Corey Bradley (pictured above left), a senior on Cheltenham High School’s wrestling team, finished fifth at 172 lbs. at this weekend’s regionals at Oxford Area High School to become the first Panther to qualify for the PIAA state tournament since Steve Gambino at 103 lbs. in 2001.
Bradley secured his spot in the state tournament with a 10-4 victory over Boyertown’s Joshua Larrimore in the fifth-place consolation bracket, the district said. The team finished 22nd out of 47 teams with 22.5 points.
The state tournament is March 7-9 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
The district also announced that swimmer Alistair Reese has qualified for the PIAA state championships in the 50 free.
The first Cheltenham swimmer to qualify for states in at least 10 years, Reese broke the school record (21.76) in the event at districts a week ago, and will swim Wednesday, March 13 at Bucknell University, the district said.
In related news, Gabriel Rodriguez (pictured above right), a Cheltenham High School senior enrolled in Eastern Center for Arts and Technology’s Construction Technology program, has been named the March 2024 Student of the Month.
The Student of the Month Award is sponsored by Eastern’s faculty, the Joint Operating Committee, and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success, and service. Ten students each year are selected for this honor.
From the Willow Grove school’s announcement:
Before enrolling in EASTERN’s Construction Technology program, Gabriel was already interested in woodworking and engineering. During the summer of 2022, he was an apprentice for a small construction company in The Czech Republic, assisting in the building of mini homes and structural frames. When Gabriel was in tenth grade at Cheltenham, he visited EASTERN to see if it might be a good fit for him. Gabriel chose Construction Technology because he wanted to prepare for postsecondary in Civil Engineering.
At EASTERN, Gabriel excels in his Construction Technology program and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society. In October 2023, Gabriel was selected for a National Hispanic Heritage Month Student Spotlight. As a junior, Gabriel received the Straight A award at EASTERN’s annual Awards Night. Through his Construction Technology program, he received his OSHA certification in 2023, which ensures that he has been properly educated and tested on safe working conditions in his industry. At Cheltenham High School, Gabriel is part of the Pep Band and Indoor Drum Line, where he plays electric guitar and electric bass.
Mr. Jeff Pakula, EASTERN’s Construction Technology Instructor, commended Gabriel as a committed student who exudes a positive attitude and maintains a professional demeanor. “Gabriel grasps concepts quickly and readily lends a helping hand to his classmates. I am proud that he is representing the Construction Technology program and EASTERN as Student of the Month,” said Mr. Pakula.
Gabriel plans to spend the year after graduation in Germany volunteering his carpentry skills. When he returns, he plans to pursue postsecondary education with a major in Civil Engineering, and a minor in Music.
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Photos: CSD