test his skills against fellow Philadelphia area independent Catholic schools Devon Prep, La Salle College High School, and Saint Joseph’s Prep in the coming weeks. (photo by Douglas Benedict/Academic Image)