HS Football: Colonial League holds preseason Media Day

Tony Sibilla of Penn Sports Radio interviews Jim Thorpe players Gavin Strohl, Josh Louk and Cole Lazorick during Tuesday's Colonial League Football Media Day at Pen Argyl High School (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

PEN ARGYL — It was a different venue, but the atmosphere was the same.

It was time for the Colonial League schools to talk football.

The Colonial League held its second Colonial League Football Media Day on Tuesday at Pen Argyl High School’s C-wing gymnasium. The league’s 14 high school football teams came in waves to meet with media members from seven outlets to discuss their squad’s outlook as they prepare for the 2025 season.

Last year, the Colonial League held its first Media Day at the Phoenix at Holy Family Club in Nazareth. This year, they moved to Pen Argyl’s backup gymnasium located on the C Wing of the school.

“I think it’s cool to get everyone together,” said Pen Argyl head coach Brady Mutton, who coordinated the event. “Obviously, this year is a little different. We’re all not here at the same time … but just getting to interact.

“It’s a good opportunity to expose everybody to more media and more newspapers than they typically would be accustomed to.”

Patterned after the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Media Day, which was held last week at Schuylkill Haven, the Colonial League Media Day had players and coaches pose for photos, conduct video and radio interviews and vote in the T102 Sports Now preseason Schuylkill-Colonial Football Cooperative Coaches’ Poll. The polls for each division will be released Saturday, Aug. 9.

Media members from T102 Sports Now, the Allentown Morning Call, Lehighton Times-News, Penn Sports Radio, Blue Ridge Cable, D-11 Sports and PA Football News attended Tuesday’s event, each stationed at their own table to talk with the teams as they circulated the small gymnasium.

The Colonial League had a strong campaign in 2024, with Northwestern Lehigh going 16-0 and winning the PIAA Class 3A state championship. The Tigers should be strong again, with quarterback Shane Leh, receiver/linebacker Mason Bollinger, tight end/linebacker Shane Hulmes and scatback/defensive back Brady Zimmerman returning for Josh Snyder’s club.

“We have extremely high expectations once again,” Snyder said. “We have a lot of skill power coming back. We have a quarterback in Leh, who is a three-year starter, Mason is a four-year starter, Shane (Hulmes) is a three-year starter. There’s Brady (Zimmerman) … and Michael Lagowy should have a big year as a receiver.

“We’re looking for big things ahead. We want to compete for championships while keeping that one-game mindset.”

In addition to Northwestern, Southern Lehigh (12-3) captured the District 11 Class 4A crown and reached the state semifinals. Notre Dame-Green Pond (8-4), Saucon Valley (8-3) and Northern Lehigh (7-4) also compiled winning records, with NDGP winning the Schuylkill-Colonial Cooperative White Division title.

Bangor, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Northwestern Lehigh and Southern Lehigh join Schuylkill League teams Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill, Pottsville and Tamaqua in the big-school Red Division of the cooperative.

The remaining nine Colonial League squads comprise the White Division: Catasauqua, Northern Lehigh, Notre Dame-Green Pond, Palisades, Palmerton, Pen Argyl, Salisbury, Saucon Valley and Wilson Area.

Enrollment-wise, Bangor, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Southern Lehigh are in Class 4A; Northwestern Lehigh, Notre Dame-Green Pond, Palmerton, Saucon Valley and Wilson are in Class 3A; and Catasauqua, Northern Lehigh, Palisades, Pen Argyl and Salisbury are in Class AA.

Cole Lazorick, Josh Louk and Gavin Strohl represented Jim Thorpe on Tuesday, while Jayse Lawrence, Blake Roberts and Caden Meek were there from Lehighton.

“We have media visits so much and you guys are always around,” said Mutton, in his sixth season as Pen Argyl’s head coach. The Green Knights were 5-7 a year ago, falling 49-14 to Williams Valley in the District 11 Class AA semifinals.

“This helps you guys a lot to collect everything in one area,” Mutton continued. “I like it for the social aspect. You get to hang out a little bit. By the time next week rolls around we’re all done for the summer and it’s time to get locked in.”