History of Varsity Athletics at Rush Arts
Most people do not associate sports with the Arts Academy at Benjamin because of the obvious focus on the arts. However, each year, over a hundred students participate on the school’s varsity sports teams and dozens more participate in the school’s advisory and intramural sports clubs. Below is a history for each Varsity team at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush updated at the end of each season.
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Girls Soccer: The “first” sport
The Girls soccer team was the 3rd sport at Rush but the first to reach Varsity status. The team has NEVER missed the playoffs! It began in the Spring of 2010 when the school only had 9th and 10th grade and immediately became one of the top 10-12 teams in the Public League. Due to this team’s success, Rush Arts was granted a full athletic program the following year which now includes 7 other Varsity sports! They are currently in the Liberty Division which is essentially Division 1B for the league and a Class AAAA representative in the PIAA
COACH: 2010-present = Todd Corabi
Accomplishments:
Qualified for playoffs every year of it’s existence:
Spring 2010, 2011, 2012, Fall 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020,
Spring 2021 (Covid return to play special season), Fall 2021, 2022, 2023
Qualified for PIAA District XII Playoffs: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Spring 2011 = Bronze (3rd) Division Champions
Fall 2012 = PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AA CHAMPIONS
Fall 2013 = PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AA CHAMPIONS
Fall 2015 = Silver (2nd) Division Champions, PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AA CHAMPIONS
Fall 2016 = PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AAA CHAMPIONS
Fall 2017 = PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AAA “Top of the Class” (formerly Champions)
Fall 2018 =PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AAA “Top of the Class” (formerly Champions)
Fall 2019 =PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AAA “Top of the Class” (formerly Champions)
Spring 2021 = Liberty (2nd ) Division Champions
Fall 2021 = Liberty (2nd) Division Champions
Volleyball
The girls Volleyball team was established as a JV team in fall of 2010 accidentally as the school was originally granted a boys soccer team but did not have enough boys who signed up. The District agreed to change the money allocated for boys soccer to girls volleyball and a last-minute exhibition schedule was created. The team entered into competition within 2 weeks winning about half of their games! They moved to varsity status in fall of 2011. They are currently a class AAA representative in the PIAA.
COACH: 2010-2012 = Clare Kobierowski
2013 and 2014 = Cliff Breese
2015-2016 = Karen Loinaz
2017 – 2021 = Jackie Fritz
2022 = Jaidyn Baker
2023 = Mark Sykes
Accomplishments:
Qualified For Playoffs 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, 2022, 2023
Spring 2021 Liberty (2nd) Division Champions
Fall 2021 Liberty (2nd) Division Champions
Field Hockey
The Girls Field Hockey team began play in Fall 2019 as an exhibition team and were granted Varisty status for Fall of 2020 but their fall 2020 season was held in spring of 2021 due to Covid. In an abbreviated season, they showed solid improvement then in Fall of 2021, springboarded to the league semi-finals. in just it’s 3rd season. Building on their quick success, the team reached new heights in Fall 2022 finishing 2nd in the regular season standings in addition to going to the league semi-finals before losing in double overtime 1-0. Despite the loss, they still represented the Public League in state playoffs and were named the top team in the Public League for PIAA Class AAA.
COACH: 2019 = Janet Swanner
COACH Spring 2021 – Present – Victoria Ortiz-Diaz
Accomplishments:
Qualified for Playoffs Spring 2021, Fall 2021 (advanced to Semi-Finals), 2022 (advanced to Semi-Finals), 2023 (advanced to Semi-Finals)
Qualified for District or State Playoffs: 2022 (Districts and States), 2023 (Districts)
Fall 2022 =PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AAA “Top of the Class” (formerly Champions) and advanced to State Playoffs
Boys Basketball
The Boys Basketball team began as a JV team in the winter of 2010-2011. They moved to Varsity status in winter 2011-2012 and are a PIAA Class AA representative in the Public League.
Coach: 2010-2011 season = Kevin Katz
2011-2012 = John Creighton
2012-2013 through 2014-2015 = Cliff Breese
2015-2016 = Kevin Katz
2016-2018 = William McKant
2018-2021 = Matthew Netterville
2021-2023 = Kevin Katz
2023-2024 = Vacancy
Accomplishments:
Qualified for playoffs 2016-2017
Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team began JV competition in winter of 2010-2011 and moved to Varsity winter of 2012-2013. They qualified for the playoffs 3 straight years beginning in 2014-2015 before missing, then followed up with another 3 year playoff run before falling short in 2022-2023. They are currently a PIAA Class AAA Representative in the Public League.
Coach: 2010-2011 = Lurline Jones
2011- 2012 = Kevin Katz
2012-2013 = Erin Cummins
2013-2014 through 2016-2017 = Adam Zummo
2017-present = Dominic Doyle
Accomplishments:
Qualified for playoffs 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022
2015-2016 = Bronze (4th) Division Champions. Promoted to Silver (3rd division)
Bowling
The Bowling teams (boys and girls) were established in the 2015-2016 school year. All Bowling teams compete in a single classification for PIAA. Overall, the collective team has been extremely successful for the Public League with the girls earning more banners and trophies. The Girls have never missed the playoffs and the boys have only missed the playoffs a few times. The Girls also boast the most Public League Championships of any Rush team and the most trips to state playoffs prior to Covid when the state changed the rules.
