Before we continue our look back at the best plays of our recently completed high school sports season on ATVN, here’s a forward look at our scheduled guests and topics on this week’s “SportsTalk” show, seen live on ATVN every Thursday evening at 7pm:

• The Liberty swim team brought home individual and team gold medals at both the District XI and statewide PIAA meets. Plus, this winter there was an extra special accomplishment for the Hurricanes program. Tune in to find out more about them.
• A developing major issue over the last few years has been a shortage in the incoming group of referees, umpires and officials across the board in all sports, from the elementary/little league levels up to varsity high school and collegiate sports. People may not realize some of the more drastic measures that are seriously being considered that would radically alter the layout for the scheduling of middle school and high school sports for this fall season.  We’ll talk with local officials about the recent changes and proposals that are likely to take place if more officials are brought in over the next few months.
• ATVN basketball analyst and former college/scholastic coach Megan Kane will be filling in for co-host Keith Groller to discuss the relationships between coaches and referees on the basketball courts and the important dynamic that exists between them.

Keep checking back to our website for more information on future show topics and guests.  Also, don’t forget to chime in with a question or comment during our live show by emailing us.

Now, here’s our second installment of the best plays from our ATVN sports winter broadcast season…

1. 1. 1. 1. ATVN Sports: Allen vs. Northampton (1/22)
            
         2. ATVN Sports: Whitehall vs. Freedom (1/22)
            
         3. ATVN Sports: Nazareth vs. Easton (1/22)
            
         4. ATVN Sports: Allen vs. Parkland (1/22)
            
         5. ATVN Sports: Bethlehem Catholic vs. Northampton (2/22)
            

Check back next week for more of our top highlights from the past season to see if your favorite teams and players make the list!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

The ATVN Programming Department is busy putting the final touches on our new spring broadcasting lineup–set to debut in a few weeks.

In the meantime and in honor of the 45th anniversary of television’s first official “Jump the Shark” moment, we here at the Showplace are going to do something a little different this week and will be starting our countdown of the top five “shark jumping” moments of all time!

Wait…you’re not familiar with the television term “jump the shark?” OK, here’s a brief history…

In 1977 the show Happy Days, a perennial Top 5 Nielson show for its four previous years, came up with the wildest plotline in the show’s history to that point–in which the program’s most popular character, The Fonz, would jump over a shark on water skis.

The idea of the small town Wisconsin cast of characters suddenly traveling to the west coast culminating in an event that was clearly created just for a rating spectacular caused loyal fans (and many of the show’s cast and crew members) to surmise that the writers had either lost their minds or were so desperate to create an event that would bring in viewers that they took this drastic course of action.  

The result was a catchphrase that was made up for television fans and critics that has been used to describe a hit show taking a drastic change in plotlines just to create a rating grabber–only to have the ploy backfire and lead to the eventual cancellation of the show.

(Ironically, the term attributed to this show is a bit of a misnomer.  Happy Days went on to have several more successful years ratings-wise and, arguably, had several other “shark jumping” type of storylines throughout the show’s final six years before falling ratings led to the eventual program’s demise).

Today we are going to start the ultimate collection of the top five “jump the shark” events in TV history that eventually led that same show down a path towards oblivion.

Keep in mind, these are not the five wildest plotlines ever created, nor are we citing shows that employed a ratings-grabbing event, only to have the show sustain or even increase its television shares after the event took place. We are strictly adhering to the requirement that the show’s ratings would never return to the same levels after such a stunt was created/written into the show’s canon.

#5: Pretty Little Liars

The teen mystery show was a hit with the key 18-49 demographic when it launched on the scene in 2010, following the success of several novels written by Sara Shephard. The television show centers around four high school girls whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their leader. One year later, the estranged friends are reunited as they begin receiving messages from a mysterious figure named “A” who threatens to expose their deepest secrets.

