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This past year included plenty of touchdowns, home runs and slam-dunks, but in many cases, something far more significant was at play.
For example, home and away took on new meaning for the St. John Neumann Pirates athletic teams, who left behind their old building at 26th and Moore streets. The Pirates, along with the former Goretti Lambs, were renamed the Saints as part of the consolidation into Ss. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School.
Public League teams also were in for changes as they kicked off the 2004-05 season with the opportunity to compete for state titles. The Edward Bok football team became the first squad in the city to earn a state tournament invite.
Here are some other moments in local sports worthy of a review:
January
The South Philadelphia High boys’ basketball team had a head start on the Public League Division D race with an 8-0 record. Junior guard-forward Kashief Carr sparked the Rams’ offense with his 21 points per game.
In Catholic League basketball action, the young St. John Neumann Pirates trounced Monsignor Bonner, 66-42.
The anticipated big news of the month never materialized. Instead of going to the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the hearts of South Philly fans with a 14-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship game.
Sports fans also lost a beloved hero in Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw, who died Jan. 5 at age 59 after battling a malignant brain tumor. His final strikeout of Willie Wilson in Game Six of the 1980 World Series always will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Phillies history.
February
The Neumann bowling team’s try at a fourth straight Catholic League crown ended with a semifinal loss to Father Judge, 3,087-2,962.
The Pirates basketball squad clinched its own playoff spot by finishing third in the Southern Division with a 9-5 record.
The GAMP Pioneers basketball team didn’t win a game, but all wasn’t lost for senior Michael Brino. The 5-foot-11 guard-forward scored a school-record 40 points in a loss to Swenson. Brino also became the fourth player in GAMP history to score 1,000 career points.
The season ended abruptly for the 14-0 Southern Rams, who were upset by University City at home, 62-55, in the opening round of the Public League playoffs.
Thanks to the addition of 6-foot freshman Gloria Brown, the Bok Wildkittens made the girls’ basketball playoffs for the first time since 1998. Brown averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds a game for 9-1 Bok.
The Prep Charter Lady Huskies also made the postseason cut with an 8-2 record, good enough for second in the Silver Division. Junior forward Crystal Enoch led the offense with 23 points per game. The second-year basketball squad nearly upset John Bartram in the quarterfinals, losing 53-51 in overtime.
Although the Goretti Lambs didn’t make the Catholic League playoffs, their overall record of 15-9 was the program’s best in more than two decades.
Over in the Catholic Youth Organization, the area’s younger athletes also experienced success.
The St. Thomas Aquinas boys’ basketball team claimed the Region Six crown by defeating Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 45-36. St. Monica clinched the girls’ basketball title with a 39-36 victory, also over Mount Carmel.
On the other end of the generational spectrum, old-timers John Chaney and Paul Arizin — both South Philly natives — received honors.
Temple coach Chaney became only the 16th men’s basketball coach and the only African-American coach in NCAA Division I history to join the 700-win club.
Arizin, a former NBA All-Star, was named to the charter class of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.
March
The Neumann basketball team’s chase for the Catholic League crown came to a screeching halt with a 66-62 loss to Cardinal Dougherty. The Pirates had valiantly attempted a rally after trailing 38-19 at halftime.
Goretti’s Natasha Scott and Shonte Skinner both received All-Catholic nods for their winning efforts on the basketball court. Scott, a Third Team selection, became the first player in school history to make the All-Catholic team four times, while Skinner earned a Second Team nod in her first season with the Lambs. She led the offense with 19.1 points per game.
After years of being the school laughingstock, the Neumann indoor track team finally earned respect by qualifying for the Nike Indoor Championships.
Snow flurries fell in late March, but it wasn’t enough to keep local baseball and softball teams from beginning their seasons.
April
The Furness boys’ volleyball team surprised the Public League competition with its 7-3 record. The CAPA squad, which went 9-1, was once again considered one of city’s top contenders.
Neumann and Goretti started preparing for their merger by hiring two Neumann grads to run the Saints athletic department. John Murawsky Jr. was named athletic director and Chip Reitano was hired as his assistant.
May
The CAPA boys’ volleyball team took center stage after beating Central 3-2 for the Public League championship.
The GAMP baseball and softball teams also made the postseason cut, but both were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Neumann grad Steve Smith was promoted to coach of the Neumann-Goretti football program, replacing Ed "Bubby" DiCamillo, who had clashed with the administration over merger issues. Smith, a 1979 Neumann grad, had been an assistant coach with the Pirates for 11 seasons.
West Catholic senior Marshall Taylor, of 17th and McClellan streets, also prepared a move — to Division I Siena College, where he had been awarded a basketball scholarship. Taylor graduated West Catholic with 1,084 career points.
As a special tribute to two of the best athletes in Goretti history, the school retired the numbers of All-Catholic softball player Stephanie Digneo and All-Catholic soccer player Adria Vitale at its annual athletic banquet.
South Philly native Tia Orlando, of the 2800 block of South 10th Street, took a big step toward qualifying for the Olympic Trials when she finished first in the all-around gymnastics competition at the U.S. Classic.
June
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The Review handed out its yearly awards to the top local athletes and coach. Prep Charter’s Crystal Enoch was named Female Athlete of the Year after leading the Lady Huskies basketball team all the way to the quarterfinals with her 21 points per game. Goretti’s Chip Reitano took home Coach of the Year honors in recognition of the Lambs’ 15-win basketball season.
Bartram senior Tywain McKee, of 12th and Bainbridge streets, closed out his high-school career as the Male Athlete of the Year for the role he played in helping the Braves basketball team advance to the semifinals.
