Winter 2024–25 ECS Athletics Recap and Spring 2025 ECS Athletics Preview
Winter 2024–25 Recap
High School:
Boys Basketball
The ECHS Boys Basketball made another big step in the program’s short history and played their first official PIAA/WPIAL schedule during the 2024–25 season. The program also added a Junior Varsity team to the program.
A total of 24 student athletes, coached by Varsity Head Coach Jamin Harris, Junior Varsity Head Coach Keith Bull, and Assistant Varsity and Junior Varsity Coach Andrew Blumer, started pre-season in November after try-outs and finished their season in early February.
The Varsity team competed in a strong division and adjusted to the increased level of competition. The team consisted of mainly 10th and 11th graders with only 2 Seniors. The season highlight came on Senior Night where the program celebrated the 2 Seniors on the team and beat Propel Montour in an exciting game. Thanks to the support from family, students and staff, making Senior Night a special event!
Tobias Howard and Matthias Giglio are 2 of the original members of the Boys Basketball program and their leadership has been instrumental in the program’s development. Both student athletes are looking to continue their basketball career in college, being the first two ECHS players to compete at the college level.
Additionally, the Junior Varsity Team and Coach Bull won their first game this season, beating the St. Joseph’s Junior Varsity team. Congrats! With only 2 Seniors graduating, the program is looking for a successful 2025–26 campaign.
Special thanks to Camille Manley for all your work during the pre-season conditioning and the season and to Charles Cook who was the scoreboard operator for all of our home games! We could not have done it without you!
Girls Cheerleading
2024–25 was the second year for the HS Cheerleading Team under guidance of Coach Tiffany McNarry and Coach Erin Knight. 16 Girls were selected during try-outs and the team cheered at all the home games as well as a number of away games.
The Cheerleaders and Coaches worked hard on a number of cheers as well as a halftime routine. The energy the cheerleading brought to the games was exciting and created a true high school experience as well as support for the Basketball Team.
The only senior on the Cheerleading Team was Maeve Mannion, whose accomplishments were celebrated during Senior Night! We will miss you Maeve!
With only one senior on the team this season, the team is looking forward to continued success and for the Team to bring energy and excitement to home games as well as away games. Thanks Coach Tiff and Coach Erin and the Cheerleading Team for all the hard work and for making the home Basketball games special!
Middle School:
Boys 7th & 8th Grade Basketball
The 2024–25 7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball Team, coached by Head Coach Noah Beighley and Assistant Coach Clarence Patterson was made up of ten 8th Grade students and two 7th Grade students. After a very successful 2023–24 season, the 2024–25 team had a successful season with the season closing out after a loss to Manchester Academy Charter School in the semi-final game.
The team got off to a great start and played their best game of the season at the Neighborhood Academy winning a quarter final play-off game.
With ten players moving/graduating from Middle School, the 2025–26 season will be challenging but with many 6th Graders participating in the 3 v 3 Program, the coaching staff is looking forward to another great season.
7th & 8th Grade Cheerleading
The 2024–25 winter season was the first official season for the 7th and 8th Grade Cheerleading Team. The Team consisted of 12 members and was coached by Coach Gabbi Hamer and Coach Alex Brown.
The Cheerleading Team cheered at all home games and worked hard on their cheers as well as their half-time routine! Spectators enjoyed watching the Team perform and Coach Hamer and Brown are looking to expand on this year’s program and hopefully have the Team Cheer at home as well as away games during the 2025–26 season.
Indoor Soccer/Futsal
Coach Stephanie Evans and Coach Vincent Angelo continued preparing student-athletes in hopes of a Fall 2025 7th and 8th grade outdoor soccer season through the Futsal program. 12 Students participated in a 3 v 3 small sided soccer program and hopefully will continue developing their skills through the 2025 spring outdoor season. The participants have been working hard and competing in a small group environment in the Middle School Fitness Room.
Intermediate School:
3 v 3 Basketball
Coach Da’Mon Smith and Coach Jeremy Hopper are finishing up the 3 v 3 Basketball program at the Intermediate School. 25 Participants are competing in 3 v 3 Basketball Games and had fun while playing in a competitive environment. There are still 3 more weeks in the season, before participating in the end of the season tournament! Thanks to Coaches and Players for a great season!
Futsal/Indoor Soccer
I had the privilege to help coach 20 players in the 2025 Futsal Indoor Soccer Club. Together with Coach Da’Mon Smith, the participants learned/improved their soccer skills while competing in small sided indoor soccer games. With a couple of weeks left until the end of the season 3 v 3 tournament, players will continue to work hard and have fun while doing so!
Spring 2025 Preview
High School:
Track & Field
The High School Track & Field season will start in early March and will finish during the later part of May. At this time the program is still searching for both a Head Coach and Assistant Coach.
The athletes will compete in 3 Invitationals, the SWPAA Championships and hopefully a number of the athletes will qualify for and participate in the WPIAL as well at the PIAA championships.
Girls Flag Football Team
This spring will bring the first step of building a Girls Flag Football Team. The participants will participate in skill workouts and a number of intrasquad scrimmages. The goal is to develop the program over the next 2 years and have a team play a WPIAL/PIAA schedule beginning in the 2026–27 season.
Girls Volleyball “Open Gym”
The Girls Volleyball Team will have “open gym” practices to prepare for the 2025–26 fall season. Practices are open for all students interested in trying out for the Girls Volleyball Team in the fall. Coach Amanda McAllen and Coach Hannah Berg will be coaching the sessions.
Middle School:
7th & 8th Grade Track & Field
The 7th & 8th Grade Track and Field program will try to continue its recent success, winning the SWPAA championships for the Girls this past year, under the guidance of Coach Brittney Traynor, Coach Jeff King, and Coach Alysson Huneycutt. The athletes will participate in a couple of tri-meets before participating in two Invitationals and the SWPAA Championships.
Outdoor Soccer
The Middle School Soccer program will continue preparing for the 2025–26 outdoor soccer season by participating in the 2025 Spring Outdoor Soccer Club. Coach Stepanie Evans and Coach Vincent Angelo will be in charge of preparing the players/team for the fall of 2025, enhancing the players skills and the teams understanding of the game of soccer.
3 v 3 Basketball
High School Head Basketball Coach Jamin Harris is in charge of the Middle School 3 v 3 Boys Basketball Program. Students in Grades 6th, 7th, and 8th learn advanced basketball skills and play 3 v 3 competition in a competitive environment.
Intermediate:
Flag Football
Flag Football with Coach Da'Mon Smith and Coach Jeremy Hopper will be offered starting early April at the Intermediate School. Sign up will begin in early March. This program previously had a lot of participants and interest remains high, so we expect a great turn out again this year.
Kick Ball
Coach Mark Devine and Coach Da’Mon Smith are once again offering the very popular Kickball program at the Intermediate School. This program previously had a lot of participants and interest remains high, so we expect a great turn out again this year.
The participants will learn the rules and basic skills involved in playing Kick Ball and will end the season with a Students vs. Teachers & Staff game. Participants will play at the Frick Park Baseball Fields.
As we finish the 2024/25 winter of athletic competition, exercise and fun, we look forward to the 2025 Spring season. We’ll continue to grow the ECS athletic program and build on all of our winter season successes.
Any suggestions and or ideas for additional programming? Please contact me at robert.vanrheenen@ecspgh.org! Go Hawks!