SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of March 27, 2025)
There’s something about Springfield Township – the community and its high school – that sets it apart. At least that’s the way senior Shannon Silvius sees it. “For me, especially doing sports at Springfield, I’ve learned that our school and our community are so well-knit,” she said. “Everyone knows each other. You’ll be on the street, and cars will be driving by. You’ll know more than half of the people in the cars, and I’m not exaggerating.”
For Silvius, a captain of both the soccer and lacrosse teams, that tightly knit community begins with her involvement in sports at a school with one of the smallest student populations in the SOL. For soccer and
lacrosse, every year our team is so close,” she said. “Our group chats are spamming 24/7. It’s like everyone loves to be together, loves to have a good time. You will never not catch us not smiling at practice and cracking jokes, but everyone also knows when to be serious, locked in. Everyone can come together and build each other up. I’ve learned it’s such an incredible and positive environment to be in, especially these last couple of years. Even when you’re coming from school and you’ve had a rough day or maybe had a bad test or went through something – immediately, I’m smiling at practice, no matter what it is. All the people on the team for lacrosse and soccer were able to instantly build me back up or put a smile on my face or make me laugh. It’s so hard to put into words how much I love the girls and how I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, to be honest.”
If it sounds as though being part of a sports team might be more of a kumbaya moment than an intensely competitive environment for Silvius, guess again. The senior standout is fiercely competitive and has turned her lacrosse talents into a ticket to play at the next level – she will be continuing her career at the D1 level when she enrolls at American University this fall. She was a key member of last spring’s SOL American Conference co-championship lacrosse team, but it’s clear that competing on a team is about a whole lot more than just winning to Silvius – a fact that is not lost on first-year lacrosse coach Katrina Borzelleca. “She is a great kid, she’s a great human being,” the Spartans’ first-year coach said. “She looks out for others, whether they’re her age or the younger kids. She’s constantly positive reinforcement and helping explain things. She’s one of my senior captains, and even before that was officially determined, she was stepping in and helping with things that I would need.”
Springfield girls’ soccer coach Chris Tomarelli echoed similar sentiments. “I was a first-year coach, and I learned a lot from the girls, and Shannon was a big part of it,” the Spartans’ coach said. “Senior captain – she made all-league. She had a great work rate, great, great leadership, positive. That’s Shannon in a nutshell. She would stay after practice to get extra work, and she was the first one there. Always a smile on her face. She’s what you want a student-athlete to be.”
Off the athletic field, Silvius is a member of student council, and she also excels in the classroom where she has taken a course load of honors and AP classes. This fall, she plans to major in political science at American. “Everyone keeps asking me – do you want to be a lawyer?” she said. “If I’m being honest, I’m not quite sure, but I’m sure I’ll be able to zone in on that when I’m in DC because I have that opportunity.” The decision to pursue political science came after taking an AP Government class last year. “I loved it,” Silvius said. “It was my favorite class. I was like – I can’t not do that and be in DC. I have to give it a try.” For now, Silvius is focused on her final lacrosse season. “Shannon is constantly trying to learn, constantly trying to better herself and help better her teammates and the team as a whole,” Borzelleca said. “She’s that kind of kid. We want to be competitive, and we want to be serious, but we also have fun. She can do all of those things – she can zone in and get the kids ready, and she can also be smiling and goofing off, just like me. She’s just really the ultimate leader in all of those aspects.”
To read Silvius’ complete profile, please click on the following link: https://suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/shannon-silvius-00117787
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of March 27, 2025)
With one period to go, there may not have been too many spectators in the partisan crowd at Robert Morris University who thought North Penn was going to overcome a 1-0 deficit against state potentate Erie Cathedral Prep in the PA Cup state championship contest. The Knights, coming off an eruption in the third period to beat SHSHL rival Council Rock South for the coveted Flyers Cup, were not among the doubters. They know the third period is their period. Kevin Vaitis, the head coach since 2009, will generally set the tone while the ice is being treated between stanzas and then turn the room over to the team. “It’s a combination,” said Vaitis. “What I try to do, in situations like that, is to come in and remind the players, ‘You don’t get to this point if you’re not a talented team. We have to stick to our game plan and play our game.’ But, I always make sure to give them time to talk as well. I talk to them a little bit. I leave, and there are still a few minutes for them to talk amongst themselves.”
Usually a man of few words, senior assistant captain Cole Pluck felt compelled to add his two cents for what were going to be the final 17 minutes of his career. “There’s really not that much to say,” he explained. “I
just said, ‘We still have a whole other period to go. We just need to get some goals.’ We knew we needed to win the third period to win the game. I just said that we needed to get a few goals to win it.” It was, however, a bit out of character. He added: “I guess I’m just more of a leader by example but, if I think we are going to lose, I pick them up.”
In all honesty, the senior explained, it was more a matter of when than if the Knights would take over in the state title game. It was fulfilling a destiny that went beyond the Flyers Cup. “We were always aiming for the state title this year,” said Pluck. “We even dyed our hair (blonde) for it. We wouldn’t have done that if we didn’t think we had a chance.” The fourth-year varsity winger is one of three seniors, along with Tommy Sprague and Harris Hunsberger, and he proceeded to play a key role in the four-goal run that brought the Knights their first state crown after their first Flyers Cup.
Added Vaitis: “The big message that we carried over to Saturday, when were down 1-0 going into the third, was about the three seniors – Cole Pluck, Thomas Sprague and Harris Hunsberger. It was about going out there and winning this game for them.” When that happened, the first thoughts of the coach turned toward Pluck. “I was beyond ecstatic for them, and for Cole, especially, as four-year varsity player and thinking about what he went through for the first two years and what they were like. To go out on this note as a senior, making North Penn history, it is a huge accomplishment. It was for the entire team, but especially for a senior like Cole to go out that way,” said Vaitis. “There are not many players who get to go out and win their last game as a senior. Cole, and also Tommy and Harris, were able to win their last high school game. That makes it extra special.”
While Pluck has weighed all options and has yet to make a definitive choice about how he will skate his next shift, the solid student is leaning toward playing college hockey at the club level next year. “I’m thinking about going to college, but I don’t know which one yet,” said Pluck. “I still have to decide.” The Knights will be together a few more times – as they will be honored by the Flyers, his favorite pro sports team, and then join together at a banquet. “That means a lot to these players, and what they accomplished,” said Vaitis. At that point, Pluck will officially part ways with his teammates, but they will share a lifelong bond.
Even if the Knights go on to make this type of success a regular thing, and there does not appear to be any reason why it can’t be, the 2024-25 squad will always be the first. And you never forget your first. Vaitis will never forget Cole Pluck. “Other players have seen what it takes to compete at this level,” said Vaitis. “They will have to step up and fill those voids.”
To read Pluck’s complete profile, please click on the following link: https://suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/cole-pluck-00117786
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