06/17/2026
The Saint Mary CYO recently concluded another successful year of youth athletics, providing student-athletes with opportunities to learn, compete, grow, and strengthen their faith through sports. Throughout the fall, winter, and spring seasons, Saint Mary offered cheerleading, cross-country, volleyball, basketball, track & field, and golf. Through partnerships with neighboring parishes, students also had opportunities to participate in soccer, football and baseball.
CYO sports is the athletic component of a parish or Catholic school youth ministry program. CYO enables the partnership between religious leaders, coaches, volunteers, and parents to manage and support a sports program that allows youth to grow in their relationship with God and come to a better understanding of themselves and the Catholic faith through sport. Through healthy and enjoyable competition, CYO assists parish leadership in nourishing the emotional, spiritual, social, and physical needs of young people. The program encourages youth to appreciate their God-given gifts, strive for continual improvement, and witness Christian discipleship through the example of coaches and adult leaders.
CYO sports is the athletic component of a parish or Catholic school youth ministry program. CYO enables the partnership between religious leaders, coaches, volunteers, and parents to manage and support a sports program that allows youth to grow in their relationship with God and come to a better understanding of themselves and the Catholic faith through sport. Through healthy and enjoyable competition, CYO assists parish leadership in nourishing the emotional, spiritual, social, and physical needs of young people. The program encourages youth to appreciate their God-given gifts, strive for continual improvement, and witness Christian discipleship through the example of coaches and adult leaders.
This year, over 125 student-athletes participated in Saint Mary CYO programs. While wins and losses are always part of athletics, the greatest successes were found in the growth, teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance demonstrated by our young athletes. Several basketball teams celebrated milestones throughout the season, including first-time players contributing in meaningful ways, every athlete finding opportunities to score, and teams continuing to improve through hard work and dedication. Our volleyball program enjoyed another strong season, while our golf and cheerleading athletes proudly represented Saint Mary in both spirit and competition. The cross-country team demonstrated remarkable improvement throughout the season, collectively lowering their race times by more than 36 minutes through dedication and consistent effort. Among the year's many accomplishments, two Saint Mary track & field athletes advanced to the Archdiocesan Championship Meet in Philadelphia, a significant achievement that places them among Greater Philadelphia's top young competitors. The team was the largest with 40 athletes in total.
We also congratulate the student-athletes who were recognized by their coaches for exemplifying Christian values both on and off the field of play. This year's Christian Athlete award recipients were Corey Clements, Max Corbin, Riley Gathany, Emmalynn Imms, Lena Gaspar, Griffin Zamrin, Joselyn Fuhs, Evan Moyer, Nicholas Trojansky, Bernadette Goudsward, Marissa Kukulski, Tyler Rosler, Cora Tsipras and Liam DePaul.
Beyond competition, the Saint Mary CYO remained committed to building interest and participation in youth athletics. Throughout the year, we hosted several instructional clinics, including volleyball, field hockey, and basketball clinics, giving students opportunities to learn new skills and explore different sports before registration periods opened. Our cheerleading summer camp also continued to provide a fun and engaging introduction to the sport for younger students.
The Saint Mary CYO also hosted its annual hayride fundraiser, bringing together families, athletes, coaches, and parishioners for an enjoyable evening of fellowship and community building. Events such as these help strengthen the relationships that make our CYO program successful.
None of this would be possible without the dedicated volunteers who serve on the Saint Mary CYO Board. Our board is comprised of parents and parishioners who care deeply about the future of our youth and work throughout the year to ensure that students have access to quality athletic opportunities rooted in faith, sportsmanship, and personal development.
Looking ahead, the Saint Mary CYO has several goals for the coming year, including the purchase of new team jerseys, an outdoor event tent, and other equipment and program enhancements that will benefit our student-athletes. To help achieve these goals, we will be expanding our fundraising efforts within the local business community. Businesses and individuals interested in supporting youth athletics at Saint Mary are encouraged to contact the CYO to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorship interest can be directly to Chuck Liedike, Chair of Saint Mary CYO, and Melissa Russo, Treasurer of Saint Mary CYO, by emailing them at [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.
Registration for Fall 2026 CYO sports is now open and will remain available through early August. To register visit https://www.stmarycyo.com. Saint Mary School students, PREP students, and parish families are encouraged to register their children as soon as possible so that we can continue providing outstanding athletic opportunities for our youth.
Thank you to our athletes, coaches, volunteers, parents, sponsors, and parish leadership for making this another memorable and successful year of Saint Mary CYO sports. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the fields, courts, courses, and sidelines this fall!
Chuck Liedike
Saint Mary CYO Chair
[email protected]
