Five things we learned from a Friday night in Slatington

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Covered the District 11 girl-boy doubleheader at Northern Lehigh -- Central Catholic boys and Pen Argyl girls were the winners -- on Friday night. Here's what stuck out:

1. Why no student fans? I doubt if there were 10, 15 students there, total, from any of the four participating schools. I know the district ticket prices can hurt a young person's budget and this was only the quarterfinal round. And I also know District 11 rules prohibiting various things like signs and noisemakers can be a deterrent, but I couldn't believe that there wasn't stronger student support at these games. I realize it's a drive from Allentown to Slatington. Probably even longer from Pen Argyl to Slatington. And, I also know that wrestling is king right now in Pen Argyl. But the lack of student support was disappointing.

2. Northern Lehigh was an excellent host. I don't know of anyone who takes more pride in making sure everybody is taken care of than Bulldogs athletic director Bryan Geist. He has a terriic group with him, including football coach Joe Tout. Several days before the doubleheader, he sent out e-mails asking who was coming and telling people where they should park. He even did a diagram of where everyone should sit. I know the fans don't necessarily worry about accomodations for the media, but the media worries about the media and we worry about having a good place to work. Geist and Northern Lehigh couldn't have been more accomodating.

3. Pen Argyl girls coach Dave Moyer puts on quite a show. I don't know of anyone more into the game than he is. He's like Mick Jagger in his prime strutting up and down the coaching box. I thought he would need a police escort out of Slatington considering the way he seemed to antagonize the Minersville fan with his constant yelling. But Moyer, a former boys coach and official, knows what he is doing. He's done a nice job with that program and he certainly was able to find the right buttons to push in turning around a 17-7 first quarter deficit.

4. Central Catholic's future is quite bright. With three freshman players showing considerable promise -- Jim Vaughan, Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Jean Lee Baez -- plus sophomore Mike Kammerer having a breakthrough night on Friday, the future was definitely showcased. CCHS will graduate some pretty terrific athletes this year in Jack Sandherr, Kevin McKellick and Ted Brochu, but the future is really bright with those four young players a year or two away from their peak.

5. I felt bad for Seth Stoudt having to sit out. We've been told not to reveal why Seth can't play right now, and we'll honor those wishes, but all I can say is that this is still a good young man and player who is having to adjust to an entirely new school, new system and any time a kid changes schools halfway through high school there's always a tough adjustment period. Sometimes that adjustment is overwhelming. Heck, I remember transferring schools in second grade and that was tough enough. It pained me to see him sitting on the bench on Friday night when everybody else was playing. And if I felt bad, I can only imagine the heartache he was feeling. I am rooting for this young man to do whatever it takes to get himself back on the court as soon as possible. And once he's back, I hope he flourishes.

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