Boys' Basketball Senior Night:
The "Senior Night" for our boys' Varsity Basketball team will be tomorrow night, Wednesday, 17 February at the boys' final home game against Bloomsburg.  The presentation will be between the JV and Varsity game (approximately 7:15 pm). The two Senior Cheerleaders will be recognized as well at the game. Come out and cheer on our Knights!

 

Update from Mr. Lupacchino, SJNRA Athletic Director:
Basketball season is almost finished, except for the District Playoffs and they will be announced within a week or so.  For your information, the PIAA District IV Committee has changed the rules this year in regards to the eligibility to enter District playoffs.  Previously, to be eligible your team had to win at least 50% of your scheduled games.  This year they have modified those requirements and teams are permitted to enter district play, regardless of your team record.  They are experimenting with basketball to see how many more team would participate in district playoffs and if it is successful, they may implement it in some of the other sports.  Even though both our Boys & Girls teams are at or slightly below the 50% margin, we still have entered both teams into District Playoffs.
 
1.  COACHING VACANCIES:    At present we have or will have the following coaching vacancies for our upcoming sports programs.
 
GOLF  COACH  (Fall - August & September)
BOYS 7/8TH GRADE  BASKETBALL COACH (Winter - January & February)
BOYS VARSITY TENNIS COACH  (Spring - March & April)
GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS COACH (Fall - August & September)
 
If any individuals are interested in coaching, please contact Mr. Lupacchino in the Athletic Office at 323-9953, ext 217.
 
2.  COACHES FOR SPRING SPORTS:  The following individuals will be coaching the teams for our Spring Sports:
 
BASEBALL: 
Head Coach - Mr. Ed Danneker
Asst. Coach -  Mr. Paul Roman 

 
VARSITY SOFTBALL:
 Head Coach:  Mr. Ray Perchinski
 Asst. Coach - Mr. Matt Henderson
 
GIRLS 7/8th GRADE SOCCER: 
Head Coach:  Mr. Don Shade
Asst. Coach:  Ms. Elizabeth Deljanovan

 
BOYS 7/8TH GRADE SOCCER:
Head Coach:  Mr. Joe Friel
Asst. Coach:  Robert Trepanowski
Asst. Coach:  Chris Vanaski
 
BOYS VARSITY TENNIS:  Position Vacant
 
3.  SIGN UPS FOR SPRING SPORTS: 
 
Any students interested in participating in the following sports should sign up with Mr. Lupacchino in the Athletic Office as soon as possible:
 
BASEBALL - at present only 6 players have signed up
BOYS TENNIS -  only 7 players signed up
VARSITY SOFTBALL -  only 8 players signed up
GIRLS 7/8th GRADE SOCCER - only 7 players signed up
BOYS 7/8th GRADE SOCCER - NO PLAYERS HAVE SIGNED UP
TRACK & FIELD - No players have signed up (We are in a co-op with South Williamsport)
 
If enough players do not sign up in each of the sports, then the program will be cancelled.  Deadline to sign up is 26 February as we must notify the league and other schools if we plan to drop the program.
 
4.  RETURN OF BASKETBALL UNIFORMS:  Players and parents are reminded that upon completion of the basketball season, players are required to turn in their complete sets of uniforms, within 3 days after their last game.  The uniform is to be cleaned and returned to Mr. Lupacchino.  Any uniform items lost or damaged beyond normal wear and tear, will  require the player or parents to reimburse the school for the full amount of the original cost of that uniform item.  In addition, report cards will be withheld until the uniform items are returned.
 
5.  ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION FEE:  Since we are approaching the Spring Sports programs, parents are reminded again that they must pay a $30.00 athletic fee for the sport that their son or daughter participates in.  There is no discount for participating in two or more sports or for having two or more family members participating.  The fee should be paid in the Athletic Office or at the Main School Office and vouchers can be used for payment.  If any family member feels they are unable to pay the fee, then they can discuss their situation with the Principal or the Athletic Director.  Team uniforms will not be issued to the players until the fee is paid.
 
