Category: Sports

By Michael DeMuro ’27

In April, Luke Lilledahl ’24 and alumna Kennedy Blades ’22 were accepted to the Olympic Trials for wrestling. This prestigious honor did not go unrecognized by the Sem community. As a current student, Lilledahl’s peers had a send-off at the Sprague alleyway.

At the trial, Lilledahl placed 5th overall. When asked about his experience, Lilledahl said, “It was really fun […] being able to see players I’ve looked up to and how they prepare and wrestle.” When the Olympics return in 4 years, Lilledahl plans on trying again, and then again after that, until he reaches his goal.

Blades won first place at 76 kg in the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials. At just 20, Kennedy, a second-place finisher when she was 17 at the Olympic Team Trials in 2021, is among the youngest wrestlers on the women’s or men’s teams.

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games begin in just over two months, scheduled from July 26 through August 11. #GoBlueKnights

By Michael DeMuro ’27

The Sem wrestling season has been phenomenal so far. The recent victory against Blair Academy has everyone feeling great and adds another win to their undefeated season.

Blair Academy is #2 in the country and is Sem’s biggest rival in most sports, particularly wrestling and football. Sem and Blair will wrestle again at national preps, which is sure to be as heated, if not more, as the recent match which was held here, on Sem turf on January 12th. Many are easger to see the national preps unfold.

Several people view this victory against Blair as revenge for the loss against them in the football game that occurred in the fall. Cornell Robinson, the wrestling coach for both the boys’ and girls’ teams, stated, “It’s been good for the first half of the season…, however, it’s what you do at the end of the season that counts.” The team has been working hard since late August, and it is clear that their work has been paying off. The season will not end until the completion of the spring term, so they still have many more matches to prove why they are number one in the country.

As Davis Motyka ‘24 said, “I think the team has been growing closer each day,… everyone brings each other upduring practice and school.” The wrestlers work very hard to keep their grades up and balance school withwrestling very well. Even though the team is undefeated, all the players still work to be even better than they already are. Robinson was hired in 2021 and filled the position seamlessly.

Following the influential mentorship of last year’s seniors, this year’s seniors have stepped up to the challenge and have continued a positive influence on their new freshmen teammates.  The team can be found almost every day practicing in the Great Hall,  which used to be a bank and still retains some of its original features such as the offices and the vaults, which are now used to store equipment.

On a personal note, I’d like to end by saying this; I have attended several matches and duels and have also gotten to know most of the wrestlers in social settings. I can say without a doubt that these athletes have some of the best work ethic I have ever seen. That, combined with their respect and friendship for each other on and off the mat, is the reason they are the champions of Wyoming Seminary.

By Teddy Kraus ‘25 

After winning the Wyoming Valley Conference District Championship four years in a row, the Sem Boys Soccer team was optimistic heading into the 2022 season. Following the regular season with an impressive record of 8-1-1, they liked their chances to win a fifth consecutive title. 

Unfortunately, Sem lost to Dunmore 5-1 and their championship aspirations came up short. Current senior captain Louie Michaels ‘24 reflected on how the team felt after the loss saying, “We were defeated and devastated. That team had one of the best potentials of any Sem boys soccer team. It was especially hard to swallow because we knew we beat ourselves. The whole team definitely experienced pain from that loss.”

Going into this season, there were questioned about how the team would bounce back after losing key players like Thomas Iskra, Aiden Gilbert, and Owen Rowlands to graduation. The team silenced any questions, however, posting a 7-3 record including a spectacular 5-0 record in away games. Captain Matt Swartz ‘25 commented on how the team has adjusted, saying “Even though we lost a lot of talent and leadership from last year, coach Littzi expects the same thing out of everyone as far as work ethic and attitude goes. Everyone on the team has stepped up in a major way and I give a ton of credit to coach on how he’s adjusted our lineup from an X’s and O’s perspective to keep us playing well.”

Great teams are able to use losses as learning opportunities and motivation to improve. When asked if the team is using last year’s loss to motivate them this year, starting Central Defensive Midfielder, Brian Leahy, ‘25 noted, “For sure it is. Last year’s loss is definitely driving us and motivating us to win it this year. We have the talent to win. What separates us is that we have a group of guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to win. Come district time, losing isn’t an option anymore. Experiencing defeat last year, seeing the seniors leave sad, we don’t want to get that feeling of regret and disappointment again. The seniors will end their careers with gold.”

The ending to last year’s District Championship loss was very difficult for the Sem Boys Soccer team. It would have been easy for the team to take a step back from their consistent success over the past five years, especially after losing four starters from last year’s team. However, with Coach Littzi’s adjustments, the players’ work ethic and attitude, and the team’s ability to use last year as motivation, this year they’re ready to get back to the top.