Central York graduate named one of top 20 volleyball players in nation
Central York graduate Braden Richard has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association High School Senior All-America Team.
One of just 20 players in the nation to be honored, Richard was named to the second team.
The team was limited to high school seniors whose high school head coaches are AVCA members. An AVCA committee, comprised of 11 coaches around the nation and appointed for each region of the country, selected the best players in the U.S.
Richard is the lone player from Pennsylvania named to the team. California led all states with nine selections.
Richard just completed his senior season with Central, leading the Panthers to the PIAA big-school (3A) state final. North Allegheny earned its second straight state title, knocking off the Panthers in three sets in the title game.
Central York head coach Todd Goodling praised Richard as one of the best players in the program's history.
"I've been at Central 35-plus years .... I don't think there's ever been a player in our program who epitomizes what we try to do in terms of different tempos, flexibility," Goodling said after the state final as he fought back tears. "It's difficult for me to imagine him not being in the program. It seems like he's been here forever.
"If I had to pick a prototypical player for Central York boys' volleyball, as a hitter, an offensive player, it'd clearly be Braden."
More in-depth: Central says goodbye to strong senior class
More in-depth: Braden Richard comes into his own as a sophomore
Richard started all four years at Central, playing a key role on the 2017 state championship team during his sophomore year before standing out again as a junior when North Allegheny knocked off Central in the state semifinals. He carried the team at times during his senior season, when the team needed to rally from a 2-0 deficit against Cumberland Valley — then the No. 1-ranked team in the state — in the District 3 semifinals. The Panthers went on to win the District 3 title.
He had multiple NCAA Division I offers, but he settled on attending and playing at St. Francis (Pa.) next season.
Penn State and two-time defending NCAA Division I champion Long Beach State each had three commitments placed on the AVCA All-America team.
2019 AVCA First-Team
Boys' High School Senior All-America
First Team
(Players' high school and future college listed)
Mason Briggs, Bishop Alemany H.S., Studio City, Calif., Long Beach State
Will Campbell, Loyola H.S., Los Angeles, UC San Diego
Taylan Cook, Sage Creek H.S., San Diego, Loyola (Chicago)
Jack Driscoll, Sachem North H.S., Neconset, N.Y., Penn State
Nathaniel Gates, La Jolla H.S., San Diego, Stanford
Cole Gillis, Branham H.S., San Jose, UC Irvine
Marty Jepsen, Marist H.S., Chicago, Lewis
Kevin Kauling, Neuqua Valley H.S. Naperville, Ill., Lewis
Aidan Knipe, Huntington Beach H.S., Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State
Zach Schneider, Lockport H.S., Lockport, N.Y., Long Beach State
Second team
JT DeMure, Granite Bay H.S., Granite Bay, Calif., Concordia Irvine
Gabe Hartke, Barrington H.S., Barrington, Ill., Penn State
Will McPhillips, Lincoln-Way East H.S., Frankfort, Ill., Ball State
Caden Perkins, El Modena H.S., Orange, Calif., Concordia Irvine
Braden Richard, Central York H.S., St. Francis University (Pa.)
Jack Shampine, Glenbrook South H.S., Glenview, Ill., Penn State
Justin Sharfenaker, Columbus Briggs H.S., Columbus, Lincoln Memorial
Brian Voight, New Berlin United, New Berlin, Wisconsin
Griffin Walters, El Camino H.S., Rocklin, Calif., CSUN
Rico Wardlow, Bolingbrook H.S., Bolingbrook, Ill., Purdue Fort Wayne
PHOTO GALLERY FROM STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS