News

Chase Kloster, Sam Walter and Larry Williams all received $27,000 scholarships after the Bobcats were honored for their sportsmanship.

Staff Report

The Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Fund awarded three scholarships worth $27,000 each to senior members of the Northeastern boys’ basketball team Tuesday night at the school’s annual awards presentation. With the presentations, the foundation has now awarded over $1 million in scholarships to York-Adams League boys’ and girls’ student athletes.

Chase Kloster, Samuel Walter and Larry Williams each received a Gretchen Wolf Swartz scholarship, bringing the total amount of scholarships awarded by the fund to $1,050,000 since its first two scholarships — each for $1,000 — were awarded in 2001. In the years since, a total of 109 students have been recognized for exhibiting valuable life traits such as honesty, integrity, cooperation, respect, courage, teamwork, and discipline.

Northeastern’s boys and Littlestown’s girls were recognized as the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Award winners at the conclusion of this year’s York-Adams League basketball season. As a result, senior players from each program became eligible to apply for scholarships. Members of the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Fund Board reviewed scholarship applications and interviewed applicants before determining scholarship winners and award amounts.

Littlestown girls’ seniors Rebecca Lanahan and Celi Portillo also earned $27,000 scholarships from the foundation.

MORE:Local basketball officials honored by chance to referee state final together

MORE:As its season ends, Red Lion baseball takes pride in what it achieved

Kloster, Walter and Williams all played key roles for head coach Jon Eyster’s Bobcats this season. Northeastern went 8-14 overall and 4-8 in Division I with plenty of close calls along the way. Kloster led the team in scoring with 11 points per game, while both Walter and Williams were also regulars in the rotation.

The awards are presented in memory of Gretchen Wolf Swartz, who was a York County basketball official from 1981-95. Following her death from leukemia in 1997, her fellow York County officials created the memorial team awards and scholarship fund to promote and honor the sportsmanship she displayed throughout her playing and officiating careers.

At the conclusion of each York-Adams basketball season, York area officials vote to honor a boys’ and girls’ program for sportsmanship after observing the season-long conduct of players, fans, faculty, students, managers, coaches, superintendents, ADs and cheerleaders from junior high to varsity. Each winning school receives a traveling trophy in recognition of its accomplishments.

Rebecca Lanahan and Celi Portillo each earned $27,000 scholarships from the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation

Staff Report

The Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation awarded a pair of $27,000 scholarships to senior members of the Littlestown girls’ basketball program last Thursday night at the school’s annual academic and athletic awards presentation.

Rebecca Lanahan and Celi Portillo each received a scholarship Thursday, bringing the total amount of scholarships awarded by the foundation to $969,000 since its first two scholarships — each for $1,000 — were awarded in 2001.

The Littlestown girls and Northeastern boys were recognized as the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Award winners at the conclusion of this year’s York-Adams League basketball season. As a result, senior players from each program became eligible to apply for scholarships.

Members of the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Fund board reviewed scholarship applications and interviewed applicants before determining scholarship winners and award amounts.

Littlestown struggled with participation numbers and finished 2-20 overall and 1-11 in York-Adams Division III this season, but players and coaches continued to keep spirits high throughout the winter. Portillo was one of the league’s top scorers, averaging 12.5 points per game, while Lanahan gave the Thunderbolts an important veteran presence through the season’s ups and downs.

The awards are presented in memory of Gretchen Wolf Swartz, who was a York County basketball official from 1981-95. Following her death from leukemia in 1997, her fellow York County officials created the memorial team awards and scholarship fund to promote and honor the sportsmanship she displayed throughout her playing and officiating careers.

After each York-Adams League basketball season, York area officials vote to honor a boys’ and girls’ program for sportsmanship after observing the season-long conduct of players, fans, faculty, students, managers, coaches, superintendents, ADs and cheerleaders from junior high to varsity. Each winning school receives a traveling trophy in recognition of its accomplishments.

Northeastern’s scholarship winners will be announced Tuesday, May 30.

The 2022-23 Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Awards are going to a first-time winner and a team that’s breaking a long drought.

Today, Northeastern High School’s boys’ and Littlestown High School’s girls’ basketball teams were named winners of this season’s prestigious team honors. Northeastern’s boys earned their first Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Award, while Littlestown’s girls won for the third time, but the first since 2004.

  In May, members of the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation Board will award scholarships to some senior basketball players from each team. 

The winning programs are determined by a vote of members of the York Chapter of PIAA Basketball Officials.

Last year, the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation Board awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to members of the Delone Catholic High School girls’ and Susquehannock High School boys’ programs. With over $900,000 in scholarships awarded thus since 2001, the Fund will likely exceed $1 million in awarded scholarships after this season’s individual presentations.

Gretchen Wolf Swartz was a York County basketball official from 1981 to 1995. Following her untimely death from leukemia in 1997, her fellow officials created the memorial team awards and scholarship fund to promote and honor the sportsmanship she so effectively displayed. 

At the conclusion of each regular season, the officials vote to recognize a boys’ and girls’ program after observing the season-long conduct of YAIAA players, fans, faculty, students, managers, coaches and cheerleaders from junior high to varsity. Both winning programs receive a traveling trophy in recognition of their accomplishments.

Northeastern’s boys are coached by Jon Eyster, while Littlestown’s girls are under the guidance of first-year coach Larry Colbert, a former basketball official.

