Aaron Carter

1 month ago | inquirer.com | Aaron Carter

Julissa Ortiz is about business, and her business — for years — has been wrestling. So, when the Mariana Bracetti Academy junior, who reached the final at the PIAA girls’ wrestling championships, learned in January that the NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, she smiled but then quickly got back to work. “It wasn’t shocking to me because I knew wrestling was growing as a sport for women,” said Ortiz, 17, during practice last week.

1 month ago | inquirer.com | Aaron Carter

Ryan Jennings was once an eighth-grader wearing highlighter-yellow Nike spikes that were about two sizes too big because they were on loan from her male track coach. The Timber Creek senior, who’s committed Arkansas, probably won’t be borrowing spikes anytime soon. Jennings, who ran the fastest 100-meter dash (11.33 seconds) in New Jersey history as a junior, is now a Nike-sponsored athlete. “It’s a dream come true,” Jennings said Tuesday during a phone interview.

1 month ago | inquirer.com | Aaron Carter

Justin Edwards might never forget his first, even if it doesn’t rank as his best. Sitting at his locker, feet soaking in a bucket, the 76ers rookie flipped quickly through his brain’s Rolodex of dunks after the Sixers held off Golden State, 126-119, Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center. Perhaps his puppies needed the postgame TLC after the 6-foot-7 forward took flight in the fourth quarter, finishing a two-handed dunk above Draymond Green, an eight-time NBA all-defensive team selection.

1 month ago | inquirer.com | Aaron Carter

Fall asleep on Imhotep Charter at your peril. With city supremacy on the line Friday night at La Salle, the Public League champion Panthers overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to stun Catholic League champ Father Judge, 58-54, in the District 12 6A championship. “This was big,” said 5-foot-8, junior point guard R.J. Smith.

1 month ago | inquirer.com | Aaron Carter

Has anyone ever seen Superman return to a phone booth and turn back into Clark Kent? Your best chance may have occurred Sunday evening, as Father Judge senior Everett Barnes returned to his mild-mannered self after ferociously protecting the rim during the Crusaders’ 41-34 dethroning of two-time defending Catholic League champion Roman Catholic at the Palestra.