Eastern Pennsylvania Conference


The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, known informally as EPC, EPC18, and East Penn Conference, is an athletic conference consisting of 18 large high schools from Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Pike counties in the Lehigh Valley and Pocono Mountain regions of eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania. The conference is part of District XI in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference holds many Pennsylvania and national records and milestones in high school athletic competition. The conference is known for producing many athletes who have gone on to compete in the Olympics and professional sports, including Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Football League. The conference's high school wrestling programs have been labeled "among the nation’s best in the sport for nearly three decades" and WIN magazine has ranked the EPC and Lehigh Valley best in the nation for wrestling.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference is also home to two of the nation's largest high school football stadiums, J. Birney Crum Stadium, a 15,000 capacity stadium in Allentown, and Frank Banko Field at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, a 14,000 capacity in Bethlehem.

History

On October 2, 2013, the Lehigh Valley Conference, consisting of 12 schools from the Lehigh Valley, voted to invite six large Mountain Valley Conference schools to the conference, expanding it to a super conference of 18 large Pennsylvania high schools. The EPC was officially announced on June 4, 2014, and the conference's play began in the 2014–15 school year. The conference is widely considered one of the premier high school athletic divisions in the nation.

High schools

The 18 high school teams in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference are:

Baseball

uses the primary divisional conference alignment.
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Bethlehem Catholic51996, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20210–
Dieruff21987, 19880–
Easton21990, 19930–
Emmaus22000, 20050–
Freedom21999, 20180–
Liberty41991, 2001, 2002, 20070–
Nazareth32006, 2011, 20120–
Northampton119970–
Parkland51992, 2003, 2009, 2013, 20140–
Pleasant Valley120100–
Whitehall41984, 2004, 2005, 20080–
William Allen119950–

Boys basketball

Boys basketball uses the primary divisional conference alignment.
Conference Champions
YearEPC TournamentMountain DivisionRecordSkyline DivisionRecordSteel DivisionRecord
2014–15ParklandStroudsburg14–2 Parkland16–0 Liberty14–2

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic171986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 201421984, 1986
Bethlehem Catholic41998, 2002, 2018, 20190–
East Stroudsburg South31994, 2018, 20210–
Easton120070–
Emmaus119860–
Liberty41987, 1995, 2008, 20100–
Parkland72000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2014, 20150–
Pleasant Valley119980–
Pocono Mountain West120120–
Stroudsburg21996, 19990–
Whitehall111981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2004, 200511982
William Allen71984, 1988, 1993, 2002, 2006, 2011, 201951935, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1951

Girls basketball

Girls basketball uses the primary divisional conference alignment.
Conference champions
YearEPC TournamentMountain DivisionRecordSkyline DivisionRecordSteel DivisionRecord
2014–15Bethlehem CatholicPocono Mountain West13–3 Allentown Central Catholic16–0 Bethlehem Catholic16–0

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic211987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 201271973, 1978, 1987, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Bethlehem Catholic101992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 201912019
Dieruff0–21975, 1976
Easton21999, 20170–
Emmaus41998, 2001, 2002, 20040–
Freedom31987, 2006, 20180–
Liberty22000, 20090–
Nazareth52013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 20210–
Northampton51995, 1997, 2010, 2011, 20190–
Parkland32005, 2007, 201412006
Pleasant Valley120030–
Whitehall21986, 19880–
William Allen1200811981

Boys cross country

In boys cross country, no divisional conference alignment is used.
Conference champions
YearRegular seasonRecordChampionshipPointsIndividual ChampionTime
2014Easton15–0Easton47Colin Abert 16:02

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic21989, 20140–
Easton101985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2014, 2018, 20190–
Emmaus119940–
Freedom22012, 20130–
Liberty61990, 1993, 1995, 2004, 2007, 20080–
Nazareth120100–
Parkland62005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, 20170–
William Allen21988, 19890–

Individual state champions:
  • Mickey Collins – 1970

    Girls cross country

In girls cross country, no divisional conference alignment is used.
Conference champions
YearRegular seasonRecordChampionshipPointsIndividual ChampionTime
2014Easton15–0Parkland80Raisa Kochmaruk 19:27

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic32003, 2004, 200512001
Easton41989, 2014, 2018, 20190–
Emmaus111985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2006, 2007, 2008, 200932007, 2008, 2009
Liberty41991, 1992, 1997, 20100–
Northampton119870–
Parkland32011, 2012, 201312000
William Allen119860–

Individual state champions:
  • Janelle Thomas – 1992, 1994, 1995
  • Frances Koons – 2003
  • Jessica Cygan – 2008

    Field hockey

In field hockey, no divisional conference alignment is used.
Conference champions
YearEPC TournamentMountain DivisionRecordSkyline DivisionRecordSteel DivisionRecord
2014StroudsburgStroudsburg15–0 Emmaus13–0–1 Easton14–1–1