Contact: Mike Heisler, President,
York ChapterPIAA Basketball Officials, and
GWSSF BoardMember, 717-324-4933

Since 2000, the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Fund has awarded nearly $1 million to boys and girls high school basketball players who play on teams in the York-Adams (PA) Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA).

The YAIAA, originally founded in 1992 as the York Area Interscholastic Athletic Association and known in its current state since 2004, consists of 22 boys team and 21 girls teams, all of which are members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).

Swartz officiated high school basketball from 1981 until 1995 and was a fierce advocate of sportsmanship. Following her untimely death to leukemia in 1997, officials READ MORE at nfhs.org …

The Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation awarded $69,000 in scholarships to seven senior members of the Delone Catholic girls’ basketball program Thursday morning at the school’s annual awards presentation.

Makenna Mummert received a scholarship worth $17,000, Emily McCann took home a scholarship worth $13,000, and Maggie Hughes was awarded a scholarship worth $11,000. Gianna Hoddinott, Abby Jacoby, McKenzie Lee and Abigael Vingsen each received a scholarship worth $7,000.

The Delone girls’ and the Susquehannock boys’ basketball programs were recognized as the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Award winners at the conclusion of this year’s basketball season. As a result, the seniors from each program became eligible to apply for scholarships. Susquehannock’s winners were announced last week. Nine individuals shared $83,000 in scholarships bringing this year’s scholarship award total to $152,000.

Members of the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Fund board reviewed scholarship applications and interviewed applicants before awarding scholarships in varying amounts. With this announcement, the board has now awarded over $900,000 in scholarships since presenting its first two scholarships – each for $1,000 – back in 2001.

The awards are presented in memory of Gretchen Wolf Swartz, who was a York County basketball official from 1981 to 1995. Following her untimely death from leukemia in 1997, her fellow York County officials created the memorial team awards and scholarship fund to promote and honor the sportsmanship she displayed throughout her playing and officiating careers.

At the conclusion of each season, York area basketball officials vote to honor a YAIAA boys’ and girls’ program for sportsmanship after observing the season-long conduct of players, fans, faculty, students, managers, coaches, superintendents, ADs and cheerleaders from junior high to varsity. Each winning school receives a traveling trophy in recognition of its accomplishments.

The Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation awarded $83,000 in scholarships to nine senior members of the Susquehannock Warriors boys’ basketball program Thursday night at the school’s annual awards presentation.

Jalen Franklin, recently named a second-team all-state selection in Class 5-A by the Pennsylvania sportswriters, received a scholarship worth $17,000. Boys’ basketball cheerleader Andrea Hammond took home a scholarship worth $13,000, while Ricky Ferguson was awarded a scholarship in the amount of $11,000.

Ezra Davis, Kaeden Grant and William Smith, along with cheerleaders Grace Hartenstein, Marissa Mussmacher and Allisyn Walker, each received a $7,000 scholarship. 

The Susquehannock boys’ and the Delone Catholic girls’ basketball programs were recognized as the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Award winners at the conclusion of this year’s basketball season. As a result, the seniors from each program became eligible to apply for scholarships. 

Members of the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Fund board reviewed scholarship applications and interviewed applicants before awarding scholarships in varying amounts. With this announcement, the board has now awarded over $845,000 in scholarships since presenting its first two scholarships – each for $1,000 – back in 2001.

The awards are presented in memory of Gretchen Wolf Swartz, who was a York County basketball official from 1981 to 1995. Following her untimely death from leukemia in 1997, her fellow York County officials created the memorial team awards and scholarship fund to promote and honor the sportsmanship she displayed throughout her playing and officiating careers. 

At the conclusion of each season, York area basketball officials vote to honor a YAIAA boys’ and girls’ program for sportsmanship after observing the season-long conduct of players, fans, faculty, students, managers, coaches, superintendents, ADs and cheerleaders from junior high to varsity. Each winning school receives a traveling trophy in recognition of its accomplishments.

Delone’s scholarship winners will be announced Thursday, May 19.

This year’s Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Awards are going to a first-time winner and to a program that is no stranger to this kind of recognition.

Delone Catholic High School’s girls added yet another highlight to their extraordinary season by earning the prestigious team honor. They are currently 23-1 and seeded No. 1 in the District 3 4A competition. They join Susquehannock High School’s boys, which are being honored for the fourth time and the first time since winning three in a row from 2002-2004. The Warriors are 15-7 and still alive in the District 3 5A tournament.

In May, members of the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation Board will recognize some senior members from each team with scholarships. Last year, the Board awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to members of the Hanover High School School girls and Red Lion High School boys teams. The Board has awarded over $750,000 in scholarships since awarding its first scholarships in 2001.

The winning programs are determined by a poll of members of the York Chapter of PIAA Basketball Officials. At the conclusion of each regular season, the officials vote to recognize a boys’ and girls’ program after observing the season-long conduct of YAIAA players, fans, faculty, students, managers, coaches and cheerleaders from junior high to varsity. Both winning programs receive a traveling trophy in recognition of their accomplishments.

According to Phil Miller, president of the York Chapter, PIAA Basketball Officials, every YAIAA member school received at least one vote for either their boys’ or girls’ team.

Gretchen Wolf Swartz was a York County basketball official from 1981 to 1995. Following her untimely death from leukemia in 1997, her fellow officials created the memorial team awards and a scholarship fund to promote and honor the sportsmanship she so effectively displayed.