ATHLETES OF YEAR 2008

MALE - Anthony Nattle, Phoenixville, football, track & field.


Nattle completed a four-year varsity career for the Phantoms as a first team all-league defensive back and second team running running back during 2008 fall season as the Phantoms finished in third place in the PAC-10 (8-4 overall) and landed their third trip to the District 1 Class AAA playoffs in the last four years. Top-seeded Upper Moreland edged Phoenixville, 26-20, in the first round at Willow Grove.
Nattle rushed for 769 yards and seven touchdowns on 141 carries for a 5.5-yard average. He also helped lead the blocking for leading rusher Abdul Kelly, who totaled 815 yards and seven TDs on 148 attempts (5.5-yard avg.). Nattle also caught 19 aerials from sophomore quarterback Tom Romano for 355 yards and three scores (18.7-yard average). Overall, Nattle scored 12 touchdowns to top the team with 72 points.
Nattle played in the secondary as a cornerback on defense this year, but he previously played defensive end and linebacker as well. He also returned kickoffs and punts and was part of an opportunistic defense that finished plus-11 in takeaways while intercepting 18 passes and recovering 12 fumbles. The Phantoms had the second-ranked defense in the area behind undefeated league champion Pottsgrove.
Bill Furlong is head coach of the Phantom gridders and Don Jackson serves as defensive coordinator.
In track & field, the versatile Nattle competed in the sprints and jumping events for head coach Jack Kraynak’s PAC-10 champions. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound speedster formerly competed in baseball as an outfielder.



FEMALE - Chelsea DiFebbo, Phoenixville, field hockey, basketball, lacrosse. The 2008 Phoenixville Area High School graduate is now enrolled at Kutztown University as a freshman.

DiFebbo competed in field hockey as a defensive back, a forward in basketball and a goalkeeper in lacrosse as a versatile three-sport athlete. In field hockey, she played for coach John Tornetta, in basketball for Erik Rutchauskas and in lacrosse for Jen Foresta.
She comes from an athletic family of three boys and two girls, who are the children of Ralph and Linda DiFebbo. Younger sister Chandler is now playing basketball as a freshman for the Phantoms. DiFebbo and Janay Winston were the two seniors on last year’s basketball squad that qualified for the District 1 Class AAA playoffs for a number of years to help turn the program around.
Older brothers Chad and Chase are starting in football, as a quarterback and wide receiver, respectively, for Shippensburg University. Younger brother Chance has been a standout at the Phoenixville Marian Youth Club (PMYC) level in football and basketball and is expected to continue the strong tradition in future years at the scholastic level.
In lacrosse, DiFebbo singlehandedly won or kept the Phantoms in several games with a prolific number of crucial saves.

Phoenixville’s boys basketball

Phoenixville’s boys basketball team came through with an important 62-57 victory over St. Pius X Saturday afternoon at the Phantoms’ gym.
Both teams compete in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division.
Mike Matson came off the bench to lead the way for the Phantoms with 17 points, including nine in the opening quarter. Matson’s nickname is “Mad Dog” and he certainly played with that aggressiveness against the Winged Lions.
Matson sank six field goals, including one 3-pointer, and shot 4-for-7 at the free throw line. Corey Gordon added 13 points for thde Phantoms on three field goals with two treys and 5-for-6 foul shooting.
Mike Dinnella led St. Pius X with 12 points, including a pair of triples.
Coach Bill Detweiler’s Phoenixville ballclub is now 3-1 in the PAC-10 and 5-2 overall with non-league games against top Class AAAA schools Academy Park and Souderton scheduled for Monday and Tuesday prior to the Christmas Holiday break.
Coach Randy Reber’s St. Pius X crew is 1-2 in the league (5-2 overall).

Phoenixville’s boys basketball team

Phoenixville’s boys basketball team opened the 2008-09 season by posting two victories to capture the George Rocco Tip-Off Tournament at Phoenixville Area High School.
On Friday night the Phantoms disposed of Kennett, 57-33, and in the title game, Phoenixville beat Wissahickon, 47-36, Saturday evening.
On Friday, George Harper had 18 points, 10 rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal in his Phoenixville debut after transferring from American Christian in Philadelphia. Greg Peters finished with 15 points, including two 3-point field goals, 12 rebounds and one block for coach Bill Detweiler’s crew.
The Phantoms had a tougher time Saturday against Wissahickon and Phoenixville trailed, 33-28, in the third period. The Phantoms outscored the Trojans, 17-3, in the fourth quarter.
Senior guard Yusuf Brown finished with 19 points, five rebounds and four assists to be named tournament Most Valuable Player for the Phantoms while junior forward Harrison Deyo netted 14 points with four boards. Brown had to handle the basketball against heavy Wissy pressure and made six field goals with one trey and shot 6-for-9 at the free throw line down the stretch.
Harper had another big game with 14 rebounds, seven points, two blocks, two steals and two assists. Forward Jamie Hennessey played well off the bench in both contests for the Phantoms.
Phoenixville opens its Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC-10) schedule against Upper Perkiomen in Red Hill Tuesday night and travels to face defending league and District 1 Class AAA champion Pottstown Thursday night.

Phoenixville Area High School Boys Basketball Team

Phoenixville Area High School will have a tall and deep boys basketball team for the 2008-09 season under head coach Bill Detweiler.
The Phantoms have 6-foot-6 senior forward/center and 6-6 junior transfer George Harper to lead the way up front. Harper transferred to Phoenixville from American Christian in Philadelphia and is a real athletic player.
Also up front will be 6-4 junior Harrison Deyo while senior Yusuf Brown and junior Corey Gordon will man the backcourt.
The depth on the bench comes from junior forward Jamie Hennessy, junior forward Mike Matson, junior guard Scott Crabtree, sophomore swingman Nick Jones, sophomore forward Jake Lynch and junior swingman Ryan Hoover.
Phoenixville is expected to contend for the Frontier Division and Pioneer Athletic Conference titles with defending champion Pottstown. The Phantoms did a lot of work to improve themselves during the ever-important offseason months.
Detweiler is assisted by Lou Brignola, G.T. Pufko and Bruce MacLelland Jr., a former Phantom player who went on to play at Cabrini College as well.
The Phantoms have a difficult early season schedule in December and start the PAC-10 with back-to-back rough road games against Upper Perkiomen and Pottstown next week.