Football - Varsity

2019 FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

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.

The 2019 Blue Knights are led by captains Xavier File (PG- Milville, NJ)- Safety, Receiver, Adam Honis (PG- Jamesville, NY)- QB and Mario Kljajic (JR- Innsbruck, Austria)- OL//DL, along with Trinidad Gonzalez- (PG-Bristol, CT)- LB/FB, Nicholas Lucien (PG- Moore Two, PA - WR/DB, and Jake Kaminski- (JR- Riverside, Il)- OL/DL.  Local standouts include  Darrian Tyson (PG- Wilkes-Barre, PA)- WR-DB, Todd Phillips (SR- Dallas, PA)- WR/Saf, and Michael Stanczyk (JR-Wyoming, PA)- OL/DL.  Sem football also boasts talent Globally, Max Plank (SR- Vienna, Austria)- TE/LB, Lucas Starmann (JR.- Dusseldorf, Germany)- OL/DL, Florian Roperz (SR- Hamburg, Germany)- OL/DL, and Jevon Layne (SR - Ontario, Canada) - RB/OLB bring international exposure to the Sem football program from five different countries to help the program improve for the third 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.