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For some, 2005 was historic.
Take Prep Charter. Thanks to the boys’ basketball team, it became the first charter school to play for a Public League title in any sport. The Huskies were also one of three South Philadelphia basketball squads to represent the Public League in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state playoffs. The Bok Wildcats and Prep Charter Lady Huskies were the others.
For the Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti basketball teams, their 2005 seasons were memorable. The boys were crowned Catholic League champs, while the girls made their first Catholic League playoff appearance in 19 years.
The Bok football team also deserves special mention for making a second straight trip to the PIAA AAA playoffs in ’05.
Several other athletes achieved long-held goals with Division I scholarships.
Here are just some of the highlights in a storied year:
January
The Neumann-Goretti boys’ basketball team returned home as champs of the prestigious Bojangles Basketball Shootout in Charlotte, N.C. The Saints, who were ranked 17th in the nation, clinched the title with a 73-65 win over Mount Zion Christian Academy.
On the Public League scene, the sophomore twin towers of 6-foot-7 Marcus Morris and 6-foot-8 Markieff Morris helped the Prep Charter boys’ basketball team open the season 9-3.
In college basketball news, Marshall Taylor of 17th and McClellan streets transferred from Siena College to La Salle. The former All-City forward graduated West Catholic with 1,084 career points.
Miami Heat forward Rasual Butler, a native of 20th and Manton streets, returned to his hometown to face the Philadelphia 76ers, but lost 106-98.
February
Oh so close. ![](http://ftp.gmnews.com/images/media.southphillyreview.com/images/spr-4048-sports1.jpg")
That’s what the Prep Charter boys’ basketball team must have said following its 52-46 loss to Central in the Public League championship game. Rodney Green led Prep Charter with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Gena Brown of 15th and Reed streets closed out her Public League girls’ basketball career at Central with a perfect 64-0 record and four titles. In the Feb. 25 championship game, she helped her Lancers defeat Engineering & Science, 79-56, by scoring a game-high of 21 points.
In one of the year’s most dramatic playoff matches, Bok senior Cory Moultrie hit a 25-foot jumper at the buzzer to give his Wildcats a 58-57 victory over Strawberry Mansion and a PIAA District 12 AA title.
In Catholic League bowling, the Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti boys’ team defeated St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, 2,637-2,389, in opening-round playoff action. Championship hopes were spoiled, however, by a 2,897-2,609 quarterfinal loss to Roman Catholic.
The Neumann-Goretti girls’ basketball team made the Catholic League playoffs for the first time in 19 years, but lost 69-48 to eventual champ Cardinal O’Hara. Shonte Skinner led the Saints with 27 points.
The month also included the Our Lady of Mount Carmel boys’ and girls’ basketball teams being crowned Region Six Catholic Youth Organization champs.
On the college basketball scene, 2004 St. John Neumann grad Richard "Tabby" Cunningham of 21st and Moore streets started in 13 of 18 games for the La Salle University Explorers, averaging 31 minutes of court time a game.
March
The Neumann-Goretti boys’ basketball team made big headlines with its 57-44 win over St. Joe’s Prep for the Catholic League title.
It was a true team effort as David Burton, Earl Pettis, Antonio "Scoop" Jardine and Derrick "D.J." Rivera each scored 10 points or more.
The Prep Charter boys’ basketball team opened the PIAA AA state tournament with a 49-39 win over Mahanoy Area, making it one of three city schools to advance. They were eliminated by York Catholic, 45-43, in the second round.
The Lady Huskies didn’t fare so well in their state tournament debut, losing 68-35 to St. Pius X. The Bok boys’ basketball team also made an early exit, losing 83-71 to Phoenixville in the PIAA AAA tournament.
Mark Snyder was named Neumann-Goretti’s new softball coach, replacing Chip Reitano, who became the school’s assistant athletic director.
On the Catholic League bowling scene, Neumann-Goretti freshman Gina Stan-kiewicz took top honors in the All-Catholic competition, finishing with a 566 series.
April
History was made when Southern sophomore Miguel "Mike" Perez became the second pitcher in Philadelphia Public League history to strike out 21 batters in a game. The native of the Dominican Republic accomplished the feat in a 13-5 win over Swenson. The only other pitcher to strike out 21 also was a Southern player – George Riley, who did it in a 1974 game against West Philadelphia.
![](http://ftp.gmnews.com/images/media.southphillyreview.com/images/spr-4048-sports2.jpg")
The Prep Charter baseball team was off to a 4-0 start. This included two no-hitters, one from Mark Bormann and the other from Bill McGovern.
