Levan Alston, Haverford School’s outstanding 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, received Co-MVP honors for his terrific play in the Inter-Ac League this season. Alston shared MVP honors with 6-foot-9 center Julian Moore from Germantown Academy. Alston and Moore were also selected to the All-Inter-Ac League team. The first team includes: Levan Alston, Haverford School, 6-3, guard, senior; Juilan Moore, Germantown Academy, 6-9, senior; Greg Dotson, Germantown Academy, 6-5, senior; Sean O’Brien, Penn Charter, 6-2, junior; Mike McGlinchey, Penn Charter, 6-9, senior; Chris McNeal, Episcopal Academy, 5-10, senior and Nick Lindner, Germantown Academy, 5-10, senior.

The second team includes: Eric Anderson, Haverford School, 6-6, junior; Sema’j Reed, Haverford School, 6-6, senior; Drew Dowds, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 6-2, senior; Andrew Bargmann, Malvern Prep, 6-2, senior and James Drury, Germantown Academy, 6-2, senior.

Haverford gridiron standout Mathis bound for Valparaiso

Hannibal Mathis, Haverford School’s sensational defensive back, has committed to playing his college football for Valparaiso University. Mathis is one of the top scholastic football players in the Philadelphia area. The 5-10, 178-pound senior, will be playing Division I football.Valparaiso is a member of the Pioneer Football League, which includes teams such as San Diego, Butler and Dayton.

Snider Foundation’s Lucas wins 4-year college scholarship

Ricky Lucas of the Ed Snider Hockey Foundation in Philadelphia is the inaugural recipient of the 2013 NHL/Thurgood Marshall College Fund academic scholarship to attend Penn State University this fall. Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner and Thurgood Marshall College Fund Chief Financial Officer Velma R. Hart made the announcement during a Congressional Hockey Caucus briefing on Capitol Hill that focused on the state of hockey in the U.S. including instructional hockey and safety in youth sports.

The academic scholarship is part of the partnership between the NHL and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for participants in the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone initiative, the league’s official youth development program.

Lucas, 18, is a goaltender with the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation Midget 18 U travel team in Philadelphia. He was introduced to hockey in 2009 via the Simons Recreational Center in the Mt. Airy neighborhood after the center’s rink was renovated and expanded to a year-round facility courtesy of the foundation’s partnership with the city of Philadelphia.

Under the direction of Commissioner Bettman, who serves on its board of directors, the NHL/Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholarship was developed in 2012 from monies raised from the annual Congressional Hockey Challenge, the charity hockey game pitting members of Congress and staff against registered lobbyists. To date, through the Congressional Hockey Challenge, more than $250,000 has been raised in support of the scholarship.

This year’s Congressional Hockey Challenge will be held on April 27 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. For more information on the event, go to congressionalhockeychallenge.com.

Hockey is for Everyone provides support and unique programming to nonprofit youth hockey organizations across North America that are committed to offering children of all backgrounds opportunities to play hockey. The initiative is supported by NHL member clubs, players, alumni and fans. Hockey is for Everyone has exposed more than 45,000 boys and girls to unique hockey experiences.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation was created in 2005 by Philadelphia Flyers chairman Ed Snider as a personal commitment to teach children important life lessons. The mission of Snider Hockey is to build lives and unite communities. It uses the sport of hockey to help educate young people to succeed in the game of life. Snider Hockey services are targeted for inner city boys and girls who otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn to skate or to play ice hockey. The program has rapidly grown to serve over 3,000 participants.

Temple-Notre Dame to kick off Aug. 31 on NBC

Temple’ s football season will open at Notre Dame on August 31 at 3:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. The game will be televised on NBC nationally (NBC10 locally). Under first-year head coach Matt Rhule, Temple returns 46 letter winners and 15 starters, including freshman All-American and Big East Rookie of the Year Tyler Matakevich. The Owls’ home opener is scheduled for Sept. 7 against Houston at Lincoln Financial Field.

Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Saint Augustine’s University has one of the best track and field teams in the country. The Falcons are the top-ranked men’s outdoor team, according to the latest NCAA Division II track and field standings released by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

St. Augustine’s has a number of great athletes. Ramaan Ansley is one of them. Ansley, an Engineering and Science product, is a member of the 4x100-meter relay team. The former Public League standout will be one of the great local athletes showcasing his running skills at Franklin Field this week at the Penn Relays. The Falcons have made regular trips to this event over the years. Ansley is the leadoff man of a foursome that includes Taffawee Johnson, Burkheart Ellis, Jr. and Jermaine Jones.