The program consistently attracted between 2.5 to 3.7-million viewers for its first four years while its audience became perpetually puzzled at the identity of the mysterious “A,” whose actions were becoming more and more devious.

 During season five, ABC Family was anxious for a big ratings event to coincide with its recent relaunching as the “Freeform Network” and billed an episode in which “A’s” identity would finally be revealed.

It was…but the network had ordered two additional seasons of the show–one that just resolved its central mystery.

The result was that another “A,” (called “Uber A”) was created to keep the mystery going. Needless to say, storylines pretty much spiraled in several different directions through the remainder of the program’s run. Along with it went viewership totals that dropped steadily through the show’s final two years.

#4:  House, MD

British Actor Hugh Laurie played the titular character to the hilt and reinvented the way many medical dramas had been previously produced. Though brilliant but flawed, Laurie’s character would solve medical mysteries with an arrogance rarely seen among the genre’s doctors, but was becoming increasingly dependent on drugs himself. This story built for four solid years with the risks and the tensions building throughout each season.

Then, in season five, following two dramatic episodes in which fellow main character, Dr. Wilson, loses his love–partially due to House’s drug dependence, the flawed Dr. House finally checks himself into a state hospital.

After a five-year buildup to this key point of recognition and responsibility the show really set the stage for some great possible storylines involving this multiple award winning actor dealing with this serious topic, while also potentially opening up a fascinating abundance of stories involving Laurie’s character interacting with other patients going through their own medical mysteries while dealing with their own dependencies.

Instead, the culminating episode, which felt more like an after-school special, featured House joking around with another drug dependent patient–nearly resulting in the latter’s loss of life, to which House suddenly realizes abusing drugs are bad, and then he returns to his regular hospital, and resumes his old job, as if nothing had ever happened.

The show finished in the Nielson’s Top 10 throughout seasons two, three and four and attracted between 17.5-20 million viewers each week up until that point. Following House’s about-face in the season five opener, the show’s viewership quickly dropped to less than half the viewers it had sustained through its first four seasons and was never ranked higher than 42nd in its final year.

Show Producer/Film Director Bryan Singer said that the official reason the show did not return was a dramatic increase in the cost of each House episode, making it unprofitable for parent company Universal to continue the show. However, the badly bungled season five anti-climax leading to the dramatic ratings plunge and massive viewership slide in the program’s final year-and-a-half suggests otherwise.

Our list continues…next week!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

It’s been a hectic few months at the ATVN studio but we want to start our look back through the highlights of our featured sports broadcasts from the past winter sports season.
Before we do that, a quick look at our scheduled guests for upcoming editions of our “SportsTalk” show, seen live on ATVN every Thursday evening at 7pm:

• The Northampton Boys Basketball team (they were the last team in the ATVN viewing area “left standing” in the PIAA playoffs this year)
• DMV’s Tee Johnson of the Wilson (DC) Boys Basketball team, who captured both a DCIAA Championship and Coach of the Year honors in just his first year as a head coach
• The Emmaus Rifling team that captured a state championship & featured a returning individual state champ
• Local officials & referees discussing the extreme measures being considered for the next sports season if the officiating “shorten” continues (many games were rescheduled this past year because of this, with more drastic changes quite possibly taking place as early as this fall)
• Local representatives discussing the growth and early popularity of eSports
• …and more!

Keep checking back to our website for more information on future show topics and guests!
Now, our first installment of the best plays from our ATVN sports winter broadcast season:

1. Astound Sports: Catasauqua vs. Northern Lehigh (12/21)
   
2. Astound Sports: Easton vs. Bethlehem Catholic Wrestling (1/22)
   
3. Astound Sports: Emmaus vs. Northampton (1/22)
   
4. Astound Sports: Freedom vs. Bethlehem Catholic (1/22)
   
5. Astound Sports: Easton vs. Freedom Wrestling (1/22)
   https://youtu.be/N9hGUWiTyM4

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

Last week, we started our highlighting of standout student-athletes from the Washington, DC region. We continue that initiative this week by honoring standout high school girls volleyball and boys football players from the DCSAA.

