Football - Varsity

Football has been part of the Wyoming Seminary community for at least 130 years.  From its inception, the football program has been a defining aspect of the school, helping Sem build a distinguished reputation for academic and athletic excellence among fellow prep schools as well as colleges and universities.  Many Sem football players have gone on to successful college football careers, and have advanced to play in the professional leagues or coach nationally at recognized university and professional programs.

Wyoming Seminary football  join New England Preparatory School Athletic Council 

After nearly 135 years of playing an independent schedule, Wyoming Seminary will be joining the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) for the 2020 season.  Sem will be a part of the newly formed NEPSAC Class A – Northeast Prep Football Conference, an 11-team conference that will remain as one unit through a two-year introductory period.

Joining this conference gives Sem football an opportunity to compete in, what is considered, the premier prep conference in the country.  Sem Football will have the opportunity to also compete in post-season competition, vie for a conference championship as well as develop new rivalries. Student-athletes, meanwhile, will have an opportunity to earn all-conference recognition and participate in offseason college combines.
“Joining the NEPSAC will enable both programs to continue to attract high quality student-athletes and establish competitive relationships with highly reputable academic and athletic institutions,” said Sem head football coach, Jim Anderson.
In addition to Wyoming Seminary, the NEPSAC Class A – Northeast Prep Football Conference includes Phillips Academy Andover, Brunswick School, Cheshire Academy, Deerfield Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Hun School, Salisbury School, Suffield Academy, Williston-Northampton School, and Worcester Academy.
Each NEPSAC team will compete in seven games and also will play in two non-league games. Teams in the Class A league will each be allowed a maximum of seven postgraduate players in 2020 and six postgraduates in 2021.

2020 Outlook
The 2020 Blue Knights are led by captains Shymell Davis (PG- Mantua Twp, NJ)- TE/LB, Dallas Holmes (PG- Bethlehem, PA)- QB, Mario Kljajic (SR- Innsbruck, Austria)- OL//DL, Mike Stanczyk (SR- Wyoming, PA)- OL/DL, Jaden Blackman (PG- London, ON)- RB/SS, Devin Brandt (PG- Muskogee, OK)- OL/DL, along with Trey Harris- (PG-Atlanta, GA)- WR/FS, Isaiah Ambroise (PG- Birmingham, AL) - WR/DB.  
Local standouts include  Nino Cinti (PG- Wilkes-Barre, PA)- WR-DB, Caleb Grossman (JR- Swoyersville, PA)- RB/SS, and Michael Stanczyk (SR-Wyoming, PA)- OL/DL, and Jack Higgins (SO- Honesdale, PA)- WR/DB.  
Sem football also boasts talent Globally, Mario Kljajic (SR- Innsbruck, Austria)- OL/DL,  Anton Beemelmanns (JR- Cologne, Germany)- WR/SS, Lucas Starmann (SR.- Dusseldorf, Germany)- OL/DL, Luca Dohn (JR- Neubrandenburg, Germany)- OL/DL, Jadon Blackman (PG - Ontario, Canada) - RB/OLB, Chuming Cheng (JR- Beijing, China)- FB/LB and Ugochokwu Ezerioha (SO- Shomolu, Nigeria)- FB/LB bring international exposure to the Sem football program from five different countries to help the program improve for the fourth consecutive year.

Whether you are a beginner, experienced veteran, or a post-graduate, there is a place for you in our program. The varsity team has a nine-game independent competitive schedule that follows pre-season camp. There is no need to have had a lifetime of play in order to participate. We are committed to developing a strong program, both during and in the off-season.  Our players are committed to excellence in academics, athletics, and enjoy student life in a vibrant community. Our football players work hard on and off the field, play with class and resolve in victory or defeat, and strive to uphold the standards necessary to succeed as a Sem student athlete. We are not just focused to help our players become better athletes, but true to our mission, that they become better young men and great community members.

 

Jim Anderson - Head Coach
Jim Anderson, named Associate Director of Athletic and Head Varsity Football Coach at Wyoming Seminary in January, 2017, has a distinguished career in football at both the college and high school levels. Most recently he served as associate vice president for enrollment management/executive director of admission at King’s College and as assistant football coach and defensive coordinator for the Dallas High School football program.

Coach Anderson also was a member of the King's College football program from its inception in 1991 until 2009, serving as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, strength coach, and head of player recruitment for the Monarchs.

Anderson's belief is that a football team wins with defense first. His philosophy was confirmed in 2002 when he was selected as the NCAA Div. III Defensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Monthly Magazine.

