Pair of local basketball teams honored with Gretchen Wolf Swartz sportsmanship awards

Susquehannock girls’ basketball coach Alex Fancher was in the middle of his day job as a teacher last Monday when he received a text from Warriors athletic director Brad Keeney asking Fancher to call him. That’s not usually a good sign, Fancher says.

This time, however, Keeney informed Fancher that his team had been selected as the Gretchen Wolf Swartz Sportsmanship Team Award winner for the York-Adams League’s 2023-24 season. Seniors on award-winning teams can apply for thousands of dollars in college scholarship money. Fancher quickly relayed the news to members of his team, setting up a joyful practice that afternoon.

“I didn’t know what it was about, but he called me up and he said, ‘Hey, I’ve got great news,’” Fancher said. “It was a really good moment.”

Bermudian Springs was named the boys’ team sportsmanship award winner last Monday. Local officials voted at the end of the regular season after observing the season-long conduct of each program's players, coaches, fans, students, faculty, managers and cheerleaders from junior high to varsity. Both winning programs will receive a traveling trophy in recognition of this award.

Gretchen Wolf Swartz was a York County basketball official from 1981-95, and her fellow referees created the memorial team awards and scholarship fund after she died of leukemia in 1997. The Gretchen Wolf Swartz Scholarship Foundation Board has awarded scholarships each year since 2001 and crossed the $1 million mark last year, when two Littlestown girls’ seniors and three Northeastern boys each received $27,000 scholarships.

This year’s scholarship recipients will be announced in May. The Eagles have five seniors — Tyson Carpenter, Gabe Kline, Mason Diaz, Ethan Young and Austin Reinert — on their 2023-24 roster, while the two seniors on Fancher’s Warriors are Georgie Snyder and Briley Jones.

Both of this year’s winners are actually the most frequent recipients in the program’s 24-year history — the Warrior girls have been recognized nine times this century, while the Eagle boys have been honored six times.

More basketball:Central York boys, Dallastown girls take different paths to repeat league titles

College:South Western's Collins shines for York College at MAC swimming championships

Bowling:Toomey shines in York-Adams USBC women's tournament

Racing:Lincoln Speedway set to open local outdoor season with Ice Breaker Weekend

Jared Nace, Bermudian Springs’ sixth-year boys’ head coach, was an assistant for two prior Eagles teams to win sportsmanship awards before earning the honor this season. Like Fancher, who’s in his third year at the helm for Susquehannock, Nace emphasizes to his players the importance of not getting rattled or complaining about calls that may not go their way during a game. And it’s paying off.

“It just means the world that they recognized that our program treats officials the way they want to be treated. It means everything to me,” Nace said. “It’s certainly appreciated for our seniors, that they can be applying for a scholarship to receive money for them to continue their education, because they’re a great bunch.”

Both teams’ sportsmanship is apparent beyond the 22-game season. They’ve taken pride in their practices and endeavors off the field, as well. Susquehannock’s girls held a canned good drive and donated over 400 pounds of food to the local food pantry, Fancher said. 

“I think the girls have really bought into the idea that we’re trying to do something bigger than play the game itself,” Fancher said. “It’s not just about the score. It’s about a whole lot more.”

Bermudian Springs’ boys went 14-8 this season, including a 9-5 mark in York-Adams Division III. The Eagles won’t take part in the playoffs after finishing 13th in the District 3 Class 4A power rankings, but this senior class — several members of whom also played a role in Bermudian’s shared D-III football title in 2023 — helped raise the program’s standard after consecutive losing seasons. And the foundation is set as next year’s Eagles prepare to chase a playoff berth for just the second time since 2014.

“This group means a lot to me. I’m very proud of the things they accomplished,” Nace said. “(When) I look back and remember the season, I’ll remember it for the way we practiced, the way we came together, and what a cherry on top this was to be recognized for our sportsmanship.”

Fancher’s squad, meanwhile, is in the District 3-5A field with a 10-12 record. The Warriors are one of the youngest, smallest teams in the York-Adams League but made remarkable strides during this season. They earned a signature win Jan. 24 against South Western, which had beaten Susky 49-18 when the teams first met in December. They’ll put their season on the line Tuesday at Mechanicsburg, with the winner assured of a trip to the state tournament.

“This is, hands down, the team that has improved the most from start to finish (during my tenure),” Fancher said. “The girls have committed themselves to making that happen, and it starts at every practice. … (This playoff appearance) wouldn’t have happened if this group didn’t commit themselves to getting better each day.”