The Philadelphia Phillies unveiled two softball fields at FDR Park to serve as the site of the inaugural Women’s Carpenter Cup Tournament.
On the Philadelphia Department of Recreation scene, the Anderson Monarchs under-10 girls’ soccer team won the city championship March 20 by beating Chestnut Hill 2-0. Janiah Moore and Nyeka Crandall scored the goals, while Vashti Webb recorded the shutout.
Jim Grazione, a three-sport athlete at Southeast Catholic, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame’s City All-Star Chapter.
May
It was a memorable month for the GAMP softball team. The squad made its Public League semifinal debut, but lost 13-4 to Central. The season wasn’t over, as the team won the PIAA District 12 AA crown.
Their male counterparts also earned a trip to states as the PIAA District 12 AA baseball champs. The squad also advanced to the Public League quarterfinals, but lost 3-2 to Northeast.
The Wildcats baseball team became the
third Bok squad of 2004-05 to make the state
tournament cut, as it won the PIAA District 12 AAA crown. Unfortunately, the team came up short in its bid for the Public League title, losing 9-3 in the quarterfinals to eventual-champs Frankford.
The 17-0 CAPA boys’ volleyball team had Public League championship aspirations, but lost 3-1 to Masterman in the title contest. The Furness volleyball team also made the Public League playoffs with a 10-4 record, but lost 3-1 to Olney in the quarterfinals.
The Prep Charter baseball team won the Public League’s Division C crown with a 17-1 record.
On the Catholic League softball scene, John W. Hallahan sophomores Shara Borelli and Ashley Pasquerella, both of South Philly, were named Second Team All-Catholic selections.
In its debut Public League season, the CAPA softball team made the Public League playoffs, but lost 3-2 to Franklin Towne Charter in opening-round action. The squad finished the season 9-2.
June
The GAMP baseball team headed to Quakertown’s Memorial Park for opening-round PIAA state tournament action, but lost 13-11 to Springfield Montco.
After 34 seasons, Tom DeFelice retired as Bok’s baseball coach following a 14-4 state tournament loss to Whitehall. His Wildcats finished the season 17-3 overall, which included winning the Public League’s Division B crown.
The GAMP softball team also struggled in its state tournament debut, losing 13-4 to St. Pius X.
The Review handed out its yearly awards to the top athletes and a coach. GAMP’s Angelica Malatino of the 2400 block of South Lambert Street was named Female Athlete of the Year after setting several school softball records for career, hits, wins and batting average, while becoming GAMP’s first four-time All-Public selection.
Bok senior Joe "Pepe" DeSalis of the 2500 block of South Alder Street closed out his high-school career as the Male Athlete of the Year. The honor was for his role in helping the Wildcats football and baseball teams qualify for their respective PIAA AAA state tournaments.
Prep Charter’s Dan Brinkley took home Coach of the Year honors in recognition of leading the Huskies to the Public League championship game and the second round of the PIAA AA state tournament.
On the CYO scene, the St. Nicholas of Tolentine softball team won the Region Six title, while St. Monica’s took home the Region Six baseball crown.
Neumann-Goretti’s Derrick "D.J." Rivera also had good news as he committed to a Division I basketball scholarship to St. Joseph’s University.
Erica Koplove of the 1500 block of Hulseman Street made an immediate impact with the Penn Charter softball team with an 11-3 record and earned a spot on the Inter-Ac Carpenter Cup team.
July
![](http://ftp.gmnews.com/images/media.southphillyreview.com/images/spr-4048-sports3.jpg")
Rogers "The Tiger" Mtagwa, a native of Tanzania, was crowned the United States Boxing Association featherweight champion July 8, via a 10th round TKO of Joe Morales.
Summer was golden for Jonaé McAllister of the 1800 block of Sigel Street as she captured the 4×400-meter relay gold at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, held in Indianapolis, Ind.
Summer was a challenging time for A.J. Vagliani of 10th and Porter streets. The 13-year-old was in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia intensive care unit battling liver and lung cancer. It meant the catcher couldn’t play baseball with his South Jersey Sting travel team or his Delaware Valley Youth Association Pirates.
August
The Neumann-Goretti girls’ basketball team hit the road, traveling to Las Vegas for the National Youth Basketball Championships, where the squad finished fifth out of 28.
The Philadelphia Senators youth baseball team, which calls Sunoco Field at 3501 Moore St. home, traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Amateur Athletic Union Nationals, where they finished with a 3-3 record.
