Football Preview: Not-so new Garnet Valley coach Van Wyk inherits a winning legacy
CONCORD >> The slogan for Garnet Valley’s football class of 2023 is set. Its object is purposefully vague.
“Prove it,” goes the motto devised by the rising Jaguars seniors. As for the “it” …
That late year’s run to the District 1 Class 6A title and PIAA semifinals is replicable? That this group belongs alongside a storied class of 2022? That the transition in eras from three decades under Mike Ricci to new coach Eric Van Wyk won’t knock GV from the ranks of the Central League and district’s elite?
“We take pride in our past here at Garnet Valley, no matter what the past year was,” Van Wyk said. “What I love about this senior class that we have is they’re embracing the past, but now they want to make their mark on it. It’s been my thought as well. … It’s the seniors’ turn and my turn to help continue the tradition of excellence that has been created for us.”
Following last year’s success was going to be a tough task, no matter who was in charge. A first district championship since 2007 and four straight Central League crowns, with a 34-game league unbeaten streak dating to 2017 — that’s a lot for a new coach to inherit from Ricci, who won 263 games over 35 seasons.
Van Wyk, though, is ready for the challenge. He considers Ricci a mentor whose importance in his life is eclipsed only by his own parents. The 2008 graduate and baseball All-Delco has spent 10 years on staff, coaching freshman football and working with varsity quarterbacks.
After so much focus on granular details as a position coach within the vast GV football machine, he’s enjoying the more global view as the head man.
“Getting to see the whole view of this coaching staff, with 20 coaches, we’re so blessed to have that,” he said. “It’s been really cool to see the opportunity to see everyone coaching and how special that is. I’ve really enjoyed that. It’s been stressful at times, as well, no doubt about it. It’s a learning curve, but I have a lot of great coaches helping me out.”
“It’s definitely different with Coach Ricci leaving,” senior split end/linebacker Drew Van Horn said. “But it’s great. (Van Wyk) brings the energy every day. He loves all of us competing. He brings new things in practice. The philosophy is still the same. We all want to stick together. But the new things he brings is just awesome.”
Van Wyk’s vantage point includes an idea of how much will change, not because Ricci retired but in replacing the outstanding class of 2022. Among them were seven All-Delcos at every level of the field. Running back Shane Reynolds, with his 1,292 yards and 21 touchdowns, is at Navy. Quarterback Max Busenkell, his 1,933 passing yards and 27 TDs obliterated program records in Ricci’s normally run-heavy system. Linemen Sam DiTrolio and Nolan Brennan, wide receiver Sean Gallagher, linebacker Joey Halloran and defensive back CJ Wood — between them, they accounted for 11 All-Delco nods across all sports. All seven are playing sports at the collegiate level.
Toss in another eight starters, and the Jaguars count returning contributors in single digits. It’s a heavy loss, though commensurate with last year’s achievements.
It’s also the past. And if the class of 2023 picked up any lessons, it’s to play to their strengths. There might not be a Busenkell or a Gallagher emerging. But there doesn’t have to be in order to excel, so long as they maximize their ability.
“The big thing here is to be on the shoulders of giants,” Van Horn said. “Last year’s team was awesome. But we’re our own unique team. We have our own strengths.”
The talent cupboard isn’t bare. Van Horn is one of the all-purpose playmakers, with slot receiver Jack Westburg. Jason Bernard and Joe Checchio will occupy carries in the backfield, though Ronnie Leraris, Trevor Saccomandi and Luke Mingioni all had a taste of varsity action.
The lines, per usual, are a reload rather than rebuild, with Kieran Gallagher anchoring units stacked with undersized but agile bodies. Senior Matt Mesaros takes over at quarterback, where it’s a balancing act between following the strong-armed Busenkell and returning to a pre-Busenkell era. “Matt’s a little different,” said Van Wyk, also a Jaguars quarterback in his time. “But he still has a really impressive skillset that we’re really excited about.”
One benefit of winning by such wide margins — last year’s 14 victories were by an average of 34.9 points — is that the new faces aren’t quite so new. Many got a valuable taste of the trappings of varsity, as reserves. Those extra series, even if it’s fewer than 10, change the starting point this season.
“I think it’s vital,” Van Wyk said. “Any time you can get the opportunity to be out there on a Friday night and get that experience, no matter what situation of the game, I think it’s vital. And I think it’s showing right now. … It really opened the eyes of some of these guys that they want to do it again, but it’s going to take a lot of work.”
A front-loaded schedule does Garnet Valley no favors. It starts the league with road encounters at Upper Darby and Radnor, before welcoming Ridley and Springfield to Moe DeFrank Stadium. A trip to Haverford cues an all-Main Line run into the playoffs, where it can make up ground.
Ultimately, Van Wyk and his players are endeavoring for the same thing. Whether it’s Ricci or the class of 2022, they’re trying to build on what has come before, while putting their own spin on it.