DCSAA VOLLEYBALL ALL-STATE TEAM
Coach of The Year: Dr. Perette Arrington, Wilson Senior High School
Player of the Year: MB Summer Campbell, Wilson Senior High School, senior
Setters: Claire Cooper, Georgetown Day School, senior; Gillian Gessert, Wilson Senior High School, junior.
Libero: Pallavi Bhargava, Georgetown Day School, senior; Kathryn Kelyman, St. John’s College High School, senior.
Middle Blockers: Jaiden Jones, DC International High School, senior; Pamela McCune, St. John’s College High School, junior.
Outside Hitters: Jada Aksu, Georgetown Day School, freshman; Erin Faughnan, St. John’s College High School, senior; Emma Gillespie, Georgetown Day School, senior; Aaliyah Howell, Georgetown Day School, sophomore 

CLASS A ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
Coach of The Year: Mike Engleberg, Maret School
Player of The Year: WR-DB Robbie Engleberg, Maret School, senior
Offense
Quarterbacks: Andrew Catron, Maret School, senior; Stephon Fuller, Richard Wright Public Charter School, senior; Chase Williams, St. Albans School, senior.
Running Backs: Tybias Barton, Bell Multicultural High School, senior; Christian Gamble, Sidwell Friends School, senior.
Offensive Line: Aaron Garnett, Sidwell Friends School, senior; Marc Lampkin, Maret School, senior.
“Athletes”: Ashton Embery, Richard Wright Public Charter School, senior; Zion Suggs, Bell Multicultural High School, junior.
Wide Receivers: Dajuan Samuel, Bell Multicultural High School, senior; Jaquan Thomas, Richard Wright Public Charter School, senior.
Defense
Defensive Line: Sean Brooks, Calvin Coolidge Senior High School, junior; Dylan Price, Sidwell Friends School, senior; Andrew Williams, Maret School, senior.
Linebackers: Gus Burns, Sidwell Friends School, senior; Luke Harmon, St Albans School, senior; Aaron Poawui, Maret School, senior; Malachai Redman, Anacostia Senior High School, junior; Alex Tilton, St Albans School, senior.
Defensive Backs: Deshean Dean, KIPP College Prep, senior; Miles Harmon, St. Albans School, senior; Malcolm Hatton, KIPP College Prep, senior.
Athlete: Neko Hagans, Anacostia Senior High School, sophomore.

CLASS AA ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
Coach of The Year: Robert Harris, Archbishop Carroll High School
Player of The Year: DE Nyckoles Harbor, Archbishop Carroll High School, junior
Offense
Quarterbacks: Kerry Burns Jr.,Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School, senior; Wyatt Hagan, St. John’s College High School, senior.
Running Backs: Jamar Curtis, St. John’s College High School, junior; Daequan Harvin, Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School, senior; Juan Pratt Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School, junior; Elijah Solomon, Archbishop Carroll High School, senior.
Offensive Line: Kristopher Boyd, Archbishop Carroll High School, junior; Evan Link, Gonzaga College High School, junior; Jeremiah Saunders, Archbishop Carroll High School, senior; Jordan Seaton, St. John’s College High School, sophomore.
Wide Receivers: Jamar Ebron, Archbishop Carroll High School, junior; DJ Linkins, St. John’s College High School, senior; Winston Page, Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School, senior; Sean Williams, St. John’s College High School, junior.
Tight End: Nate Kurisky, Gonzaga College High School, senior.
Athlete: Malachi Baker, Archbishop Carroll High School, senior.
Defense
Defensive Line: Joseph Mupoyi, Archbishop Carroll High School, junior; David Ojiegbe, St. John’s College High School, junior; Jordan Shuler, Gonzaga College High School, senior; Dylan Stewart, Friendship Collegiate Academy, sophomore.
Linebackers: Kadari Machan, Gonzaga College High School, senior; Shon Reid, Archbishop Carroll High School, senior; Nasir Smith, Archbishop Carroll High School, sophomore.
Defensive Backs: Michael Brown, Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School, sophomore; Robert Nelson Jr., Wilson Senior High School, junior; David Okechukwu, Archbishop Carroll High School, senior; Joshua Thompson, St. John’s College High School, senior; Ian Wall, Wilson Senior High School, junior

