It’s a shore thing
for Sarah Strybuc

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

Her weekends may be spent relaxing on the beaches of Wildwood, N.J., but during the week, Sarah Strybuc has no problem bringing her intensity to the basketball courts at the Boyle Playground.
The Archbishop Ryan High School junior guard has helped her summer squad mount an undefeated season thus far, and the players don’t seem inclined to let up.
The Ragdolls have gone 9-0 in the summer Boyle League, which gives local teams like Archbishop Ryan, Nazareth Academy and St. Hubert the chance to tune up during the summer offseason.
Archbishop Ryan was scheduled to play St. Hubert in their regular-season finale on July 29 (the Times went to press this week before the game).
"I think we’re doing very well," said Strybuc, who has been shooting hoops with the Ragdolls for two years. "We are all working together even though we lost some people. I think we’re doing a really good job of picking up the things we lost."
After going 8-4 in the Catholic League Northern Division last year, the Ragdolls ended their season with a loss in the first round of the playoffs and then said farewell to five senior starters — Danielle Foreman, Laura Grow, Kim Hollawell, Caitlyn Keal and Missy Milanese.
However, the remaining ladies from Academy Road seem to have no problem picking up the slack.
"This is great because it gives us a chance to work together in the summer," said Strybuc, who scored 101 points for the Ragdolls over the most recent winter season. "A lot of teams are getting really good, and since we lost a lot of players, we have to start conditioning better. This is a huge help."
The ambitious 16-year-old, born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, used to split her time on the courts with soccer. However, upon entering Archbishop Ryan as a freshman, she decided to stick with what she knew best.
"I felt that I was better at basketball and I wanted to have more time to play," said Strybuc, who stopped playing soccer after elementary school. "When I was little, I always went to Ryan’s basketball camps, so I always knew that I wanted to go there. Plus the coach used to come watch me play, so I already kind of knew him."
Strybuc is referring to longtime Ryan basketball coach John Farrington, who led the Ragdolls for eight years and consistently claimed a spot in postseason play. However, to the dismay of some of his players, Farrington resigned from the coaching job in April.
"It’s a disappointment and we’re all going to miss him a lot, but the new coach is really nice," said Strybuc, referring to Jackie Hartzell. "She’s very supportive. And since she’s a different gender and much younger, she’s easy to talk to."
Before her days as a high school basketball coach, Hartzell was a regular on the courts. She played four seasons with the St. Hubert High School squad, helping the Bambies win the Catholic League Northern Division title during her junior and senior seasons. Hartzell later attended Delaware Valley College in Doylestown and played for the Aggies for four years. She graduated in 2005 and headed into coaching.
"I’m looking forward to getting in the gym with the girls and working," said Hartzell, who coached at St. Hubert and Archbishop Wood high schools before teaming up with the Ragdolls. "I’m really excited."
She certainly is wasting no time.
Archbishop Ryan has open gyms available twice a week, where players are welcome, but not forced, to work out and practice. And with school starting again in a mere five weeks, the dedicated players are jumping at the opportunity.
"We’ll go to the playground and practice," said Strybuc. "We’re also playing twice a week with the summer league. And I train a lot during the week to stay in shape."
Strybuc has certainly dedicated most of her summer to improving her game on the courts. But the beach bum still spends quality time with the family at the Jersey Shore.
"My family has a house in Wildwood, so we go down every weekend," said Strybuc. "My older brother is actually a lifeguard down there."
Athleticism must run in the family. In addition to his job on the beach, brother Timothy is a solid competitor on the St. Joseph University rowing team.
"He rows right on the Schuylkill River, so I get to watch him row all the time," said Sarah. "And he usually comes to a lot of my games.
"I like going down the shore with the family on the weekends," she added. "And I spend a lot of time with friends on the team during the week. So it works out perfectly." ••