We Found Our Greatest Sports Fan!

The competition was stiff, but one fan's lifelong commitment was as clear as the ink on her arm.

After weeks of voting, we have a winner in our "Greatest Sports Fan" contest. It was a tough competition with some serious super fans showing off their stuff, but one fan's devotion was so clear, so beautiful, so permanent, that it was pretty clear who had won voters' hearts. Patch reader Tara Sarica submitted the winning photos of a Phillies super fan who's tattoos of Harry Kalas, the Vet, and the Philly Phanatic testify to a lifelong commitment to our Fightin' Phils. Her entry garnered more than half of the 125 votes we received in our contest. We'll be contacting Tara shortly to let her know how she can claim her prize.   Thanks to all of those who entered or voted in our contest. You're all super fans in our books.

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Signing Day at Abington

Several Abington student athletes make commitments today to colleges and universities.

Boys Lacrosse Football Boys Soccer Girls Track   In attendance were Abington football coach Tim Sorber; Abington lacrosse coaches Ryan Green and Randy McNeil; Abington soccer coach Randy Garber; and Abington track coach Brian Deck.

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Abington Boys' Basketball Falls to Council Rock North

North comes back from 12-point, second-half deficit

  NEWTOWN — The current version of the Abington boys' basketball team has reached the point where moral victories and excuses don't exist. A loss is still a loss, even one that started out as a big win against one of the District 1's top teams. By the end of Tuesday night at Council Rock North's gym, the Ghosts failed to hold a 14-point lead, and the Indians stormed back to a 65-56 win in a crucial Suburban One League National Conference match-up. "You have to give credit to Council Rock North," Abington coach Charles Grasty said. "They hit some tough shots. Our guys did what we asked them to do. They stepped back and hit threes. It's hard to guard that. They've won 11 straight for a reason. It's not like we're losing to teams with zero …

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Abington Boys' Basketball Falls to Truman

Ghosts squander 15-point first-quarter lead

  BRISTOL TOWNSHIP — For the first eight minutes of their foray into the Harry S. Truman gym, the Abington boys played flawless team basketball. The next 24? Not so much. After mounting a 15-point, opening-quarter lead and looking like the dominant Suburban One National League power they had become, the Galloping Ghosts slid to a 68-65 loss to the Tigers last night. "The first quarter, we came out and played team basketball," Abington head coach Charles Grasty said. "We got a good lead, then started taking bad shots. That's what happens. We put ourselves in the hole and tried to fight back. But we're not disappointed in these guys. We played well and will keep our heads up." Junior Jordan Simmons accounted for nine points in a first …

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Abington Wrestlers Fall to Pennsbury

The teams split 14 bouts, but Pennsbury scores more points

  PENNSBURY — Abington left Pennsbury with a split of Wednesday night's 14 bouts, a positive development for the improving wrestling program. The bonus points just didn't add up, as the Galloping Ghosts dropped a 37-30 dual match to the host Falcons. "I'm happy with the way the kids wrestled," Abington head coach John Gillespie said. "They were doing a lot of things that we've been working on in the room. We knew we were going to have a tough time against here, but we're getting better." The Ghosts are without star 220-pounder Bryan Osei, whose season ended earlier this month with a torn labrum and partially torn bicep tendon suffered at the Bullet Invitational at Brandywine Heights. A dominating mat presence, Osei had plans to qualify for…

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Bryan Osei Finishing up Abington Sports Career

The two-sport star will head to Temple in the Fall

  Part of Bryan Osei's e-mail address refers to Sempi Fi, the U.S. Marines' motto that means "Always Faithful." Another part references the story of Benaiah, a Biblical warrior who defeated a lion by chasing it into a den. Told to him one day in church, Osei uses the metaphor as inspiration for overcoming fears on the football field and wrestling circle, assuming the 220-pound, 18-year-old senior has any. Really, his opponents should be afraid. The two-sport star is wrapping up a stellar career at Abington Senior High School. After serving as a bruising defensive end in the autumn, he is again spending his winter as a wrestling heavyweight, looking to improve on last year's 39-6 record and a fifth-place finish in the Southeast Region …

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Abington Boys' Basketball Takes the Altoona Classic

Ghosts hold on for 71-68 win in final; off to 7-1 start

  This was supposed to be the year the Abington boys’ basketball team transitioned from last year's collection of senior shooters to a solid unit of relentless passers. The youthful Galloping Ghosts appear to have caught on quickly, returning from Western Pennsylvania with a 71-68 overtime win to take the Altoona Classic Basketball Tournament. Anthony Durham's 29 points led the sterling effort over Allentown Central Catholic in the final, and Mike Griffin hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the game into overtime. With that win, over a team that included nationally ranked sophomore Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman (No. 10 in the country), Abington moved to 7-1 overall, or two wins from their 2010-11 total. "We feel like we can beat any …

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Former Abington QB Morton Thriving at Kutztown

Morton holds all of Abington passing records and is close to doing the same at Kutztown.

  By the time Kevin Morton left Abington in 2008, he had secured all of the high school's passing records and become the most prolific thrower in Suburban One League history. Despite such incredible accomplishments, Division 1 colleges passed on the 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback, fearing his size wouldn't play at that level. Disappointed but determined, Morton joined Division II Kutztown with plenty to prove. By the time he graduates next fall, after his redshirt senior season, Morton will have also shattered Golden Bears records. A two-time PSAC East Offensive Player the Year, Morton has 11 career 300-yard passing games, including two of 400 or more. He already holds the marks for passing yards (3,633 in 2010) and touchdown passes (38 …

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Coach Algeo Honored

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners recognized the recently retired Lansdale Catholic football coach for his 44 years of service.

Coach Jim Algeo was honored by the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday with a resolution recognizing his "44 years of dedicated service to the students of Lansdale Catholic High School." Algeo retired in November after a 53-year coaching career, the last 44 of them at Lansdale Catholic. Asked by Commissioner James Matthews what he had learned from his student players over the years, Algeo spoke of his 1971 Lansdale Catholic team, which he said had started the season with three consecutive losses but returned to practice each succeeding Monday more determined to win than before. "You can always work harder to make yourself better," Algeo said. The full text of the Commissioners' resolution follows.   WHEREAS…

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Source: Jimmy's Back

Jimmy Rollins via Twitter: 'I see you all know by now. Gotta deal with me for 3 (4) years.'