*****

We welcome anyone to share postseason accolades and accomplishments to us at any time here at The Shop by email me.

We’d love to hear from you!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

A little while back, I reached out to friends in the administrative offices in our Washington, DC region to work with them on highlighting their local high school sports programs. One of my requests was for them to share their regular “all-star” lists and other scholastic accolades for the student-athletes in the DMV region.
To make a long story short, it took some time to successfully make this happen, along with a commitment that we would be able to work together to highlight the outstanding accomplishments from representatives in this region, like we have done for student-athletes in the Lehigh Valley. The first time this happened was in the winter of 2020 and I thought we’d have regular communications and updates on the top athletes in the DC area.
Then, COVID hit!
Needless to say, sports has been put on the back burner in many regions. Some sports seasons didn’t even occur for a good number of schools in areas like the DMV. Consequently, the listings of “all-stars” were put on hold. But, as we try to finally return to semblances of normalcy, I am proud to report that these honors have returned, and we can present the latest list now made public by the DCSAA in the Washington, DC area.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STATE TEAM
Coach of The Year: Desmond Dunham, St. John’s College High School
Runner of The Year: Marisa Poe, Maret School, senior: Caroline Gotzman, St. John’s College High School, junior; Meredith Gotzman, St. John’s College High School, junior; Olivia Guiterrez, St. John’s College High School, senior; Vivian Kelly, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, junior; Ellie Kessler, Georgetown Day School, sophomore;Caroline Lee, National Cathedral School, freshman; Elena Stanciu, Basis DC, junior; Sophie Mattheus, St. John’s College High School, junior; Lila De La Vega-Rodriguez, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, junior.

DCSAA BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STATE TEAM
Coach of the Year: Desmond Dunham, St. John’s College High School
Runner of The Year: Pierre Attiogbe, St. Albans School, junior Luke Cohen, Georgetown Day School, junior; Nicolas Grabarz, St. John’s College High School, senior; Sebi Hume, St. Albans School, freshman; Micah Lachman; Sidwell Friends School, senior; John McMurray, Sidwell Friends School, freshman; Cameron Mickle, St, John’s College High School, freshman; Paul Robinson, St. John’s College High School, junior; Liam Thomson, Gonzaga College High School, junior; Finley Tobin, St. John’s College High School, sophomore.

DCSAA BOYS’ SOCCER ALL-STATE TEAM
Coach of the Year: Brian Schultz, St. Albans School
Player of the Year: MF Wayne Frederick, St. Albans School, senior
Goalkeepers: Johnathan Baunsgaurd, Washington International School, senior; Brian Ford, DC High International School, senior.
Defenders: Antonio Giorgiani, Washington International School, senior; Rich Kirkham, DC International School, junior; Colin Predergast, Gonzaga College High School, senior; Leo Siegel, St. Albans School, junior.
Midfielders: Lowen Jamison, St. John’s College High School, freshman; Rustin Khostravi, St. Albans School, senior; Cooper Laine, Wilson Senior High School, senior.
Forwards: Nicholas Laffey, St. John’s College High School, junior; Kadin Nuri, DC International High School, junior.

