Harvey leaves with pride in Garnet Valley program
(CONTINUED
Harvey coached two All-Americans – current Cabrini College standout Paul Skulski (2007) and Jeff Wittman (2005), who attends Cornell.
“We started off back in 1997 and 33 kids came out,” said Harvey. “We had four seniors and we played a couple of varsity games.
“Just to see the leaps and bounds we’ve made over the past couple of years has been very satisfying. It’s been good to see the program go where it has gone.”
Harvey said the Garnet Valley players will benefit by playing in the Central League beginning in 2009.
“I think, no matter what, the kids benefit, whether they win or lose in the Central League,” he said. “They have some really good kids and they’ll get some honors no matter what, and get to play the best competition.”
Harvey, who graduated from Upper Darby in 1989 and played college lacrosse at Fairleigh Dickinson and Widener, said he always asked for dedication – and normally got exactly that.
“I always told them if you’re willing to give me hard work and give the time, the program would be successful, and the players would be successful,” he said.
“Back in the day, there really wasn’t an opportunity for these kids to participate in off-season lacrosse. But in the last six or seven years, there is more fall ball, more summer tournaments and more opportunities for kids to be involved in off-season workouts.
“For us, it was a platform to get better each and every year.”