Will Hess, Bryce Wunderlich, Colby Crills earn Bert Moore scholarships
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Will Hess of Berks Catholic, Bryce Wunderlich of Gov. Mifflin and Colby Crills of Schuylkill Valley are the 2023 recipients of the Bert Moore Memorial Scholarship awards, presented by the Reading Football Officials Association.
The award, now in its seventh year, is named in honor of Moore, a long-time Berks football official and past president of the organization.
It is awarded to Berks senior football players pursuing education beyond high school. Each recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship.
An RFOA committee reviews applications and selects recipients. Sportsmanship, teamwork, community service and citizenship are considered for the scholarships.
Hess was a Saints captain and two-year starter at quarterback, leading them to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships.
“William is an incredible teammate to every single kid on the team,” said Berks Catholic assistant coach Dave Stahler. “He is coachable like no one we have ever had. He was selected captain by his teammates and has been nothing short of a leader on and off of the field.
“He is the first one on the field and the last one off each and every day. He takes time to teach his young teammates and spends time with them every day showing them the right way to do things. He is the ultimate team player in every way.”
Wunderlich played wide receiver and quarterback for the Mustangs.
“Bryce exemplifies true sportsmanship because of his passion and dedication to the game,” said Mifflin coach Jeff Lang. “Bryce has worked hard for the past three years as a back-up quarterback and scout team quarterback.
“As a senior, he didn’t win the competition for the starting position. He hung in there and moved to wide receiver, a ‘non-glorified’ position on our team because we run so much.
“Not only does Bryce give 100 percent effort and leadership on the field but he also does it off the field, coaching one of our Broncos little league teams and participating in our Elementary Reading Buddies program.”
Crills was a starting defensive back and wide receiver for the Panthers, who set a program record with nine wins and shared the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 championship.
“Colby is a prime example of sportsmanship and leadership,” said Schuylkill Valley coach Bruce Harbach. “He was a captain his junior and senior years and he was the backbone of our football team.
“He never argues with teammates, coaches, and officials. He plays fair and follows directions. He is always encouraging teammates and works with and develops our lesser-skilled players.
“Our younger players have looked to Colby as a role model on and off the field. He helps teammates buy into the team vision and gives up personal glory for our team’s success.”
Jake Fox of Conrad Weiser, Michael Goad of Schuylkill Valley and Aden Krause Gov. Mifflin were the 2022 recipients.
Also, the Reading Football Officials recently presented service awards to the following members:
15 Years: Harold Brennan, Alex Papademetriou and Jared White
20 Years: Nelson Berrios and Scott Key.
25 Years: Al Lopez.
50 Years: Jack Holtzman and Al Lubas.