DCSAA GIRLS’ SOCCER ALL-STATE TEAM
Coach of the Year: Ryan Alexander, Sidwell Friends School
Player of the Year: F Kiki Rice, Sidwell Friends School, senior
Goalkeepers: Shelby Pollard, St. John’s College High School, junior; Caroline Roy, Maret School, junior.
Defenders: Giulia Balestrieiri, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, senior; Lila Brown, Sidwell Friends School, senior; Kaeden Koons-Perdikis, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, junior; Farah Salam, St. John’s College High School, senior.
Midfielders: Lucy Harlee, Wilson Senior High School, senior; Gemma Maltby, Sidwell Friends School, senior; Emily Rubio-Garcia, St. John’s College High School, junior.
Forwards: Gabi Green, Sidwell Friends School, freshman; Jacquelyn Shores, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, sophomore.

*****
We have not forgotten about some of the other sports played in the DMV this past year and will honor those athletes and teams next week here at The Shop!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Showplace is featuring prominent female-driven classic programs and women who “changed the game” and made a lasting impact in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Today we present part two of a special feature on the legendary comedian, Gracie Allen.
In the 1930s the George Burns and Gracie Allen radio and later television shows not only became one of the top, but it also was one of the pioneers who developed a format that still is very prevalent in today’s television shows-the sitcom.
In fact, the television program also became a trendsetter in that it became a show within a show. Long before Seinfeld gave a monologue interspersed with clips from his personal life, Burns delivered one-liners to the audience framed around the zany adventures of his wife.
At the end of the program a quick exchange would take place between the husband and wife comedy duo as they interplayed with the audience, culminating with Burns setting his wife up for the classic lines:

George: “Say good night, Gracie”
Gracie: “Good night Gracie!”

Gracie Allen also pulled off some of the funniest and most elaborate pranks in America at the times where the nation needed them the most.

During the Great Depression, Allen pulled off one of the most successful publicity stunts in entertainment history with a year-long search for Alan’s supposedly missing brother.
During the tense year of 1940 with a threat of war looming around the world, Alan kept the country laughing with a run for the president of the United States on the new “Surprise Party” ticket, which culminated in a book with photographs from around the country and even an official endorsement from the President of Harvard University.
During World War II, her publicity stunts included being the subject of the “Gracie Allen Murder Case” mystery and a piano concerto that was performed live at the Hollywood bowl consisting of Allen playing an entire arrangement with just one finger.
Allen’s increasing anxiety over stage fright–something she battled throughout her entire career–finally forced her to retire from the Burns and Allen television show and virtually any public appearances. Though her husband tried to carry on with the show for one more year, the program was not nearly as successful and was canceled.
Sadly, Gracie passed away from a heart attack within a year.
The Gracie Award is presented by the alliance for women and media to recognize exemplary programming created by women in radio, television, cable, web-based media and for news, drama, comedy, commercials, public service, documentary and sports productions.
Bea Benaderet who worked extensively with both Allen and Lucille Ball throughout both comedians’ careers was quoted in an April 24, 1966 article of “Democrat and Chronicle” declaring that “Gracie was the greatest actress of all time.”
It would be hard for anyone to disagree. You can see the comedy genius of Gracie Allen for yourself on the Burns and Allen Show every Sunday morning at 11:30am on ATVN.
To view the complete rundown of classic programming on ATVN, check out the weekly listings here on our website.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

This week, we continue our latest “round” of all-star listings for teams in the ATVN area in the Lehigh Valley by honoring the outstanding student-athletes in girls field hockey and in boys and girls soccer.

PLEASE NOTE: the Colonial League decided as an organization a few years ago to NOT identify individual standout performers for certain sports and no longer produce “all league” teams. That is the schools’ decision and therefore, that is why teams from that league are not represented below.

