Repeat performance?
Neumann-Goretti expected to win Catholic League title again

By TED SILARY

silaryt@phillynews.com

Collecting numerous wins is so euphoric! ... Well, most of the time.

Say hello to the players and coaches at Ss. Neumann-Goretti High, in good, ol' South Philly.

Not only do the Saints return four starters from a Catholic League championship team, but three have already made commitments to Division I programs and the fourth will do so once improvements are made to his academic profile.

Yet, if N-G indeed repeats, as everyone expects, we suspect the immediate sensation will be relief as much as elation.

"We've already talked internally about the expectations, and how everything is different now," coach Carl Arrigale said. "In some people's eyes, if we don't win by 'enough,' it's like we lost. Crazy, right? But that's how things are."

Another CL coach said of the Saints, "If we could get them to move up to D-I ball, the rest of us could have a chance."

The three N-G players already committed are senior wing guard Derrick "D.J." Rivera (Saint Joseph's) and two Syracuse-bound juniors, point guard Antonio "Scoop" Jardine and 6-8, improves-daily center Rick Jackson. The other headliner is 6-5 guard Earl Pettis.

"The national lists have Earl in the Top 5 or Top 10 among unsigned seniors," Arrigale said. "It's not like he's trying to attract one offer. He's a tremendous talent and all kinds of people are looking at him."

The new starter is 6-4 soph Jamal Wilson, a runner and pogo-sticker. Feisty miniguard Frank Biondo and football quarterback Mark Hatty are the early subs.

"What we're driving home to the kids is that it's about us," Arrigale said. "Not about what others are thinking or saying. But about remaining strong as a unit and making sure we put the team first. That needs to be our only concern."

N-G's chief challenges, both in the Southern Division and overall, will come from St. Joseph's Prep and Roman Catholic.

The Prep, coached by William "Speedy" Morris, Arrigale's boss at Penn Charter in the mid-1980s, boasts perhaps the league's best combination of talent and savvy in Villanova-bound swingman Reggie Redding. Also impressive is wing sniper Dave Stefanski and a sophomore, insider Larry Loughery, who already possesses a shining reputation.

Roman returns four rotation members in tricky forward Mike Ringgold, whirlwind distributor Raymond "Doodles" Sims and junior wing twins Bradley and Brian Wanamaker. Also, forward Rockeed McCarter arrived via transfer from Northeast.

Archbishop Carroll may head the cast of fourth-place hopefuls.

The North should produce a scramble.

Archbishop Ryan would have returned all five starters, but headliner Joe Zeglinski shredded his knee during football and is not expected back. The next most celebrated Raider is 6-8 Kevin Hudgeons, who is being eyed mostly by D-II schools.

If nothing else, North Catholic will cause confusion thanks to the presence of three top players named Edwards - point guard Hanif, wing guard Nate and forward Chris, a junior fresh from Murrell Dobbins Tech. They're not related.

Cardinal Dougherty lost its top player, junior guard Josh "Scrap" Martin, to Public League power Prep Charter. As they need to be, four other accomplished vets are past the point where they're sad about it.

The most interesting, intertwined story lines: With Bill Fox, the winningest coach in CL history (545), taking a sabbatical for the third time, will interim boss Frank Cahill be able to produce a playoff squad? And will Cardinal O'Hara's Bud Gardler (530) be able to dislodge Fox, his good friend, for all-time victory honors?

The only new, non-interim coach is Monsignor Bonner's Brian Daly. Paul Romanczuk (Carroll, all season) and Jack Rutter (Bishop McDevitt, most of the season) are back after being derailed in '05 by health issues.

As always, the top four teams in each division will earn playoff spots.

(Coaching records through last season)

