SENIOR WEEKS: West Chester East’s Wileczek hangs up his cleats to focus on future at Temple
One of the most talented and versatile multi-sport athletes in the Ches-Mont League has represented his school for the last time on the field.
That’s not exactly the way West Chester East football and baseball star John Wileczek drew it up.
Wileczek, who is headed to Temple University but doesn’t plan to play any sports, watched his baseball season disappear when the coronavirus pandemic ended the 2020 spring sports season in Pennsylvania.
During the 2019 football season, Wileczek was one of the top performers on a West Chester East team that went 9-3 and captured the Ches-Mont League American Division title before advancing to the second round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs before being eliminated by West Chester Rustin, 14-7.
Wileczek was a top performer for football head coach Scott Stephen, as the Viking senior was a key slot receiver, defensive back and one of the best kickoff and punt returners in the Ches-Mont, and was a threat to take the ball to the opposing team’s end zone every time he touched it. Wileczek brings that same explosiveness and speed to the baseball diamond.
In his junior season, Wileczek, an infielder and one of the fastest players in th Ches-Mont, rallied the Vikings to an 11-8 record under first-year head coach John Fleming. Wileczek was a flashy fielder and when the Vikings’ speedster got on base, he was almost a lock to take second with a steal.
“I was really hoping the season started and we could play some baseball,” Wileczek said. “We should have had a really good team this year because we return a lot of guys from last year and we had a good year last year. And, our senior class in football was big and we all got along and we are like a family. We are a very close-knit group. … We were really looking forward to it.”
Wileczek is headed to Temple in the fall to study business and Wileczek said the fact that he’ll stay close to home was a big factor in his college decision over a suburban or rural location.
“I am not going to play sports in college, “ Wileczek said. “I just decided that I would concentrate on my studies. Temple was my choice because it has a really good business school and that is what I want to study in college. I just enjoyed sports a lot in high school but I want to experience the college life and I really like the fact that Temple is in the city of Philadelphia. I like the city atmosphere and the pace of a big city.”
