Athletics News

The Holy Ghost Prep baseball team made history this spring—winning a third consecutive PIAA District 1 Class 4A title and then making it all the way to the program’s first-ever state championship game before falling, 10-9 to Montour at Penn State’s Medlar Field on June 16.

At the recent U.S. Rowing Mid-Atlantic Championships, Holy Ghost Prep senior Chris Conboy and junior Cole Smiley won the silver medal and seniors Stanley “Stash” Gondek and Joe Pintimalli took home the bronze medal in the men’s youth pairs—securing bids to the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida next month.

On March 23 in the Chapman Arena, 11 members of HGP’s Class of 2022 signed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

The Holy Ghost Prep baseball team, a traditional PIAA District One power, will face a top-shelf 2022 schedule this spring. The 20-game slate includes 10 games against Philadelphia Catholic League teams and four contests vs. Inter-Ac competition.

Every Sunday morning through mid-March, a group of Holy Ghost Prep students—led by sophomore Bobby Williams and HGP student government—will run one-hour basketball clinics for area special-needs children in the Holt Center. The program was the brainchild of HGP alum John Burke ’20, now at sophomore at Miami (Fla.), and was spurred by the closing of a local basketball program his autistic brother Tony attended. 

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) 

The Firebirds return the core of last year’s PIAA District 1 Class AA playoff team, led by three returning second-year captains in Max Rittenmeyer, Ryan Forde, and CJ Walker.  (photo courtesy of Douglas Benedict/Academic Image) 

Holy Ghost Prep senior James Corbett, the 2021 PIAA District One individual cross-country champion and one of the top students in HGP's Class of 2022, is pondering a future that will have continuing to look forward as a collegiate runner, while also gazing upward as his intended field of study is aerospace engineering.

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. 

Holy Ghost Prep senior Calen Sanderson signed his national letter of intent on November 10 to continue his academic and golf career at the University of Notre Dame. (photo courtesy of Catalano Studio) 

Six former Holy Ghost Prep student-athletes, including former HGP standout ice hockey goalie Jim Britt ’00 (pictured), and one longtime coach will be inducted into the HGP Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at the Bensalem Country Club.

HGP senior Calen Sanderson (pictured) sank a 17-foot putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Downingtown West sophomore Nick Gross and capture the 2021 PIAA District 1 3A boys golf individual title on October 5 at Turtle Creek Golf Course in Limerick, Pa.

On September 27, ninety-eight golfers participated in the 2021 HGP Golf Classic at The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. Thanks to the generosity of the golfers and the event’s sponsors, the annual HGP Golf Classic raised $43,525 in proceeds for HGP athletics.

The Holy Ghost Prep Ultimate Frisbee team captured the 2021 Philadelphia High School Ultimate Education League (PHUEL) title. This year, Tom Croskey’s team will be led by experienced players such as senior Michael Nipper and juniors Evan Lutz and Nick Lutz.

Holy Ghost Prep, a traditional PIAA District One power, will face the area’s toughest schedule this fall—including five games against Philadelphia Catholic League teams, three consecutive games against Inter-Ac teams, and three contests vs. Central League teams. 

First-year head coach Norm Muller inherits a strong Holy Ghost Prep golf program—led by rising senior Calen Sanderson (pictured above), the 2020 PIAA Class AAA state champion who is verbally committed to play college golf at the University of Notre Dame. 

Following the departure of head coach Mark Staudenmeier, Mike Meistering is back as HGP's head cross-country coach. Led by three of the area’s best returning runners in seniors James Corbett and Joe Smith (pictured) and junior Ciaran Chambers, the Firebirds figure to be a force on the district and state levels once again in 2021.  

Norm Muller (pictured), a former Division I golfer, has been named the new golf coach at Holy Ghost Prep. He inherits a strong Holy Ghost Prep golf program—led by rising senior Calen Sanderson, the 2020 PIAA Class AAA state champion. 

The Holy Ghost Prep Ultimate Frisbee team captured the 2021 Philadelphia High School Ultimate Education League (PHUEL) title by navigating through the two-day tournament with a perfect 6-0 record.

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)