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Saturday, March 1, 2008
C.Y.O: Developing More Than just Great Athletes
Greater Reading, PA
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By: Kira Shelley
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Photo(s) By: Phil Marabella
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The Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) has a tradition of developing young athletes through its sponsorship of numerous sports programs. The organization promotes Catholic Christian values and the responsibilities of fair play. In both victory and defeat, C.Y.O. encourages good sportsmanship and the spirit of competition while fostering self-confidence and emphasizing respect for all individuals. In the Berks County area, there are approximately four to five hundred children participating in C.Y.O. sporting activities such as football, wrestling, and basketball.
C.Y.O. at St. Catherine’s of Sienna in Mt. Penn has garnered a reputation for successful boys’ and girls’ basketball programs available for children in grades one through twelve. There are 35 developmental teams available for grades one through six in addition to 10 boys’ teams and 9 girls’ teams for seventh and eight graders. Based on the location of their residence, many players have gone on to play basketball at Reading Central Catholic and Holy Name High Schools. Those athletes who do not play on the scholastic teams have the opportunity to continue to play in the C.Y.O. until they graduate. In addition to local C.Y.O. basketball leagues, there are various competitions at the regional and state levels.
C.Y.O. takes pride in the fact that Central Catholic players Matt Ashcroft, Nick Rossignoli, Colin Naugle, Brendan Reily, and Cameron Furman were members of the Reading Central Catholic Cardinals basketball team that won the PIAA Single A State Basketball Championship in 2007. Some of the current female players for the Cardinals that have come up through the C.Y.O ranks include Casey Hoffman, Krissy Wrobel, Jackie Owens, Alexis Ashcroft, and Rachel Schleicher. Also to its credit, former C.Y.O. athlete and Reading Central Catholic graduate, Alex Franklin, is a member of the Division One Sienna University men’s basketball team. Joe Miller, the assistant coach for Central Catholic’s boys’ basketball team and former C.Y.O. participant states, “C.Y.O. plays a major role in the high school basketball programs around the county because it acts as a feeder system.”
Indeed, kids begin playing in elementary school and have the opportunity to continue playing in the program through their senior year of high school. And while it’s a competitive program, you can feel the sense of family here. But that’s not surprising; these kids have grown up together, in many ways!
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