A 1982 graduate of Concord-Carlisle High School in Concord, Mass., Anderson was an All-League selection in 1981. While at Springfield College he enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career. As a senior middle linebacker, he served as a team tri-captain and was named the Pride's MVP, while earning All-New England laurels. Anderson received his highest honor as a Kodak Division II All-America first-team selection, and has been named to the Pride’s All-Decade Team.

Anderson earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1985 before attending graduate school at Springfield the following year, when he served as the Pride’s head freshman coach; he was promoted to graduate assistant varsity coach the following year. For two seasons, he coached the inside linebackers at Springfield while earning his master of education degree in athletic administration in 1988. Anderson also served as outside linebackers coach for one season at Div. I-AA Lehigh University, and as offensive line and offensive special teams coach for one season at Springfield College. He later served there as offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator before joining the King’s College football program.

 

For more information about the football program at Wyoming Seminary, contact Coach Anderson at janderson@wyomingseminary.org or (570) 270-2159.

Jim Norris - Offensive Coordinator (Offensive/Defensive Line)
Coach Norris was a standout player at Pittston Area High School, who continued his playing career at Lehigh University as a three-year letter winner and two-year starter. After completing his athletic and academic careers at Lehigh University, Coach Norris served as an assistant football coach at the collegiate level at Delaware Valley College (Pa.), Westfield (N.J.) Junior High School, Pittston Area (Pa.) High School and Mid Valley (Pa.) High School. Coach Norris served as the head football coach at Pittston (Pa.) High School from 2014-2016 before joining the Wyoming Seminary community.

Randy Granger - Running Backs/Defensive Backs, Kickers
Coach Granger has worked at independent schools for over 30 years in admissions, administration and teaching. Coach Granger has coached football at Sem for 15 years with five head coaches, and brings valuable insights to both players and coaching staff. During his 30-year career, Coach Granger has also coached baseball, soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse, during which his teams were highly successful.

Keith Lowthert - Quarterbacks/Punters
A standout high school player in Owings Mills (Md.), Coach Lowthert graduated from Towson University in 1984, and served as an assistant coach at Springfield College (Mass.) from 1989-1991. Coach Lowthert served as the King’s College (Pa.) quarterbacks coach from 1991-2008, and as special teams coordinator before his arrival at Sem in 2017.

Joe Oliveri - Linebackers/Technology
Coach Oliveri was an All-WVC player at linebacker for Pittston Area High School (Pa.) and played the linebacker position from 1997-2001. Coach Oliveri continued his playing career at King’s College and served on the Pittston Area High School football program as both head freshman coach and assistant coach from 2006-2016.

Jeff Labatch- Secondary/Wide Receivers
Coach Labatch, a Wilkes-Barre native, was a standout athlete at E.L. Meyers High School ’94 and King’s College in ‘98.  Coach Labatch brings twenty years of youth and high school coaching experience to the Sem Football staff.  Before his arrival to Wyoming Seminary, Coach Labatch served as Defensive Coordinator for E.L. Meyers High School from 2010-2014 and Head Coach from 2015-2018.  Jeff is currently a teacher in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and assists with the Keystone State Games during the Summer months. 

Bill Reiss- Defensive Coordinator (Tight Ends/Linebackers) 
Bill Reiss is in his first year as Defensive Coordinator at Wyoming Seminary. Bill has experience at the Prep level coaching at Hargrave Military Academy, VA.  During his tenure at Hargrave, Bill coached the Defensive Line, served as Strength & Conditioning Coordinator and  Head Equipment Manager.  At Hargrave, Bill coached several student athletes onto the college level and NFL.
Bill is the current Defensive Coordinator at Lackawanna College. He started his career at Lackawanna as Linebackers and Special Teams Coordinator, before becoming the Defensive Coordinator in 2014. During the 2019 campaign, the Falcons Defense accumulated a top 10 finish in the NJCAA in most statistical categories. The defensive performance helped propel the Falcons to an 11-0 finish, an El Toro Bowl victory, and a #6 ranking in the NJCAA. Most recently, he helped the 2020 Falcons reach the NJCAA National Title. During his career, he has helped multiple student athletes sign Division 1 Scholarships and has coached multiple NFL players, most recently coaching Kyzir White.
Bill received an Associate’s Degree in Sports Management from Lackawanna College , Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management and a Master’s Degree in Coaching from Greenville University. He currently resides in Scranton, PA with wife Cat and daughters Raeleigh and Elliotte. Bill is a native of Wilkes – Barre, PA and attended E.L. Meyers High School.