Recalling years covering Kennedy High

by Jack Coll

This ran in the Conshohocken Recorder at the end of the school year 1993

Over the years I’ve made it a habit not to write about bad news. After all the world is full of it, as is our local area, and just from a personal point of view I didn’t feel anyone needed any more bad news in their life.

The turning point for me was in 1983 when I covered a chemical explosion at a local chemical plant. I responded to a call from my editor, and when I was finished taking pictures of working men with severe burns to their face, I was sure I was finished covering bad news.

The announcement by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to close Archbishop Kennedy High School made me sick to my stomach. Several dozen people had asked me why I didn’t write about the closing, and well, I considered the closing bad news and had nothing to write about.

Now that the school is closed, and I’ve flushed some lousy thoughts out of my head, I would like to take this space to thank the school for 10 years of some great sports memories.

A decade ago I was welcomed into the Archbishop Kennedy High School family with open arms, and my memories with the school are long and deep.

The greatest sports memory at Archbishop Kennedy I’ve witnessed in the past 10 years is without a doubt, the night Kennedy’s football team beat a heavily favored Bishop Kenrick High squad 9-6 in November of 1991, giving Coach Chris Bochrath his 100th career coaching victory. I remember watching a dump off pass out in the flat to Joe Schrieber, who broke four tackles and raced 59 yards for the winning margin with less than two minutes remaining in the game. I remember standing on the sideline when he crossed the goal line and I kept looking up and down for yellow flags that had haunted the Saints all year, and when there were no yellow penalty flags visible, I remember taking in the joy and happiness on the Kennedy sideline as I watched a celebration in the end zone like no other.

My second greatest sports memory had to be the surgical like foul shooting of the boys varsity basketball team in a game played against Bristol High when Dave Coupe and Kevin Duda and the ball handling of Jamie Hildebrand that allowed the boys to walk away with a one point  victory, 63-62 giving the Saints their second Bicentennial League victory in three years.

My third all time Kennedy great sports memory is of the play of basketball standout Darlene Hildebrand.  It will be forever etched in my mind.  Time and again with the game on the line, Darlene dribbling her way around the back court with three and four girls given chase to no avail.  No one could take time off the clock like Darlene.

Other sports memoires include one of the sweetest pass combinations ever at the school when John Catania would unload to Jim Borkowski:  Ronnie Keaser breaking lose in the open field and the gutsy play of John Staudenmeyer.  In 1985 I remember a game in Bristol when Charlie Gehringer had the game of his life helping the Saints to yet another Bicentennial League championship.

The 1987 football team, lead by Joe Poloczuk and Pete Balazano, played the remarkable come back game of the decade. Down 28-0 at the half to Wissahickon, the Saints scored 28 second half points to force a tie.

The most enjoyable football teams I’ve watched in 10 years were the 1983 undefeated team, and the 1990, 9-1 team.

Basketball memories include covering 1,000 point scorers John Catania, Chris Kaufmann, Sam Lawler, and Darlene Hildebrand. I’ll remember the unselfish play of Kevin Duda, Dave Coupe, Josh Dugas and Kristen Hale. I’ll remember the quiet players from over the years: Tom Blomstrom, Don Butler, Erin McCarthy, Maureen Maloney, Megan Gebhardt, Karen Lawerence, Craig Kaminski and Joe Clayborne, all outstanding, who did their talking on the field of play.

I simply enjoyed watching Carol Ann Haux and Paul Vandergrift along with Merri Hall, Robyn Bondi, Jennifer Carracappa and Arlene Hildebrand.

Looking back, it was a great ten years to be involved in Archbishop Kennedy sports, there are so many more memories, and we’ll all have a lot of time to enjoy the memories in the coming years.

I thank everyone at the school for allowing my camera and pen to cover your events over the years. It was a good ride and I thank everyone involved.

Once again, that was a story that ran in the Conshohocken Recorder 20 years ago. Hope you enjoyed. Maybe we can recall our own memories at the all class reunion this Saturday.