NORTHERN DIVISION
ARCHBISHOP RYAN
Coach: Bernie Rogers, sixth year. Education: Ryan, Ursinus. Career:
80-53.
Last year: 10-4 league, 16-10 overall.
Savvy seven: Kevin Hudgeons, 6-8, C; Mike Varanavage, 6-foot, G-F; Jon
Bruce, 6-2, F; Eric Dethloff, 5-10, G; Andrew Rogers, 5-6, G; Greg
Williams, 6-2, F; Doug Andrews, 6-2, F.
Rogers’ comment: “We have a great group, and these kids want to be
really good.”
ARCHBISHOP WOOD
Coach: Joe Sette, 12th year (also Maple Point, 1979-80; McDevitt,
1981-89). Education: St. Joseph’s Prep, La Salle. Career: Unavailable;
138-142 at Wood.
Last year: 12-2, 20-7.
Savvy seven: Jim Malatesta, 6-foot, G; Chris Crawford, 6-3, F; Fran
Brzyski, 6-6, C; Frank Doyle, 6-3, F; Mike Gallagher, 6-2, F; Fran
McGlinn, 6-2, F; Pat Devlin, 6-foot, G.
Sette’s comment: “With a lot of new kids, we’re a work in progress.”
BISHOP McDEVITT
Coach: Jack Rutter, 11th year (missed final 16 games of ’05 on medical
leave). Education: Dougherty, Alvernia. Career: 101-133.
Last year: 2-12, 8-16.
Savvy seven: Mike Swoyer, 5-10, G; Tom Clarke, 6-2, F; Brandon Fisher,
5-10, G; Tom Maha, 5-11, G; Bill Murphy, 6-3, F-C; Toure Wright, 6-5, C;
James Williams, 6-4, F.
Rutter’s comment: “I’ve been blessed with dedicated coaches and players.
If I can convey my enthusiasm for the opportunity to return to the
bench, it will be an exciting season.”
CARDINAL DOUGHERTY
Coach: Mark Heimerdinger, 24th year (also Maple Point, 1981-82).
Education: Ryan, Slippery Rock. Career: 384-274; 361-252 at Dougherty.
Last year: 11-3, 17-10.
Savvy seven: Vincent Simpson, 5-10, G; Kahlil Mumford, 5-9, G; Justin
Minter, 6-2, F; Roberto Townsend, 6-2, F; Tim Gates, 6-3, F; Bryant
“B.J.” Lennon, 5-6, G; Isiah Mason, 6-foot, G-F.
Heimerdinger’s comment: “Right now we are playing and practicing like a
team that doesn’t know what it takes to win in the Northern Division.”
CONWELL-EGAN
Coach: Rich Schafer, fifth year; Education: Egan, Scranton. Career:
28-72.
Last year: 3-11, 10-15.
Savvy seven: Adam Van Zelst, 5-9, G; Ryan Van Zelst, 5-9, G; Wilson
Acevedo, 5-11, G; Finn Skovdal, 6-2, F; Kevin Schafer, 6-1, G-F; David
Marcinkowski, 6-3, C; Matt Crozier, 6-4, F-C.
Schafer’s comment: “We’re hoping to continue our improvement, and make
some noise.”
FATHER JUDGE
Coach: Frank Cahill, first year (Bill Fox on medical leave). Education:
North Catholic, Temple. Career: 0-0.
Last year: 8-6, 17-10.
Savvy seven: James Franklin, 5-10, G; Jim Schule, 6-4, F; Chris
Schwartz, 6-3, F; Will Taggert, 5-10, G; Arthur Livingston, 6-5, F-C;
Matt Smyth, 6-5, C; Kevin Lynch, 5-11, G.
Cahill’s comment: “In a tight division, we’re hoping to compete for a
playoff spot.”
LA SALLE
Coach: Joe Dempsey, second year; Education: Arch. Kennedy,
Elizabethtown. Career: 4-21.
Last year: 2-12, 4-21.
Savvy seven: Tyrell Marshall, 6-1, G; Mike Topley, 5-8, G; T.J. Brown
5-10, G; Clay Penecale, 6-2 F; Bill Warrender, 6-3, F; Joe Migliarese,
6-4, C; Sean Benz, 6-3, F.
Dempsey’s comment: “If our sophs can play to their capabilities, we’ll
be much improved.”
NORTH CATHOLIC
Coach: Mike McCarron, fourth year. Education: North Catholic, Eastern.
Career: 30-46.
Last year: 8-6, 11-15.
Savvy seven: Hanif Edwards, 5-9, G; Nate Edwards, 6-2, G; Chris Edwards,
6-5, F; Andrew Pomager, 6-4, G-F; Jason Mendez, 6-2, F; Joe Rod, 6-5, C;
Chris Eichwald, 6-1, G.
McCarron’s comment: “If we share the ball and are not concerned with who
gets the credit, we should be good.”

