On the heels of impressive fall performances, Mastery students and staff have continued to excel in their athletic pursuits in recent months. From building confidence and skills to achieving championship victories and receiving distinguished awards, there is much to celebrate.

Here’s a recap of some of our favorite highlights from across the network:

• Michael Deegan of Harrity Elementary was named Athletic Director of the Year by the Philadelphia Public League Coaches Association. This prestigious award is presented annually to an athletic administrator who demonstrates exceptional leadership and dedication to middle school athletics. Since joining Harrity in 2011, Deegan has played a vital role in the development, growth, and success of the school’s athletics program. Under his leadership, the program has flourished as a proud member of the MPAA, offering a diverse range of sports while promoting school spirit, community engagement, and personal growth for student-athletes. 
• Mastery High School of Camden students accomplished an impressive feat at the 2025 Penn-Jersey Athletic Association Bowling Championships, winning both the boys’ and girls’ categories. The girls’ basketball team also secured the title of division champs with a remarkable 20-win season.
• Sijaah Johnson and Coach Lynard Stewart of Simon Gratz High School were recognized as Player and Coach of the Year in the PIAA Liberty Conference. Additionally, Coach Joseph Fought has revitalized the school’s storied wrestling program. In its first year back, two students qualified for the regionals, and next year, the team will become full participants in the public league.
• The girls’ bowling team from Douglass Elementary won first place in the Metropolitan Philadelphia Athletic Association League.
• Second-year coaches William Beverly and John Lay from Lenfest Campus successfully led the Mastery boys’ varsity basketball team to another playoff appearance. Meanwhile, under the guidance of coaches John Lay and Julie Hunter, the middle school boys’ basketball team won the first-ever Mastery Middle School Basketball League Championship, an achievement made possible thanks to their standout eighth-grade guard, Wyzir Siddiq.
• At Gratz Prep Middle, the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams made it to the final four in the Mastery League Competition. The school’s bowling team also came in fourth in the Metropolitan Philadelphia Athletic Association League. 
• At Harrity Elementary, student-athletes Asi Mitchell and Mouhaz Karamoko are embracing their growth mindset, striving for improvement, and starting to emerge as leaders in their sports: basketball for Mitchell and volleyball, wrestling, and track for Karamoko. 
• The girls’ basketball team from Cramer Hill Elementary went undefeated this season and won three championships in eight days: the Camden City Charter Division, Camden City All-Around Championship, and Mastery Middle School Basketball League Championship. Four players from the team, Nyla Burgos, Lusarys (Lulu) Garcia, Fernando Guevara, and Nycire Mays, were also invited to play in the Camden City All-Star Game, where they displayed skill and grit. 
• Josiah Miller, a junior at Hardy Williams High School, qualified for states in indoor track, and the girls’ middle school basketball team made the championship game in the first season of the Mastery Schools Athletic Association!
• The boys’ basketball team at Cleveland Elementary worked hard in the off-season to prepare new leaders to take the court this winter, and their dedication paid off. The girls’ basketball team had a great debut after a five-year hiatus, showcasing skill and sportsmanship on the court. 

We are so proud of the student-athletes mentioned here and many more from across the network who exemplify Mastery values on and off the field. To learn more about Mastery’s robust athletic programming, visit our Athletics page.