2021 EPC Boys Soccer All Stars 1st Team

2021 EPC Boys Soccer All Stars 2nd Team

2021 EPC Boys Soccer All Stars 3rd Team

2021 EPC Girls Soccer All Stars 1st Team

2021 EPC Girls Soccer All Stars 2nd Team

2021 EPC Girls Soccer All Stars 3rd Team

We welcome anyone to share more postseason accolades and accomplishments to us to share here at The Shop and on our “SportsTalk” program on ATVN. Please email those honors to me.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

Before we continue our latest “round” of all-star listings for teams in the ATVN area in the Lehigh Valley, just a quick word for our high school sports fans about the past week of sports programming, as I have gotten quite a few inquiries about our schedule last week.
As our audience knows COVID-19 has affected all aspects of life, and our winter schedule has not been immune. ATVN has a commitment to Lafayette College to broadcast a specific number of events. A number of previously scheduled games from November and December were moved to January, only to have many of them postponed again for a later date.
Several of those postponed events were all made up last week, with five Leopards’ games in six days. As a result, we only had three scholastic events, but all were good ones!
On Tuesday, we featured the high-flying Hawks from Bethlehem Catholic–they haven’t lost a league game since December–played their city rivals from Liberty, who had scored a few exciting upset wins this year.
On Friday, we had two of the top District XI 6A schools in the area. Parkland, a team that just knocked off the state champions from Central Catholic, took on the biggest positive surprise team in our coverage area this winter, Emmaus, on Friday night.
On Saturday, we featured the top wrestlers in the nation as ATVN brought you the District XI 3A Wrestling Team Championships.
It was a hectic week of sports programming–one we hoped you enjoyed (and Astound customers can watch again for free On-Demand)!
And…we’ll be resuming a full slate of high school broadcasts starting with the EPC basketball semifinals. Make sure you tune in and bookmark the new Astound TV Network schedule for updates on our sports programming!

Now, it’s time to honor the outstanding student-athletes in girls tennis & volleyball in the Eastern Pennsylvania conference for girls tennis and volleyball.

First Team:

Second Team:

Third Team:

For Doubles:

First Team:

Second Team:

Third Team:

And for volleyball: 

EPC Girls Volleyball First Team All-Conference:

EPC Most Valuable Player: Brynn Dreisbach, Parkland

EPC Second Team All-Conference:

EPC Third Team All-Conference:

We will also have some exciting news concerning our local sports coverage at ATVN…you’ll have to check back to The SportsTalk Shop next week to find out what it is!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Showplace will feature prominent female-driven classic programs and women who “changed the game” and made a lasting impact in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Probably the most successful and famous female comedian in the first half of the 20th century was NOT Lucille Ball.
Who was possibly even better than the Queen of Comedy herself before 1951? 
Answer: Gracie Allen.
The “better” half (according to her husband) of the famous comedy duo Burns and Allen was born Grace Ethel Cecile Rosaline Allen.
She was born in the year 1895, 1896, 1902 and 1906 – just one of the many zany, continuous gags that spanned her entire performing career.
Gracie began performing Irish folk dances with her sisters before becoming a vaudeville performer in 1909. A decade later she met and later married George Burns as they formed a partnership as a comedic team.
As hard as it is to believe now, Allen was actually the straight man…er, straight woman, in the early years of this legendary duo.
In “Gracie: A Love Story,” one of several books Burns wrote about his beloved wife, he stated that he was originally the one to deliver the punchlines. Yet it was Allen who was delivering the straight set-ups who, with her humorous delivery, was getting more laughs than the jokes themselves.
Burns’ decision to switch roles nearly instantly made them one of the most requested comedy acts on the vaudeville tours, which also included W. C. Fields, Buster Keaton, May West, the Marx brothers, Jimmy Durante, Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, Georgie Jessel, Al Jolson and George’s best friend, Jack Benny.
As vaudeville began to fade and many stars transitioned to radio in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the husband and wife team immediately captured their own radio program. Unfortunately, their jokes–frequently revolving around humorous situations involving newlyweds–were not getting the laughs that they once did on the vaudeville circuit.
In the book, “Sunday Nights at 7:00”, Burns confided in Benny that he was struggling to write funny material for his radio show and, if ratings didn’t improve, Burns and Allen would be out of work. Benny pointed out that, since the couples were no longer newlyweds and now middle-aged, that their old jokes weren’t working and advised that the comedy should revolve around family issues suited to their ages and also focus on Allen’s faux-hair brained ideas.
The suggestion not only paved the way for radio and television success in the 1930s, 40s and 50s but also for some of the most elaborate ploys of the 20th century.
But heartbreak was also on the horizon for this famous duo. We’ll have more on the story of Gracie Allen next week here at the Showplace.
In the meantime, you can see the “better half” on the Burns and Allen Show at 11:30am every Sunday morning on ATVN.
To view the complete rundown of classic programming on ATVN, check out the weekly listings here on our website.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Astound Broadband or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

