DuBOIS — Forward Todd Hryn of Clearfield has been selected to play in the ninth annual Alice R. Kozel Foundation District 9 Basketball All-Star games set to tip-off Saturday, March 29, at Penn State-DuBois.
The 6-5 forward was the leading rebounder on the District 9 Class AAA runner-up and PIAA qualifier Bison team and second in scoring with 313 points, an 11.6 average. He tallied 15 or more points six times, with a season high of 15.
Hryn wound up with 500 points for two seasons as a Bison.
The girls’ game tips off at 4 p.m. followed by the boys’ game at 6 p.m. At halftime of each game will be a 3-point shooting contest with the boys competing during the girls’ halftime and girls shooting during the boys’ halftime.
This year, 43 of the top senior players in District 9 were named to the four teams. Overall, 25 of the district’s 36 schools will be represented. Kozel officials are once again excited about this year’s crop of seniors.
Each game will feature the top senior boys’ and girls’ basketball players in District 9 and those players along with the All American Awards & Engraving D9Sports.com District 9 boys’ and girls’ All-District 9 basketball team members will be honored prior to the games at a banquet at the Church of God in Brookville.
“Especially with the boys, we figured it was going to be hard to top last year’s 125-121 game,” said Kozel Co-Chairman Rich Rhoades. “But this year’s roster wasn’t easy to finalize. It’s a deep class. That doesn’t guarantee a great game, but it’s a start.”
The boys’ game features a Blue Squad led by DuBois Central Catholic’s Christian Spilman, Bradford’s Ben Lanich, Rocky Grove’s Cruz Mietus and the Coudersport duo of John Hau and Derek Burdick.
Coudersport has three players and its coach Chris Fink in the Kozel Game this year. The Falcons Blair Heimel is on the White Squad that also features Bradford’s Ryan LaBrozzi, DuBois Central’s Dom Varacallo, Rocky Grove’s Ethan Gravatt and East Forest’s Corey Snyder, the second-leading scorer and leading senior scorer in the district this season.
District 9 Class AA champion Cranberry, like Coudersport, also has three players named to the teams: Nick Persing, Brad Rembold and Chase Mitchell. However, an injury will force Mitchell to miss the game with Rembold taking his place as the injury replacement. Coach Eric O’Polka will also make his Kozel debut.
In the girls’ game, the Blue Squad is led by Coudersport’s Kristy Kamper, Redbank Valley’s Lacey Blose, Bradford’s Shelly Fuhrman and Smethport’s Diana Phalon while the White Squad is led by Karns City’s Allyson Kepple, Austin’s Rayna Valenti, Coudersport’s Jessica Wilson and Union’s Torri Smith.
The all-star game format was the original idea of Kozel Foundation founder and Kozel Games Co-Chairman Larry Salone.
“This wouldn’t have started without him and he’s been very supportive of District 9 basketball over the years,” Rhoades said.
“It’s great that we can put together something that showcases the area’s top basketball talent,” Salone added. “We’re glad that this event is a highlight of the season for District 9 basketball. We’re appreciative for all of the support that the parents and schools have given us.”
In all, 15 1,000-point career scorers are on the Kozel rosters.
The Clarion Hospital Athletic Medicine Program (CHAMP) will be the official athletic medicine provider of the Kozel Game this season.
There will be a small admission to the games. For more information on the games, go to www.D9sports.com and follow the links on the basketball page for the Kozel Game.
The Alice R. Kozel Foundation is a non-profit organization created in 1999 to provide funding for children and youth activity programs. To contact the foundation, please call 814-375-6999.
BOYS ROSTERS
Blue Squad
Nick Persing, Cranberry; Christian Spilman, DuBois Central Catholic; Kyle Rhoads, Keystone; Cruz Mietus, Rocky Grove; A.J. Ethriedge, Union; Derek Burdick, Coudersport; Chase Mitchell, Cranberry; Todd Hryn, Clearfield; John Hau, Coudersport; Eric Guth, Venango Catholic; Ben Lanich, Bradford; Kiel Nissel, Elk County Catholic.
Coaches: Dave Furhman, Bradford; Eric O’Polka, Cranberry; Chris Fink, Coudersport.
White Squad: Jordan Crane, Cameron County; Dom Varacallo, DuBois Central Catholic; Corey Snyder, East Forest; Josh Loos, Moniteau; Ryan LaBrozzi, Bradford; Ethan Gravatt, Rocky Grove; Blair Heimel, Coudersport; Logan Haberberger, Elk County Catholic; Drew Vandermeer, Clarion; Brad Rembold, Cranberry; John Bizzak, Kane.
Coaches: Mike Nesbit, DuBois Central Catholic; Jeff Labesky, Kane; Jerry Thornton, East Forest.
GIRLS ROSTERS
Blue Squad
Jackie Lutz, West Forest; Lacey Blose, Redbank Valley; Kristin Sestina, Cameron County; Alicia Ponegalek, East Forest; Sarah McNellie, Venango Catholic; Kristy Kamper, Coudersport; Diana Phalon, Smethport; Shelly Fuhrman, Bradford; Mandy Stinchcomb, St. Marys; Emily Fillman, Clarion.
Coaches: Bob Swanson, St. Marys; Bob Wachob, West Forest; Brian Green, Coudersport.
White Squad
Tessa Vargas, Sheffield; Rayna Valenti, Austin; Megan Lutz, Venango Catholic; Allyson Kepple, Karns City; Cassy Hinderliter, Keystone; Torri Smith, Union; Brittany Rounds, Northern Potter; Andrea Moyer, DuBois Central Catholic; Jessica Wilson, Coudersport; Rachel Hicks, DuBois.
Coaches: Dick Logue, Austin; Dave Kerschbaumer, Karns City; Tom McNellie, Venango Catholic.
Game Officials
Boys: Larry LaBrozzi, Ron Bacha, Colin Gaiser
Girls: Tony Flint, Joel Parana, Jamie Evens