SEPTA strike affecting city athletes

By Pat Leonard

FOR THE INQUIRER

The city's SEPTA strike is threatening to affect Thursday night's Class AAA boys' soccer city championship game, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Northeast High School.

Washington head coach Chris Reid, who also teaches health, physical education and first aid at his alma mater in Northeast Philadelphia, said Wednesday afternoon that anywhere from "six to eight" of the players from his Public League championship team were absent from school Wednesday with their primary mode of transportation out of service due to the strike.

"You know what? Call me at 4 o'clock," Reid said at 2:20 p.m., when asked about his team's mood as it prepares to face Catholic League champion Father Judge Thursday night. "I don't know who I'm going to have or not."

Reid's concern, outside of the students missing class time, is over whether the students who were absent from Washington Wednesday will find their way to school on Thursday.

Student-athletes must attend school the day of a competition or they are ineligible to compete that day.

"I sent a text message to one of our players who came in," Reid said, "and he texted the kids not in school to let them know they need to come tomorrow to be eligible to play."

Reid also said the SEPTA strike seems to be affecting more than just the boys' soccer team at Washington. One of his classes Wednesday was only half-full, the other had a third of the seats empty.

The coach was calm and more concerned than worried, confident his team would solve the situation as it has done all season to advance this far. But he is aware he will need all hands on deck to beat Judge, which is ranked No. 1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer and has given up just 12 goals in 20 games this season.

"We'll be there to play, one way or the other," Reid said. "It doesn't get any better than playing for a city title, and Judge is just fantastic."