August also was a good month for Mike Iaconelli, originally of 23rd and Reed streets, as he placed fifth at the 35th annual CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh. He took home a $25,000 check after catching 11 pounds, 5 ounces, of bass.
It was moving day for Rasual Butler, who was traded from the Miami Heat to the New Orleans Hornets as part of a five-time, 13-player trade, the largest in NBA history. The 6-foot-7 forward and Roman Catholic grad played three seasons in Miami with career averages of 6.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 182 games.
The best news belonged to 13-year-old Vagaliani. After spending 58 days at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia battling liver and lung cancer, the teen was sent home.
September
The Neumann-Goretti football team got back on the winning track, opening the season with a 19-0 victory over North Catholic in Wildwood, N.J. Running back Hiram Bowman led the offense with two touchdowns, one on a 46-yard run and another on a 42-yard punt return.
The Southern and Bok football teams also opened the 2005 season on a high. Southern defeated West Philadelphia, 14-12, while Bok scored a 10-0 victory over Upper Moreland.
Kyle Eckel, originally from 17th Street and Packer Avenue, got a taste of the NFL, spending the preseason with defending Super Bowl champs the New England Patriots. The 5-foot-11, 244-pound fullback rushed for 46 yards and scored two touchdowns in three exhibition games. The 23-year-old Naval Academy grad unfortunately didn’t make the final cut due to his military commitment.
Neumann-Goretti grad David Burton (’05) made a verbal commitment to play Division I college basketball at Brooklyn’s St. Francis College. Burton is currently a fifth-year senior at Massachusetts-based Notre Dame Prep.
October
Some of South Philadelphia’s top athletes announced their college choices. The Neumann-Goretti junior tandem of Rick Jackson, a 6-foot-9 forward, and Antonio "Scoop" Jardine, a 6-foot-3 point guard, decided they wanted to continue playing ball together at Syracuse University. Meanwhile, Prep Charter standout Rodney Green, a 6-foot-5 guard, decided to stay closer to home and accepted a Division I scholarship to La Salle University.
Those Wildcats from Eighth and Mifflin streets were in a celebratory mood following their convincing 14-0 win over Ben Franklin. The victory gave the team the PIAA District 12 AAA title and earned the squad a second straight trip to the state tournament.
The Bok girls’ volleyball team also finished a strong season, winning the Public League’s Bronze Division title with a perfect 10-0 record.
November
The Bok football team claimed neighborhood bragging rights, beating Southern 20-0. There was little time to celebrate as the Wildcats headed back to the PIAA AAA state tournament for a game against Unionville, which it lost 28-0. After leading his team to a 9-1 record, football coach Tom DeFelice took home District 12 Coach of the Year honors.
On the Catholic League scene, the Neumann-Goretti football team also qualified for postseason play, but lost 41-27 to Archbishop Carroll.
The CAPA girls’ volleyball team lost 3-0 to Masterman in the Philadelphia Public League District 12 AA championship game, wrapping up with a 9-3.
Basketball season wasn’t quite under way yet, but the Neumann-Goretti senior duo of Jimerea Lee and Shante Cummings signed National Letters of Intent to play Division I basketball at the University of Central Florida.
November wouldn’t be complete without the annual Thanksgiving morning contest between the Saints and the Rams. Neumann-Goretti won this year’s game, 53-8. Saints quarterback Mark Hatty passed for 175 yards and set the school’s single-season passing record with 1,248 yards. Teammate Mark McPhearson scored five touchdowns.
December
The boys’ basketball season officially got under way with the Neumann-Goretti team making national headlines. The defending Catholic League champs opened the season ranked seventh in the USA Today Top-25 poll.
On the girls’ basketball scene, Neumann-Goretti traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Seventh Annual Crescent Bank Holiday Invitational, where it went 1-2. The lone win came against South Carolina’s St. James High. For the tournament, junior Gloria Brown averaged a double-double with 20.3 points, 16.3 rebounds and 5.6 blocks.
Despite a new coach and starting lineup, the Prep Charter Lady Huskies got off to a quick start, outscoring opponents 116-48 in two non-league games. Other area teams were looking to match or improve on their 2004-05 records.
December also marks the start of the Catholic League bowling season. Entering his 30th year, Neumann-Goretti head coach Gene Mattioli faced the challenge of getting his young squad ready for a postseason chase.
On the Division I college basketball scene, South Philly resident Tywain McKee was averaging 12.3 points for Coppin State University and took home Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honors twice.