The Falcons clocked an impressive 39.46 in this event, in which they are ranked No. 1. Ansley has been a big factor in the team’s success with his great starts. In the 4x400-meter relay, the quartet of Josh Edmonds, James Quarles, Ellis, Jr. and Dane Hyatt is also ranked first (3:06.88).

Individually, St. Augustine’s is ranked No. 1 in five men’s events. Moussa Dembele is the top-ranked 110-meter hurdler (13.59 seconds) and Elhadji Mbow is the top-ranked 400 hurdler (50.53). DeJon Wilkinson is ranked first in the triple jump (50-7 1/2).

The Falcons won the men’s CIAA track and field championship last week. George Williams, St. Augustine’s legendary head coach, racked up his 16th consecutive title. Williams has built one of the best track and field programs in the nation on any level. He has won 31 national championships, including a 2010 NCAA Division II crown. He was the head coach of the 2004 men’s Olympic track and field team in Athens, Greece. Williams has coached 32 Olympians, including three gold medalists.

Ansley helped the Falcons win the CIAA title. St. Augustine’s 4x100-meter relay team ran a winning time of 40.22 seconds. St. Augustine’s will also bring its women’s track and field team to compete in the Penn Relays.

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

There will be a heavy security presence at the Penn Relays this week. Penn officials are making the necessary provisions to make sure operations run smoothly during the nation’s premiere track and field carnival at Franklin Field April 25-27.

“The heighten security isn’t just because of Boston (Marathon),” said Maureen Rush, Penn’s vice president of public safety and superintendent of Penn police. “We have actually had a lot of extra security since 9/11. On the website for the Penn Relays you have all specifics as far as what’s not allowed and one of the things that’s not allowed except for obviously the distinction of athletes, but for spectators they’re not going to be allowed to bring in any large coolers, bags, back packs or etc. Frankly, that’s been in existence for many, many years probably since 9/11. Will it be enforced more rigorously? Yes it will.

“We will actually be working across all law enforcement sectors to ensure that this is a fabulous event as it always is. We’re working closely with Dave Johnson and all the men and women of athletics to ensure that is not only safe in reality, but in perception. People across the country right now are very nervous about going to large events and we want ensure that they feel totally comfortable coming here.”

A week ago, the Boston Marathon tragedy opened the eyes of a lot of people throughout the country. Security is a major component for any big event. The Penn Relays has released specific guidelines in regards to this track and field meet. The fans, athletes, schools, coaches, athletic directors and other personnel should go to the official website (www.thePennRelays.com) for specific information.

The Penn Relays attracts some of the top athletes, high schools and colleges around the nation. The meet will be in full swing on Friday and Saturday of this week. Saturday is the biggest day of the meet, which highlights the top performers on the relay teams that compete for the some of the carnival’s biggest honors.

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Clinton “Juice” Granger, Temple’s senior quarterback, had an impressive performance in the Owls Cherry and White spring football game in a losing effort. Granger, former George Washington High star, completed 26-of-44 passes for 302 yards including three touchdowns and one interception. The White squad defeated the Cherry, 34-28, last Saturday in front of 3,530 fans at Edberg-Olson Hall.

Granger displayed a strong arm in this contest. He hit redshirt freshman wide receiver Nathan Hairston with a 62-yard TD pass. Hairston had six receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Romond Deloatch was the game’s leading receiver. Deloatch had 13 receptions for 87 yards and a 16-yard score.

Granger wasn’t the only standout in the spring game. Senior Chris Coyer had two touchdown catches from junior quarterback Connor Reilly to help the White squad. Reilly completed 25-of-41 passes for 366 yards and four TDs. Junior running back Kenny Harper had a two-yard touchdown run. Harper was also the leading rusher for the White squad.

On the defensive side, redshirt freshman linebacker Haason Reddick was the top defensive player for the White. Reddick had eight tackles and two breakups. Senior linebacker Olaniyi Adewole had five total and four solo tackles.

For Cherry, sophomore running back Jamie Gilmore led the rushing efforts with eight carries for 25 yards. Sophomore linebacker Tyler Matakevich led all defensive players with nine solo tackles and a break-up. Daquan Cooper, a junior defensive back, had six total tackles. Cooper played his scholastic football at George Washington High School. The former Public League standout had a big game in the secondary. Freshman defensive back Jihaad Pretlow had six total tackles.

The Owls will open the season at Notre Dame on August 31. Temple’s home opener is set for Sept. 7 at Lincoln Financial Field with Houston in American Athletic Conference action.

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .