Contacting me: - Update

I have temporarily cleared a small amount of space in my email box. However, spam continues to be a problem. To be sure you get through the filters, be sure to include the name of our city somewhere either in the subject or the body of your email.
You can contact me by phone. Follow this link for phone number.  -John

Sponsor
"Today in Chester's History" on "The Newsstand"
(Only 5.00 per day)

Dave Burman

Danny Murtaugh

Jameer Nelson

2/16/2004 SI Cover!

Congratulations to Chester's own Jameer Nelson! (Click for full-size Sports Illustrated cover) Announcement in the Delaware County Daily Times Friday 2/13 story in the Delaware County Daily Times St. Joseph's Hawks story National Player of the year candidate!

Mickey Vernon

The Delco Athletes Hall of Fame is proud to co-sponsor the Mickey Vernon Statue which was dedicated in the fall of 2003 at the Marcus Hook Memorial Field, where Mickey first played baseball.

Denied entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Mickey who just turned 85 years young deserves this honor.

We solicit contributions to help defray the cost of this expensive tribute by mailing contributions to: Mickey Vernon Fund, P.O. Box 67, Woodlyn, PA 19094.

Those donating $100.00 will receive a statue batting stance PHOTO of Mickey.

All donors will be recognized in the dedication booklet.

The Delco Hall of Fame carries a 501c3 status, making contributions tax-deductible.

Joe Cirilli, Executive Director
Delco Athletes Hall of Fame
484-487-0121

Coach Bennie Wright

Coach Bennie Wright Roast!

We welcomed all of the former athletes of Bennie Wright that ran for the Chester Blazers and/or played football for the Mary Street Raiders and/or The Bennett Raiders. The event is scheduled and is billed "The Coach Bennie Wright Roast" which will have 15 speakers at up to 3 minutes each of their thoughts and memories of Mr. Bennie "Comedy included" just like the former Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. Over 50 years of coaching has produced many professionals in a multitude of fields.

The event was held at the Concordville Inn on October 12th, 2006 at 6pm.

Chester grad Bo Ryan takes reins at Wisconsin
(Philadelphia Inquirer)

JS Online: Off to a Bo-dacious beginning
(Article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Ryan's hiring)

Bo Ryan Photo Gallery

Chester native Kevin Jones, the top-rated high school running back in the nation, just orally committed to play his college FB at Virginia Tech. It was a battle between Penn State and Va Tech to see who would get his services.

Legendary writer Jack Mccaffrey on Kevin Jones going to VA TECH

Jones embarrases Penn State

Kevin Jones Chooses Va. Tech

The last few years have brought allot of excitement to high school sports fans in the two neighboring communities of Chester and Wallingford.

Strath Haven High School (formerly Nether Providence) won the PIAA "AAA" football state championship in 1999 and 2000 and were state runnerups in 2001 and 2002. In 1999 the Panthers defeated West Allegheny from suburban Pittsburgh, 21-7. In a re-match in 2000, Strath Haven beat West Allegheny again in an epic, 31-28, on a 25-yard last-second field goal by Carl Schoenmann. West Allegheny finally beat Strath Haven in their third consecutive state championship game meeting in 2001, 28-13. Strath Haven then fell to Hopewell (Aliquippa, PA), 21-10 in the 2002 "AAA" state championship.

The Chester Clippers Boys High School basketball team went to the 2002-2003 "AAAA" state championship game before losing to State College in an overtime epic, 76-71 at the new Giant Center in Hershey. The Clippers were making their state-record 12th appearance in the state title game. Chester has captured 4 boys basketball state championships. The Clippers won the gold in 1983, 1989 and 1994 and 2000 and were runnerups in 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1967 and 1972.

Dave Burman

Johnny Pagony (sp?), CHS '37 pitched with the Baltimore Orioles when they were still triple A. Came up to the Phillys. While pitching one day third baseman Merrel May either said something or made a bad play. Johnny walked over to third base and poked him in the mouth. Later he requested to go back to Baltimore because he could make more money there."

- John Robinson, jsr.shep@prodigy.net

This is Brandon Wilson coming in 5th place in the preliminary 200 meter dash in AAU Junior Olympics in Detroit, Michigan yesterday (7/26/2003). Brandon will be attending Lincoln University this Fall on a track scholarship. Brandon runs for the Chester Track Club, and did not make it to the semi's, but has a promising future. Weight training in college will be the difference for an already speedy Brandon Wilson.

- Coach Craig "Fled" 

This is a photo finish of Donjei Richardson in the AAU Junior Olympic 200 meter dash in Detroit, Michigan. Donjei is an eight year old primary runner of the Chester Track Club. Donjei is seen here coming in second in the prelims. Donjei will be in the semifinal today (7/27) and hopefully the final on Monday.

 Donjei Richardson! 4th in the nation in the primary 200 meter dash! Great Job Donjei! We are very proud of you girl!

Coach Fled

"I am a track coach for the Chester Track Club, which consists of boys and girls age 6 to 18. Mr. Bennie Wright was my coach when I was a very young fellow, and now as he is moving up in age we have developed the Chester Track Club out of Mr. Bennie's Chester Blazers. Mr Bennie started the Blazers over 50 years ago, and all of the current Chester Track Club coaches ran for him. The man is like a true father to us. If any of you out there have children or grandchildren that likes to run, or has so much energy, and you are looking for a way to utilize that energy, you can bring the child to the Chester High School A-field (12th and Lamokin) at 5pm to sign up for the summer AAU track and field program. We started on May 1st and had a pretty good turnout. Mr. Bennie is still with us and we have a full professional staff of 6 coaches. Four of the coaches are high school head and assistant coaches at Chester High School. One coach is a parent of an athlete and a former all-star runner, and the final official and honorary coach is (all of Chesters) legendary track athlete Mr. Bennie Wright. Anyone interested will need to bring a copy of the athlete's birth certificate and the registration fee of $50.00, which covers the AAU card (required), insurance, and one uniform. We practice Monday through Friday at 5pm until the children finish the workout. We don't keep them past 7pm."

- Craig Rainey, CraigyFled86@aol.com 

Other coaches are:

Alfred A.J. Thompkins, Chester High's girls coach, and coached A.J.'s Elite with Hyreem Bradley as his assistant.
James "Jaimey" Wharton, Chester High's boys coach, and coached the Cheetah's with Craig Rainey as his assistant.

The team will be competing at the East Coast Invitational at Duke University's Blunt track on July19-21, 2002.