17 Neshaminy athletes commit to collegiate sports (VIDEO)

LANGHORNE – Over the years, there have been many Neshaminy athletes who did well in the Suburban One League (SOL) before taking their game to the next level.

While playing in the SOL is one thing, competing at the NCAA level is a whole new ball of wax. But that’s exactly what 17 Redskins will attempt to do next season with their collegiate teams.

Four football players, four from the field hockey team, three softballers, three soccer players, two track stars, one baseball and one lacrosse player made their collegiate plans known in a ceremony hosted by the athletic department Friday, Feb. 5 in the high school HUB.

Of the four headed out to play NCAA football, 6-3, 240-pound tight end Billy Ritchey is committed to Division I Sacred Heart (Conn.). Ritchey is accompanied by wide receiver Denzel Hughes and defensive end Harmon Yalartai, who have both committed to Division II Bloomsburg.

Additionally, three other gridiron warriors for Neshaminy are taking their game to the next level including linebacker Kyle Smith (Lock Haven), Jack defensive back Jack Spingler (Ursinus) and offensive tackle Hunter Kelly, who announced earlier in the week that he had been offered status as a preferred walk-on at Penn State.

“It’s been a lot of work to get where we are at today but it’s been a great four years for all of us,” said Ritchey. “All of our coaches are really proud of us.”

While the First Team All-Suburban One League tight end also had offers from Holy Cross and Wagner, Ritchey decided to go with the Pioneers.

“It’s a Division I football program and the coaching staff is amazing,” said Ritchey. “Coach (Mark) Nofri is an excellent coach. Sacred Heart has been NEC champs the past two years (2013 an ’14) and they’ve been to the NCAA playoffs- FCS level so it’s an up and coming program.”

Sacred Heart runs a power offense and a lot of pistol formations – just like the Skins – so Ritchey is going to try to make a seamless transition to the collegiate level.

A two-way player who also toiled at defensive end for Neshaminy, he’ll play fullback and H-back for the Pioneers, he says.

“I like blocking and hitting people and that’s why they liked me a lot – because I can block well,” he said.

While Hughes registered 31 receptions for 516 yards as a receiver for the Skins last season, Bloomsburg wants Denzel on the defensive side of the ball. He excelled on defense his last year at Neshaminy, compiling 37 tackles and a pair of interceptions while garnering First Team Suburban One National League honors at DB.

“Denzel has been a stud since day one; he’s been a starter since he was a freshman,” stated Ritchey. “Harmon came along this year and was the best defensive player on the team. He had a ton of sacks, a ton of forced fumbles and a ton of tackles for a loss.

“He’s a beast at the end; he’s probably one of the most disruptive players in Bucks County, I think.”

Yalartai was disruptive last season as in 47 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 10-and-half sacks and four forced fumbles. At the end of the season, in addition to First Team All-SOL honors, Harmon garnered s accolades from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to Ritchey, Yalartai is the strongest player on the team, by far, benching over 300 pounds, with a leg squat over 500 pounds.

Both Hughes and Yalartai looked at Shippensburg, Kutztown and IUP before deciding to play for the Huskies. Hughes also considered Central Connecticut and Millersville.

For his part, Smith also looked at West Chester and Kutztown before picking Lock Haven.

“Kutztown did not want me because they already had linebackers coming in that were higher-rated than me,” said Smith. “Lock Haven really wanted me for outside linebacker and I really like it there.”

As a backer for the Skins, Smith tallied 40 tackles, 5-and-a-half sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception, earning Second Team Suburban One National League honors.

After going 4-6 in 2014, just one year after winning the District One championship, Neshaminy turned things around again in 2015. The Skins posted an early season hard-fought 2-point win over Council Rock South and a stunning 16-14 win at Pennsbury to end the regular season.

In the District One Class AAAA tournament, 13th-seeded Neshaminy posted double-digit wins over no. 4 seed Spring-Ford and 12th-seeded Quakertown before falling to no. 9 North Penn.

“I felt like 2015 was exactly like 2013; it was a great year for all of us,” said Ritchey. “The tradition is going to continue from here with Coach Wilmot. The program is just going to keep on getting better from here on out.”

Both Spingler and Hughes played a significant role in getting the Skins to the district semifinals with Hughes hauling in a 60-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mason Jones and also scoring on a 77-yard punt return in a 31-17 D-1 quarterfinal win over Quakertown. Spingler did all his damage on defense, hauling in three interceptions and pouncing on a loose ball as the Panthers were nearing the red zone late in the game.

Contact the author at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter

2016 NESHAMINY College Commits

Amanda Blum, Field Hockey, Quinnipiac University

Marlena Koellner, Field Hockey, Sacred Heart University

Maria Palmieri, Field Hockey, Drexel University

Christen Pennington, Field Hockey, Villanova University

Sean Conway, Track, Bucknell, University

Sophie Beretski, Softball, Kutztown University

Mackensie Compton, Softball, Providence College

Cailyn Seely, Softball, Mercer County Community College

William Meyer, Baseball, Mercer County Community College

Denzel Hughes, Football, Bloomsburg University

William Ritchey, Football, Sacred Heart University

Kyle Smith, Football, Lock Haven University

Harmon Yalartai, Football, Bloomsburg University

David Nuckles, Lacrosse, North Greenville University

Julia Andreozzi, Soccer, Campbell University

Alyssa Antonelly, Soccer, Millersville University

Gabrielle Farrell, Soccer, Liberty University