Nashua PAL Announces Football and Basketball Players of the Year

The nonprofit Nashua PAL (Police Athletic League), announced that its 2022 PAL Football and Basketball Players of the Year are 13-year old Josiah Spleen (football) and 15-year old Shwarlin Eli Arriola, Jr. (basketball). Josiah ands Shawlin, along with PAL’s athletes of the year in boxing, cheerleading and boys and girls cross country – as well as youth and adult awardees in coaching, volunteering, and policing – will be honored at the 2022 Night of Champions on September 15th at Nashua’s Holman Stadium.

Formerly known as the “PAL Sports Dinner” at Conway Arena, this year’s event has been relocated to Holman Stadium. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the PAL Night of Champions support PAL’s educational, athletic, and enrichment programs for Nashua’s at-risk youth. They are available at nashuapal.com/events; call 603-594-3733; or email Jen@nashuapal.com. For more information on Nashua PAL, go to www.nashuapal.com.

Football - Josiah Spleen

An 8th grader at Fairgrounds Middle School, Josiah Spleen played outside linebacker, running back, and on special teams for the Nashua PAL Force 12U (12 and under) team last season. A consistent yardage gainer, lead blocker and touchdown scorer, he was also a tenacious defender and tackler who, according to his coaches, paid “special attention to detail” on his special teams assignments. Josiah wears defenses down with his bruising running style, but adds strength, speed, quickness and field smarts that make him a threat on both sides of the ball.

According to Head Coach Tom Flynn, “Josiah is that rare athlete that has the three most important qualities for a team sport athlete — talent, leadership, and attitude positivity. He comes with an enthusiastic, team-minded attitude, leads by example, and has the drive and talent to excel. He’s reliable, supportive of teammates, mature, kind, respectful, funny, and brings a quiet yet confident leadership demeanor to the team. It’s been a privilege to have a young man like Josiah on the roster.”

Josiah enjoys graphic design, art, music, spending time with family and friends, and attending church on weekends. Everyone at PAL sees great things in his future at South High and beyond.

Basketball - Shwarlin Eli Arriola, Jr.

Shwarlin, 15, or “Swirl” as he is known to teammates, is a sophomore at South High. He joined the PAL Gate City Thunder squad two years ago when his family moved to Nashua from McAllen, Texas. In middle school in Texas, he played football, soccer, basketball, and ran track, and after moving to Nashua played for Coach John Pearson at Elm St. Middle School as an 8th grader.

PAL Basketball Head Coach Shawn Nieves says that Shwarlin is a “spectacular young man,” and a “great role model” to his teammates and other kids who play every day at the PAL after school gym on Main Street. “I remember the first time playing with Swirl at PAL Gym, and he came up to me, and asked me to coach him up to be a better center. Most guys want to handle the ball, or play a shooting forward spot, but Swirl wanted to play in the post, right in the paint. I’m very proud of his progress. He is a big, strong guy who has developed into a beast on the court.” Coach Nieves also says that Shwarlin “makes good choices” and is an example to teammates “with the way he conducts himself.”