PIAA Boys State Final Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 high school season concluded on Friday and Saturday in Mechanicsburg with the staging of eight finals. It was a big weekend for Eastern Pennsylvania with boys teams from Conestoga, Camp Hill and Delaware County Christian winning titles but Cathedral Prep also showed well in an overtime win over Springfield Township, the school's second straight overtime defeat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the players who impressed on the high school game's biggest stage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["61508"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":154827,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Zellefrow came back from Portland Timbers Academy looking for one last hurrah with his high school buddies and he did just that with an overtime free kick that won Conestoga's sixth state championship in the Class 4A final. Zellefrow was as he's been all season in the final, pulling the strings with next level passing in the midfield. But ultimately it was his swerving free kick that ended the night in storybook fashion.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":154828,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Pat VanLuvanee","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Central Bucks South","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"FC Delco","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"While his team finished as runner-up in the final, VanLuvanee put them in position to win with a number of key saves to deny the high-powered Conestoga offense throughout. There wasn't a ton he could've done on the free kick and he'll be haunted by both that kick and the [player_tooltip player_id='168922' first='Brady' last='Costin'] Olimpico equalizer but VanLuvanee showed how far a team can go with a top goalkeeper.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":154829,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='168922' first='Brady' last='Costin']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Conestoga High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"FC Delco","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Costin scored the Olimpico to tie the game but his influence went far beyond the goal off the corner kick. Costin has been a leader of the team all season and anchored a stingy backline that despite a few early missteps was tough to break down.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":154830,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Riley Martin","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Springfield Township","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"Hex FC","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Martin was sensational again in Springfield Township's second straight state final overtime defeat. He put his team up early and assisted on what looked like it might be the game winner to set up Harry Bates' goal but sadly his high school career ends with another massive letdown in overtime.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["58859"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Handzel had the second half equalizer and set up [player_tooltip player_id='59377' first='Dylan' last='Danch']'s golden goal winner in a victory that capped off a banner senior season for Handzel.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"James DiSanza","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Cathedral Prepatory","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"What a first year of high school soccer it's been for DiSanza, who scored possibly the biggest goal of the season to tie the Class 3A final up 2-2. It wasn't his first big goal of the playoffs either as he scored a late headed goal in the quarterfinal to knock off South Fayette. His work on the defensive end is also to be commended against a dynamic Spartans attack.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":154831,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Ty Kirchhoff","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Camp Hill High School","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Kirchhoff was a threat throughout the Class 2A final but he was at his finest when his team needed him most, scoring the massive equalizer to put things on level terms with a very talented and experience Quaker Valley team. His pressure on the defense throughout created problems but it was a finish off an assist from Cole Nelson that set up the dramatic overtime win. Kirchhoff embodied the team's scrappy underdog charm throughout the tournament as the smallest Class 2A team in the field.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":154832,"_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Ian Gamber","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Camp Hill High School","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"Penn FC Youth","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Gamber and senior Richard Lutkins, who had the game-winner, both played a huge role in keeping Quaker Valley to just the one goal to get to overtime. Gamber was tested and came up big in his 1v1 battles and was instrumental throughout in denying Quaker Valley second chances.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["15245"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_player_featured_image":154833,"_player_evaluations_8_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Quaker Valley has so many talented players it's hard to focus on just one but Castellini was everywhere on the day, breaking up plays and creating opportunities going the other way for the Quakers.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":154834,"_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"Cortez Cardone","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Delaware County Christian","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"Lower Merion SC","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Cardone scored the early goal - the only the Knights would need - and spearheaded a midfield that dominated throughout the game. In an unlikely run to the school's first PIAA title, Cardone was the one scoring the late equalizer in the semifinal and the one with the biggest goal of the year in the final.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["15102"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_player_featured_image":154836,"_player_evaluations_10_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"For Delaware County Christian in their run to their first Class A state title, it was the Cardone and Dill show. Cardone dominating the midfield and Dill the back line. Though he played much of the season as a 6 he thrived in his role anchoring the back line and was vital in both the semifinal win over Faith Christian and the 1-0 win in the final over Charleroi.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_player_details_selected_featured_image":154835,"_player_evaluations_11_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_11_player_details_player_name":"Jude Sacks","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_11_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_11_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_11_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_11_player_details_school":"Delaware County Christian","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_11_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_11_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_11_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"As he was throughout the state tournament, Sacks' play in the midfield as part of a gutsy trio with senior Cortez Cardone and junior Ben Norbury sparked the Knights to an unlikely state title.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_12_player_details_player_name":"Nate Mazon","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_12_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_12_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_12_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_12_player_details_school":"Charleroi Area High School","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_12_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_12_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"Mazon was forced into a number of good saves as Delaware County Christian tried to add to its early 1-0 lead and did a great job to keep his team within striking distance.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":13,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655e7d574a778"} /-->