Last week, we changed things up a bit on ATVN.
For the first time to the best of my recollection, we opened up our coverage of the District XI playoffs with four of our first five games featuring the girls basketball teams in our viewing area.
I appreciated quite a few positive responses I received from parents about us featuring the girls programs last week, including many young ladies playing on television for the first time in their lives.
There were quite a few noteworthy accomplishments in the games we broadcast. Liberty was making its first playoff appearance in six years and Executive Charter was playing in its first ever post-season contest. We also showcased Notre Dame for the first time in a few years and the Emmaus girls team made its first appearance on our network in eight winter basketball seasons.
We will have a bunch of both boys and girls high school playoff games coming up over the next several weeks on ATVN. Make sure you bookmark our scholastic sports broadcast schedule and check out all the playoff action coming up over the next several weeks.
Also, we are working very hard on an expansion of our girls high school sports coverage on ATVN. We will have some exciting news for you about this, but you’ll have to wait a few weeks for the official details. Keep checking back to the SportsTalk Shop to find out more.
********
Now, it’s time to honor the outstanding student-athletes in girls tennis & volleyball in the Eastern Pennsylvania conference for girls tennis and volleyball.

Singles/First Team
Paras Briegel, Stroudsburg
Erin Joo, Parkland
Sabrina Yurconic, Allentown Central Catholic
Ellyana Jacobs, Easton

Second Team
Cara Magliochetti, Bethlehem Catholic
Jocelyn Chow, Emmaus
Leah Zolotareva, Parkland

Third Team
Isabella Szmodis, Freedom
Shelby Carter, Emmaus
Taylor Adams, Bethlehem Catholic
Gigi Leonzi, Parkland

Doubles/First Team
Anshika Gupta/Kaila Miles, Parkland
Indira Tatikola/Teya Gougoustamos, Emmaus
Alison Willis/Katie Hoske, Stroudsburg

Second Team
Patty Superka/Grace Hartman, Bethlehem Catholic
Elise Kney/Hermani Patel, Liberty
Julia Ressler/Samantha Wallitsch, Easton

Third Team
Kara Wang/Catherine Grub, Allentown Central Catholic
Emma Ricci/Mackenzie Shoup, Nazareth
Payton McGlory/Liza Puerholz, Emmaus

EPC Girls Volleyball First Team
Brynn Dreisbach, PARKLAND
Alaina Roman, FREEDOM
MacKenzy Ruggiero, BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC
Samantha Simmers, FREEDOM
Elena Pursell, PARKLAND
Ava Holden, EMMAUS
Scarlett Jago, PARKLAND

Second Team All-Conference
Elizabeth Barnes, FREEDOM
Sydney Houchens, LIBERTY
Emily Harclerode, NAZARETH
Maren McGuire,ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Maggie Smith, PARKLAND
Brylee Tereska, LIBERTY
Courtney Shire, LIBERTY

Third Team All-Conference
Mia Pickering, EMMAUS
Sydney Esquieres, PARKLAND
Abigail Schweitzer, EMMAUS
Megan Holland, NAZARETH
Kyla Rodriguez, BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC
Alexa Crum, WHITEHALL

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.