Saucon Valley Head Football Coach Phil Sams speaks about the ’17 season at the football banquet Sunday.
The 2017 Saucon Valley football season came to an earlier end than the two previous seasons did, but there was still lots to celebrate at the annual end-of-season banquet at Saucon Valley Acres Sunday, including a winning record and many memorable achievements by individual players.
There were also some moving moments, such as bidding farewell to longtime assistant varsity coach Chuck Muller–who is moving to be closer to family–and the presentation of the “Keep On Keeping On” award to senior Gavin Medei (#14).
Saucon Valley assistant varsity football coach Chuck Muller was bid a fond farewell at the banquet.
Medei’s mother, Saucon Source columnist Amy Musser, has battled a rare form of brain cancer over the past year-and-a-half; a health challenge the former Saucon player who presented him with the award can relate to.
Brandon Holub, Class of 2017, was the Panthers’ starting quarterback and about to begin his senior year when his father passed away following an illness in August 2016.
Both young men benefited from the support they received from their teammates and coaches during the trying times their families experienced.
Brandon Holub, Saucon Valley Class of 2017 and former Panther varsity quarterback, presents the 2017 Keep On Keeping On award to senior Gavin Medei at the annual football banquet at Saucon Valley Acres.
The guest speaker at the banquet was Lehigh University Defensive Coordinator, Coach Craig Sutyak, who also talked about the bond the players have with each other and what a special thing that is.
Lehigh University Mountain Hawks Defensive Coordinator Craig Sutyak was the speaker at the banquet.
Players from all three times–junior high, JV and varsity–were individually recognized by their coaches, as were the players who earned 2017 Colonial League Football All-League Honors:
OFFENSE: Alstan Wolfe, 1st Team Specialist; Jared Harka, 1st Team Guard; Tim Weaver, 1st Team Tackle; Zach Petiet, 2nd Team Running Back; and Patrick Morrissey, Honorable Mention Tight End
DEFENSE: Alstan Wolfe, 1st Team Defensive Back, 2nd Team Punter; Angelo Mahaffey, 2nd Team Outside Linebacker; Patrick Morrissey, 2nd Team Defensive End; Steven Rose, Honorable Mention Defensive Back; Christian Alling, Honorable Mention Inside Linebacker; Ian Csicsek, Honorable Mention Outside Linebacker; and Jared Harka, Honorable Mention Defensive Line.
All-League (Colonial League) team members Jared Harka, Christian Alling, Ian Csicsek, Patrick Morrissey, Steven Rose, Angelo Mahaffey, Tim Weaver, Alstan Wolfe and Zach Petiet
The nine players who were named Saucon Source Players of the Week this season were also presented with medals by the sponsor of the series, Hellertown Bakery, represented at the banquet by co-owner Joe Ciamprone. Those players are Wolfe, Morrissey, Petiet, Rose, Alling, Csicsek, Weaver, Chris Smith and Curtis Clifford Jr.
The nine players who earned the title of Saucon Source Player of the Week during the 2017 season, pictured with Hellertown Bakery owner Joe Ciamprone (and Max Ciamprone) and Saucon Source publisher Josh Popichak at the annual football banquet: from left: Tim Weaver, Chris Smith, Patrick Morrissey, Zach Petiet, Christian Alling, Ian Csicsek, Alstan Wolfe, Curtis Clifford Jr. and Steven Rose.
Vassi’s Drive-In in Hellertown surprised the players with gift certificates at the banquet. Each member of the junior high, JV and varsity teams along with their coaches, trainers and other supporters received a $5 gift certificate in recognition of their great 2017 season and making the community proud.
The members of the 2017 Saucon Valley football team presented head coach Phil Sams with a signed, framed photo of the team taking the field with the American flag, as is their tradition. The photo, by Keith Riefenstahl, originally appeared on Saucon Source.
Former Saucon Valley quarterback Brandon Holub, Class of 2017, addresses former teammates, family and friends before presenting the Keep On Keeping On award to his former teammate, senior Gavin Medei, at the banquet Sunday.
There were few empty seats at the banquet, which lasted three hours and was held at Saucon Valley Acres in Lower Saucon Township.
“Big Tim” Weaver is congratulated at the banquet.
The football banquet and many other events related to Saucon Valley football wouldn’t happen without the tireless efforts of many volunteer-parents who support the team all throughout the season by organizing meals, transportation, fundraisers and more. The 2017 Saucon Valley Football Club officers are, from left, Brian Clifford, vice president; Lisa Holub, secretary; Caroline Clifford, president; and Kent and Julie Weaver, treasurers. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the club and volunteering to help the team is invited to attend a regular monthly meeting. Meetings are held upstairs at Braveheart Highland Pub, 430 Main St., Hellertown, the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. For more information please email sa**********************@gm***.com. The club is always looking for new members and new ideas.
Saucon Valley football team members, past and present, share a brotherly bond. The poinsettias pictured in the foreground were delivered by players to residents of Saucon Valley Manor in Hellertown on Monday.