COACH: 2015-2016 through 2018-2019 = Jeff Bevilacqua
2019-2020 through present = Todd Corabi
Accomplishments:
GIRLS TEAM:
Qualified for Playoffs every year since the team began = 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. They participated in the Public League Final 6 straight times starting in 2016-2017 and have NEVER been eliminated from the playoffs prior to the league semi-finals. In addition, they qualified for the state tournament in winter of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
2015-2016 GIRLS = Second Division Champions, Un-Defeated regular season, Lost in Semi-Finals of playoffs
2016-2017 GIRLS = PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS ..advanced to regionals round of state playoffs
2017-2018 GIRLS = PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS..advanced to regionals round of state playoffs
2018-2019 GIRLS = Lost in Public League Championship and advanced to regionals round of state playoffs
2019-2020 GIRLS = Lost in Public League Championship, advanced to regionals round of State Playoffs
2020-2021 GIRLS = Advanced to Finals in the modified season due to Covid (total pins not wins/losses). PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2021-2022 GIRLS = HOLME DIVISION AND PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
BOYS TEAM:
Qualified for playoffs 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023 missing only 1 season. They have been to the league semi-finals on 2 occasions and league finals once.
2015-2016 BOYS = Second Division Champions
2020-2021 BOYS = Holme Division Champions: Advanced to Finals in the modified season due to Covid (total pins not wins/losses). Finished 3rd in the city overall
Softball
Softball began as JV team in spring of 2011 and moved to varsity status in the spring of 2013. They are one of only 3 teams, joining girls soccer and girls bowling, that have never missed the playoffs! Their first year of varsity status, they began in the lowest division and quickly demonstrated they were one of the best in the city playing at a level well above their opponents. Climbing fast through all of the divisions (they are created by strength), they made their first appearance in the top division in spring of Since 2016 and had a rough regular season before turning it up in the playoffs and making it to the league quarter-finals. The following season, they were temporarily relegated to the 2nd division before showing a nearly dominating regular season again. For the spring 2017 season, they were promoted to the top division again and since then, have consistently been ond of the top 6-8 teams in the Philadelphia Public League. They are currently a class AAAAA representative in PIAA
COACH: 2011 = Megan Condit
2012 = David Moffa
2013 through present = Todd Corabi
(2018-present=Lisa Mundy assistant and Pitching specialist)
Accomplishments:
Qualified for the Playoffs every season of existence = 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 .
There was no season in 2020 due to the Covid Pandemic school shut downs.
Qualified for District or State Playoffs 2018 (District XII and state), 2019
In Spring of 2019, they also went to the Public League Finals and finished runner-up in the league
2013 = Public League Bronze (4th) Division Champions,
2014 = Public League Silver (3rd) Division Champions,
2018 = PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AAAA “Top of the Class” (formerly Champions), District XII and State Playoffs
2019 = PIAA DISTRICT XII PUBLIC LEAGUE CONFERENCE CLASS AAAAA “Top of the Class” (formerly Champions), Public League Finalist, District XII Playoffs
2020 = Season Cancelled due to Covid Pandemic
2021 = Qualified for Playoffs and lost in Quarter Finals
2022 = Qualified for Playoffs and lost in Quarter Finals
2023 = Qualified for Playoffs and lost in Semi Finals
Girls Flag Football
is spearheaded by the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the NFL’s push to promote and cultivate Football in the lives of young girls as a lifelong activity for enjoyment as well as a Title IX supporting program as an “alternative sport”. The Eagles along with Pittsburgh Steelers, are helping to fund 100 high schools in Pennsylvania and are applying for official PIAA status as a varsity sport in an emerging sport for the spring of 2024.
In the Spring of 2022, Rush Arts was one of the first twelve teams in the city (including 7 other Public League and 4 Catholic League teams) that were pioneers in this monumental shift in high school sports ideology. Spring 2023 is their 2nd year as a program and the league is jumping to 44 teams!
COACH: 2022- Dominic Doyle
Qualified for Playoffs = Spring 2022, Spring 2023
OTHER:
Boys Soccer
The boys soccer team was established in Fall 2017 as a JV team. There are no standings or postseason for JV teams. The school was denied Varsity status as the team is designated as a “feeder” team to George Washington H.S.’s Varsity team then folded during the Covid-19 pandemic.
COACH: 2017-2019 = Matthew Byrne
Baseball
The Boys baseball team began as a JV team in spring of 2011 before moving to varsity status in spring of 2013 and qualified for the playoffs most years. The team’s season was canceled in spring of 2020 and the team folded in spring of 2021
Coach: 2011 – 2014 = Kevin Katz
2015 = Ronny Mandel
2016-2017 = Kevin Katz
2018 -2020 = Dominic Doyle
Accomplishments:
Qualified for Playoffs 2013, 2014 , 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
Track and Field:
One of the first two varsity teams the school had was Track and Field. Their first official meet was 1 week after the 1st girls soccer game though technically, their first pre-season/non-league meet was actually the first event in school history.
The team never advanced past the Public League meets (where all teams qualified). It was eliminated after 3 seasons due to low participation numbers, and budget constraints that forced us to choose the elimination of one sport.
COACHES: 2010 = Paul Wagonhoffer
2011-2012 = Clare Kobierowski