SOUTHERN DIVISION
ARCHBISHOP CARROLL
Coach: Paul Romanczuk, third year (missed ’05 on medical leave).
Education: Carroll, Penn. Career: 23-28.
Last year: 5-9, 12-13.
Savvy seven: Darrell Floyd, 6-4, F; Dutch Gaitley, 6-9, C; Mike Logue,
6-3, F; Pete Clancy, 5-11, G; Shamus McNulty, 5-10, G; Mike Walther,
6-5, F; Ellis Rogers, 5-11, G.
Romanczuk’s comment: “Our experienced frontcourt, and depth in the
backcourt, can hopefully lead us to a playoff berth.”
CARDINAL O’HARA
Coach: Bud Gardler, 30th year (also Kenrick,
1969-75). Education: Bonner, Saint Joseph’s. Career: 530-370.
Last year: 5-9, 14-11.
Savvy seven: Pat Kirby, 6-4, F; Chris Myers, 5-10, G; Anthony Walters,
6-1, G; Scott Taylor, 6-foot, F; Jim Kelleher, 6-4, F; Mark Wedderburn,
6-6, C; Zach Tansey, 6-2, G-F.
Gardler’s comment: “With four guys off the football team, some new
things we’re trying on offense are taking time.”
KENNEDY-KENRICK
Coach: Mike Fink, second year. Education: Abington, Penn. Career: 3-21.
Last year: 0-14, 3-21.
Savvy seven: Jermaine Pierce, 6-3, F; Scott Marston, 6-2, F; Zach
Molyneaux, 6-2, F; Tim Bowman, 5-11, G; Courtney Stanley, 6-foot, G;
Andrew Schell, 5-11, G; Dwane Davis, 6-3, G-F.
Fink’s comment: “We have a senior-laden team with maturity and
leadership.”
MONSIGNOR BONNER
Coach: Brian Daly, first year. Education: Bonner, Saint Joseph’s.
Career: 0-0.
Last year: 3-11, 11-14.
Savvy seven: Jeff Jones, 6-4, G; Brian Campuzano, 6-7, C; Tim
Vanderslice, 6-6, F; Denny Coyne, 6-2, F; Ryan Cummings, 5-10, G; Kevin
Roe, 5-9, G; Nagbae Saylee, 6-1, G-F.
Daly’s comment: “Some things we do well. Some things we’re working on.”
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Coach: Dennis Seddon, 20th year. Education: North Catholic, La Salle.
Career: 443-113.
Last year: 10-4, 21-9.
Savvy seven: Raymond “Doodles” Sims, 5-8, G; Mike Ringgold, 6-6, F;
Bradley Wanamaker, 6-3, G; Brian Wanamaker, 6-2, G-F; Lonnie Perry, 6-4,
F; Rockeed McCarter, 6-4, F; Sean Joynes, 6-5, F.
Seddon’s comment: “Our rebounding efforts will determine our success.”
Ss. NEUMANN-GORETTI
Coach: Carl Arrigale, eighth year. Education: Penn Charter, Lycoming.
Career: 152-46.
Last year: 13-1, 27-3.
Savvy seven: Derrick “D.J.” Rivera, 6-2, G; Earl Pettis, 6-5, G; Antonio
“Scoop” Jardine, 6-3, G; Rick Jackson, 6-8, C; Jamal Wilson, 6-4, F;
Frank Biondo, 5-9, G; Mark Hatty, 6-3, F.
Arrigale’s comment: “If we stay true to one another and play a team
game, we could be successful.”
ST. JOSEPH’S PREP
Coach: William “Speedy” Morris, fifth year (also Roman, 1968-81; Penn
Charter, 1983-84). Education: Roman. Career: 495-113; 107-17 at SJ Prep.

Last year: 13-1, 26-5.
Savvy seven: Reggie Redding, 6-4, G-F; Dave Stefanski, 6-1, G; James
Oberlies, 6-3, F; Matt Griffin, 5-9, G; Larry Loughery, 6-5, F-C; Mike
McCauley, 6-3, F; Jim Mower, 6-2, F.
Morris’ comment: “Stars shine. Teams win.”
WEST CATHOLIC
Coach: Bill Ludlow, 13h year. Education: St. James, Delaware County CC.
Career: 165-143.
Last year: 7-7, 14-12.
Savvy seven: Chris Mayo, 6-2, G; Roosevelt Ben, 6-5, F; Courtney
Jackson, 6-5, F; Spencer Sheffield, 6-foot, G; Jerome McCrae, 6-foot, G;
Eric Brennan, 6-5, F; Dennis Shaw, 5-10, G.
Ludlow’s comment: “With a mostly new cast, we’re in the
figuring-things-out stage.”

RETURNING ALL-CATHOLICS
(Selected by Daily News)
FIRST TEAM
Reggie Redding, SJ Prep, F; Derrick “D.J.” Rivera, N-G, G; Mike
Ringgold, Roman, F; Earl Pettis, N-G, G.
SECOND TEAM
Joe Zeglinski, Ryan, F (injured); Jeff Jones, Bonner, G; Antonio “Scoop”
Jardine, N-G, G.
THIRD TEAM
1-Josh Martin, Dougherty, G.
FOURTH TEAM
Brad Wanamaker, Roman, G; Rick Jackson, N-G, C; Nate Edwards, North, G.
HONORABLE MENTION
GUARDS: Raymond “Doodles” Sims, Roman; Hanif Edwards, North; Mike
Varanavage, Ryan.
FORWARDS/CENTERS: Dutch Gaitley, Carroll; Scott Marston, K-K; Pat Kirby,
O’Hara; Larry Loughery, SJ Prep; Chris Mayo, West; Roberto Townsend,
Dougherty; Art Livingston, Judge; Kevin Hudgeons, Ryan.
1-now at Prep Charter.