Doylestown 7th Grade Travel Basketball Team Posts Historic Season

DOYLESTOWN, PA — For the first time in the history of the Doylestown Athletic Association, a 7th Grade Travel Team has won not only the Inter-County Basketball Association's (ICBA) Division 1 title, but also a state championship.

In March, after making local sports history by capturing the district one title, the team went on to win the 7th Grade Boys Gold Division over Whitemarsh at the Pennsylvania Middle School Basketball Championship in State College.

“I’m very proud of the team," said head coach Chris Seitzinger. "I’m extremely proud as a coach and as a father to see the excitement and the joy that the sport of basketball has provided to these young men, not only on the court but also the friendships they have created through the sport of basketball.”

Having been together since the third grade, Seitzinger said heading into this season he had "high hopes" for the team made up mostly of students from the Lenape Middle School and a core of eight players who have been playing together since the beginning and who have built a special chemistry on the court.

“We knew we were better than we were last year,” said Seitzinger. “And at one point during the middle of the season, after beating the team that won the division last year, we knew we had a special team and a special season. We knew we needed to embrace it.”

The team began the season going 4-0 in a Thanksgiving tournament. They followed that by winning the King of the Court Tournament, a preseason ICBA tournament, 4-1, where the team registered its first loss to Whitpain Recreation Association.

After a winning regular season, the team won the district one title. “It was a proud moment for the coaches for giving up the least amount of points during the season," said Seitzinger.

The team then capped off its season by winning the 2023 Pennsylvania state middle school ICBA state championship in State College. The team finished the season in dramatic fashion, coming back from a 15 point deficit to defeat Whitemarsh.

“To start the way we started - going down 15 points - was uncharacteristic of our team. But we were able to close that gap to eight at halftime and go on to win the game because we went back to our roots," said Seitzinger. "We got back to our team defense, which fueled our offense and ultimately led to our victory.”

The hometown team pulled out the win, beating Whitemarsh 46-41 and posting an impressive 5-0 record in the tournament.

The team’s reaction was immediate.

“They were jumping up and down and screaming, giving high-fives and hugging each other. They were showing a lot of emotion and some tears," said Seitzinger.

"The most special moment for me was seeing the parents celebrate as well because they spent time and dedication driving their sons to practice twice a week, to games every weekend for about six and a half months," said Seitzinger. "It was exciting to see as a coach, but also as a father to see the kids give their parents a hug and say thank you.

“It was eight 13 year old boys coming together from the beginning of the season who made it happen," Seitzinger continued. "Each player accepted their role and excelled in their role and came together as a team. On the floor, all players could score the basketball but it came back to playing together as a team and lifting each other up.”

With the win, the team finished the season with an impressive 24-4 record.

Starting this month, the boys will be forming a Doylestown Elite AU team and competing in seven different tournaments. The team will be made up of the core eight boys plus two new additions to the roster. saod Seitzinger.

“They will be playing all summer long together and will move into the fall AU program with the same eight boys playing together for eighth grade basketball, which is the highest level for travel basketball," said Seitzinger. "The goal for me as a coach is to upscale them and prepare them for the next level, which is eighth grade middle school.”

The team includes Harrison Myers (13), Chris Seitzinger (11), Brady Windisch (24), Ben Kondyra (22), Jacob Wisniowski (33), Cullen Kinyon (14), Finn Gale (12), Nick Barry (7). They are coached by Chris Seitzinger and assistants Mike Kondyra and Adam Kinyon.