The school year continues to fly by.
At least we had a great winter to remember.
Northeast Philly schools enjoyed a fantastic winter season. Temperatures were low, but excitement was high as Father Judge and Samuel Fels high schools enjoyed great times in boys basketball. Girls basketball was much improved in the area, and local wrestlers and swimmers posted some impressive marks.
The winter might be over, but it’s not too late to celebrate the best. These players will be honored May 20 at the 40th annual Northeast Times sports banquet.
Here are the winners from the winter season.
Boys Basketball
Catholic League Player of the Year
Max Moshinski
Father Judge
The Crusaders were the defending Catholic League champions, but after losing some of their biggest pieces to graduation, the team needed to find scoring elsewhere.
They found it in Moshinski, who not only emerged as one of the top options for Judge, but he continued to be a strong defender, ballhandler and rebounder. Moshinski’s emergence was one of the key reasons the Crusaders were able to win another Catholic League championship.
Next year, Moshinski will continue his career at Iona.
Public League Player of the Year
Izaaz Kornegay
Samuel Fels
After making the Public League championship game a season ago, the Panthers came into the season with a few questions. Who would be their leader this year was not one of them. The Panthers knew they could rely on their top returning player and he didn’t disappoint.
Kornegay averaged better than 20 points per game, along with 6.7 rebounds and nearly one steal per contest. He also provided the leadership the Panthers needed to have another great season. For his efforts, he was named MVP of his division.
Next year, Kornegay hopes to continue his basketball career.
Coach of the Year
Chris Roantree
Father Judge
It’s not easy to win a Catholic League championship. It’s a difficult thing to accomplish in any sport, but boys basketball might be the hardest because of the level of play in the PCL. Not only did Roantree lead Judge to a championship, he has now done it in back-to-back years.
With some returnees along with some talented newcomers, Roantree was able to guide the Crusaders to another PCL championship in an incredibly tough league. A few early-season losses made some doubt Judge, but the players never got down, and when the postseason rolled around, nobody was better than the Crusaders.
Judge will once again be hit hard by graduation, but Roantree did a nice job mixing in younger players, so the Crusaders should once again be contenders in 2027.
Girls Basketball
Catholic League Player of the Year
Aubrey Dillon
Archbishop Ryan
The Ragdolls had a resurgence this year, and there were many reasons for the turnaround. It wasn’t just one player, but it was clear who the most talented player on the court was.
Though only a freshman, Dillon came in and played a massive role in the team’s success. She led the team in scoring, and earned First Team All-Catholic selection in a loaded league.
Ryan went 7-4 in a packed Catholic League, which was good enough for fifth place in the conference. This was one season after the team finished with just two victories in Catholic League play.
Dillon will return to the mix next year.
Public League Player of the Year
Kamiyah Paris Miller
Frankford
The Pioneers had a very good team on paper coming into the season. But they got a huge lift when Miller transferred into the school. She didn’t wait very long to make an impact.
The junior became an immediate starter and averaged a double-double, scoring more than 10 points per game and averaging better than 12 rebounds per game.
For her efforts, Miller earned the Most Valuable Player award in the Liberty DIvision, and she guided the Pioneers to a perfect 10-0 record against divisional opponents.
She’ll return next year to guide a good Frankford team.
Coach of the Year
Jimmy Dillon
Archbishop Ryan
When Dillon arrived at Ryan, his goal was to turn the team into a winner. It didn’t take him very long at all. A fifth-place finish in the Catholic League is a great accomplishment when you consider the teams you’re playing, and Dillon did it with a mix of savvy veterans and promising newcomers.
Ryan won just two games in Catholic League play a season ago, so this season’s success was surprising to many, but not the Ragdolls.
Dillon returns many of the key pieces from this year’s team, and the Ragdolls could be competitive for years to come.
Wrestling
Catholic League Wrestler of the Year
Noah Hernandez
Father Judge
The Crusaders had a young team that needed to get better as the season went on. Hernandez was the perfect example of that, and one of the main reasons the Crusaders enjoyed so much success this year.
Not only did Judge advance to the PCL semifinals, the Crusaders finished third at the Catholic League tournament. That’s where Hernandez shined the brightest, winning the tournament and in the process winning most outstanding wrestler at the tournament.
The sophomore compiled a 23-12 record and midway through his high school career, he is on pace to exactly hit 100 wins.
Public League Wrestler of the Year
Alisajjod Kahramonov
George Washington
The Public League was tough as always this year, but the toughest class might have been 139 pounds, where many great wrestlers were lurking.
When the season ended, Washington senior Kahramonov was the last man standing.
He compiled a 28-7 record, giving him 76 career victories. Two of his victories came at the expense of Northeast wrestler Archil Paulin, who was also one of the top wrestlers in the Public League
Kahramonov also won two matches at regions, and finished in fourth place against some of the top wrestlers in the area.
Wrestling Coach of the Year
Mike Siravo
Northeast
What Siravo has built at Northeast is incredible. The Vikings just won their sixth straight Public League championship, which is incredible. But Northeast has won 11 championships since 2009, and the Vikings have competed in every Public League championship over the past 17 seasons.
This year, the Vikings had a typical season. They entered the season with many questions, a few experienced wrestlers and a rosterful of tough kids. By the end of the season, after competing against some of the top teams in the area during preseason tournaments, Northeast was ready to conquer the Public League.
SWIMMING
Boys Swimmer of the Year
Anthony Ciamaichelo
Father Judge
Making All-Catholic in swimming is no easy task. With so many tough teams competing in the Catholic League, it’s not easy to finish top three at the league meet.
Ciamaichelo didn’t just do that, he did it three times.
The senior earned First-Team All-Catholic in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke. He then went on to earn honorable mention in both events at the state championship.
Ciamaichelo was also a member of two relay teams that earned All-Catholic honors.
Girls Swimmer of the Year
Anna Wicker
Nazareth Academy
Good swimmers tend to do the best at the end of the season when the lights are the brightest, and that’s exactly what Wicker did for the Pandas.
Wicker not only qualified for states in four events, she dropped time in all four events, including two individual races.
On top of competing at states, she was able to win district championships in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke.
Wicker played a huge role in the success of the Pandas, who won the Catholic League championship.
Coach of the Year
Ed Roussel
Nazareth Academy
It’s amazing the Pandas haven’t been kicked out of the Catholic League. Ever since they joined the conference, they’ve won the Catholic League swimming championship.
The Pandas won their third championship in a row since becoming members of the Catholic League.
Roussel also had his top swimmers prepared for the biggest meets.
Roussel also helps out with Holy Ghost, which also enjoyed a strong season.
For more information on the banquet, or to get tickets to the event (winners attend for free), visit www.eventbrite.com/e/40th-annual-northeast-times-high-school-sports-banquet-tickets-1962711476862.