6.  SPORTS PHYSICALS:  At this point we are not sure if we will have a doctor available to conduct free sports physicals.  Therefore, if there are any individuals that intend to play Spring sports and did not previously have a physical when the school offered it, they will be required to obtain their physical exam with their own doctor.
 
7.  SPECTATOR SPORTSMANSHIP:  Since all the Spring sports will be out in an open field environment, we still want to remind all parents and spectators that inappropriate comments or remarks directed towards the officials, coaches, players or opposing spectators will not be tolerated.  The opposing teams, spectators and officials are guests at our facility and should be treated with respect, the same as you would expect to be treated at their facility.  Failure to do so, can and will result in your removal from the playing area and will result in your restriction from watching future events.  So please control your emotions and use your energy to cheer for our team and not to criticize any opposing individuals or officials.
 
8.  FAREWELL AND THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING SENIORS:  We would like to thank and commend the following Seniors for contributing their time and talent to participate in our basketball program and wish them much success in their future endeavors  --- however, we hope some of them will continue playing in our Spring Sports before they graduate this year:
 
BOYS BASKETBALL:
SEAN BIERLY
DEON HENDERSON
CHRIS LIEFELD
CONOR NORRIS
 
GIRLS BASKETBALL:
LAKEISHA JAMES
KATHERINE LISI
ALEXANDRA RALL
ELIZABETH RATKE
KRISTIANA WINDER
AMBER WRIGHT
 
9.  THANK YOU:  We would like to thank the following individuals who have assisted our sports programs:
 
Ms. CHELSEA MARTIN -   For beautifully singing the National Anthem and announcing the starting lineups at the basketball games.
Ms.  ALEXANDRA RALL -  Another beautiful singer of the National Anthem.
 We received many favorable compliments from visiting spectators, coaches and players on the singing talent of Ms. Martin and Ms. Rall and we thank them for their exceptional voices.  It won't be the same next year with just using a CD for the National Anthem, unless we can talk the girls into coming back for our home games.
Ms. BETH RATKE -  We thank Beth for always being there to volunteer her time to announce the starting lineups and to keep the clock whenever necessary.  If we could only keep her cell phone out of her hands when she is keeping the clock.
Mr. PAUL ROMAN, Mr. JOE BEITER & Mr. JOHN BURFEINDT - for bringing their Sunday School basketball players to play a preliminary game before the girls varsity game on Friday, 29 January.
 
We would like to thank Tommy James, Joey Orso and the other members of the Neumann Pep Band for playing music during our basketball games.  There certainly appears to be a lot of musical talent with these individuals.
 
We especially want to thank all the parents and friends that have assisted the Neumann Parent Athletic Association (NPAA) in manning the Concession Stand and Ticket sales.  With their support and all the excellent food that they donate, we have been able  to support all our sports programs with new uniforms and equipment items.  We need for this support to continue and for all individuals to be involved in the future.
 
Mr. KEVIN WAY, Mrs. KATHY NOTOR, Mrs. SANDRA BIERLY AND Mr. GREG FORSBURG have been the individuals designated as team parents and responsible for getting all the volunteers to work in the concession stand and ticket sales.  They all have put a lot of extra hours into making sure the concession operation was manned properly.
 
A special thank you to Mrs. MARY LOU PASNELLO as she became the supply sergeant in making sure the concession operation was always stocked with the soft drinks, hotdogs, pretzels, candy, water, chips, paper products and everything else that was needed or served at the concession stand.  She spent many days lugging in all the items from her car that were needed for the games.  Now if we could just get her to bring in some of her special homemade soups that she makes.
 
At the beginning of the year, we knew the basketball program would be in a rebuilding stage and may struggle a little during the year,  but overall we had some exciting games from all our teams and the players and coaches are to be commended for giving their best effort and that is all you can ask or expect from any team.  We thank all the players and coaches and look forward to the 2010-2011 season.
 
As always, we will see you at the fields on those cold and rainy days.
 
Frank Lupacchino,
Athletic Director