On the CYO scene, the St. Monica baseball team claimed the Region Six crown with a 3-2 win over Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The St. Monica softball squad also advanced to the championship game, but lost 11-3 to St. Francis Xavier.
The school year closed out strong for senior John Wilsman, who made Neumann history as the school’s first All-State track selection. He accepted a partial scholarship to Villanova University.
Up in Allentown, gymnast Tia Orlando prepared to travel to California for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, she had to drop out of the competition due to what was later discovered to be a bad fracture in her left foot.
It also was the end of the line for Southern girls’ basketball and softball coach Bob Fisicaro, who said farewell after 31 years at Broad and Snyder.
But Anthony Aquilino, originally of the 2500 block of South Darien Street, opened new opportunities by signing a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Aquilino was plucked from the independent Camden Riversharks to play in the Class-A Gulf Coast Phillies team in Florida.
July
Over summer vacation, local athletes found ways to stay active.
The Philadelphia Stars baseball team of 13-year-olds returned from a unique road trip that retraced the roots of the Negro Leagues. The tour included meeting former Negro League players Buck O’Neil, Hubert Simmons and Herb "Briefcase" Simpson at the Negro League Museum in Kansas City as well as a stop at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Softball player Shara Borelli, of the 2700 block of South Colorado Street, went to Ohio with the Philadelphia Wizards to compete in the National Softball Association World Series.
Jillian Murray, of the 2800 block of South Sydenham Street, also went far from home in the pursuit of softball. Her 12-and-under Philadelphia Spirit team finished fifth in the PONY (Protecting Our Nation’s Youth) Nationals in Sterling, Va.
Another group of youths from Grays Ferry got its first taste of playing organized baseball thanks to the Phillies Rookie League.
And the Philadelphia Senators 12-and-under baseball team grabbed some national attention after placing second in the USSSA (United States Sports Specialty Association) Majors World Series.
Kids who didn’t play baseball or softball had other options: Aspiring golfers from ages 8-18 got into the swing of lessons at First Tee Philadelphia, based at FDR Golf Course.
It was a good month for adults in sports as well.
USA assistant boxing coach Anthony Bradley made a brief visit to his home on the 2700 block of South Marshall Street on the way to Athens for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
And Rasual Butler, originally of 20th and Manton streets, re-signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Heat to play alongside 7-foot-1, 340-pound Shaquille O’Neal.
August
Neumann-Goretti prepared to welcome boys’ athletic teams, but changes awaited the girls as well.
Jim McBride took over the girls’ soccer program, and all the athletes adjusted to new school colors — black, white and gold.
The school gym at 10th and Moore streets also received a makeover, but the Saints football team returned to its familiar practice field at 26th and Moore streets.
As new members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Southern and Bok football teams opened training camp in mid-August.
A non-school athlete also made news by competing in the U.S. Transplant Games. Frank Negro, 45, of the 2500 block of South Percy Street, won a bronze medal in the 4-by-100-meter relay — just two years after receiving a new kidney and pancreas.
September
The Southern Rams football team opened the 2004 season by recording its first victory in almost two years with a 36-6 win over William Penn.
The first win in Neumann-Goretti history belonged to the girls’ volleyball team, which defeated Cardinal Dougherty, 25-16 and 25-18.
Bok’s football team rounded out the theme by opening the regular season with a 6-0 victory over University City.
Many local athletes and others mourned Anthony Turchi, who died Sept. 19 at age 50. The coach and organizer for the South Philadelphia Sabres was remembered as a tireless mentor for young baseball players.
October
The Saints football team recorded its lone league win by defeating Cardinal Dougherty, 22-0.
The 8-2 CAPA girls’ volleyball team headed into the playoffs as a strong contender for the Public League crown.
The GAMP tennis squad finished 5-3 in its first season as an all-female team, and advanced to the PIAA District XII Public League AA semifinals.
The Bok football squad won the Public South Division title with a 6-0 record.
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The Bok football team became the first program to represent Philadelphia in the PIAA state playoffs. The Wildcats lost 35-0 to Great Valley in the AAA subregional contest.
Audenried’s Melchizek Bryant also joined the chase after qualifying for the PIAA state cross-country championship.
The CAPA girls’ volleyball team had its playoff dreams spiked in a 3-0 semifinal loss to Masterman. But local residents Glory Epelle, of 20th and Mifflin streets, and Raisa Jones, of 17th and Kater streets, played key roles in helping the Masterman Blue Dragons advance to the Public League championship game.
It was a Thanksgiving to remember for the South Philadelphia Rams, who defeated their Catholic League neighbor — now the Neumann-Goretti Saints — for the first time since 1989. The 30-26 game featured plenty of drama, including Southern tailback Lamone Fox’s 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The player closed out the season with a school single-season record 1,281 rushing yards.
The site of the Thanksgiving game — 12th and Bigler streets, home to both the Southern and Bok football teams — will be spruced up next year. The School District of Philadelphia detailed its plans to renovate the facility with NexTurf-covered fields and other amenities.
December
Basketball season opened with the Neumann-Goretti boys’ team ranked 25th in the nation by USA Today. The Saints headed into the Christmas holiday with a 6-0 record.
The Saints girls’ basketball team got off to a quick start with an 8-1 record. The impressive mark included a third-place finish at the Rock Holiday Classic in Florida. Center Gloria Brown, now a sophomore, was named to the all-tournament team after tallying 69 points and 89 rebounds.
The Public League adjusted to realignment that came with being PIAA members. The Prep Charter Huskies opened the season ranked fifth in the state by the Patriot-News in Harrisburg.
The CAPA boys’ basketball team officially joined the Public League and defeated Human Services Charter for its first win.
The Neumann-Goretti boys’ bowling squad opened the season 5-3, with high hopes of contending for a Catholic League title in March.