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Emmaus261989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 201491991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010
Stroudsburg0–11980

Football

uses the following adjusted divisional conference alignment, which changes slightly every two years:
North: Dieruff, East Stroudsburg North, East Stroudsburg South, Northampton, Pleasant Valley, Pocono Mountain East, Pocono Mountain West, Stroudsburg, and William Allen

South: Allentown Central Catholic, Bethlehem Catholic, Easton, Emmaus, Freedom, Liberty, Nazareth, Parkland, and Whitehall
From the 2014 through 2017 seasons, Northampton was in the South division. From the 2014 through 2015 seasons, Bethlehem Catholic was in the North division. For 2016–17, Allentown Central Catholic was in the North division.
Division champions
YearNorth DivisionRecordSouth DivisionRecord
2014Stroudsburg10–0 Easton10–0
2019Northampton10–2 Nazareth12–2
2021Northampton12–1 Parkland9–2
2022Northampton12–1 Emmaus10–2

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic121991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 202131993, 1998, 2010
Bethlehem Catholic101985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2013, 201421988, 1990
East Stroudsburg South41985, 1995, 2018, 20210–
Easton71990, 1991, 1993, 2003, 2004, 2009, 20100–
Liberty41994, 2005, 2006, 200812008
Nazareth31988, 1989, 20110–
Parkland71996, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 201712002
Pocono Mountain East119880–
Whitehall51986, 1989, 1997, 2016, 20170–
William Allen119920–

Golf

does not use any divisional conference alignment.
Conference champions
YearRegular seasonRecordChampionshipPointsBoys championScoreGirls championScore
2014Easton
Emmaus
Parkland		9–1Emmaus322Nick Maff 77Helen Hsu 79

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic120130–
Emmaus22013, 20140–
Northampton120120–
Parkland42006, 2008, 2009, 20110–

Boys lacrosse

Boys lacrosse uses the following adjusted divisional conference alignment:

East: Bethlehem Catholic, Liberty, Nazareth, Northampton, and Pleasant Valley

West: Allentown Central Catholic, Easton, Emmaus, Freedom, and Parkland

Dieruff, East Stroudsburg North, East Stroudsburg South, Pocono Mountain East, Pocono Mountain West, Stroudsburg, Whitehall, and William Allen do not participate in boys lacrosse.
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic52011, 2012, 2018, 2021, 202212021
Emmaus42009, 2010, 2013, 20140–

Easton
2024, 2025

Girls lacrosse

Girls lacrosse uses the following adjusted divisional conference alignment:

Mountain: Nazareth, Northampton, and Pleasant Valley

Steel: Easton, Freedom, and Liberty

Skyline: Allentown Central Catholic, Emmaus, and Parkland

Bethlehem Catholic, Dieruff, East Stroudsburg North, East Stroudsburg South, Pocono Mountain East, Pocono Mountain West, Stroudsburg, Whitehall, and William Allen do not participate in girls lacrosse.
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Emmaus120110–
Nazareth22010, 20120–
Parkland120140–

Boys soccer

Boys soccer uses the primary divisional conference alignment.
Conference Champions
YearEPC TournamentMountain DivisionRecordSkyline DivisionRecordSteel DivisionRecord
2014EmmausStroudsburg13–3–1 Emmaus15–1 Liberty11–5

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic120120–
Bethlehem Catholic120070–
Easton120100–
Emmaus111991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 20150–
Freedom1199011983
Liberty31989, 1992, 199311975
Parkland91997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2013, 20220–
Stroudsburg22009, 20120–

Girls soccer

Girls soccer uses the primary divisional alignment.
Conference champions
YearEPC TournamentMountain DivisionRecordSkyline DivisionRecordSteel DivisionRecord
2014ParklandStroudsburg14–1–1 Parkland13–1–2 Easton13–2–1

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic22009, 20100–
Easton120130–
Emmaus81993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2007, 200911997
Nazareth22008, 20100–
Parkland81996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2012 0–
Whitehall22012, 20140–

Softball

uses the primary divisional alignment.
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic120060–
Bethlehem Catholic72003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 20140–
Easton120110–
Emmaus22003, 200712000
Liberty120120–
Nazareth120060–
Northampton1201311996
Parkland32004, 2005, 201441975, 1995, 1998, 2009
Stroudsburg120100–
Whitehall120090–
William Allen0–11990

Boys swimming and diving

Boys swimming and diving does not use the divisional conference alignment. Pleasant Valley and Bethlehem Catholic do not participate in boys swimming and diving. In addition, East Stroudsburg North, East Stroudsburg South, Pocono Mountain East, Pocono Mountain West, and Stroudsburg do not participate in boys diving.
Conference champions
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic32004, 2005, 20150–
Emmaus102005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 20150–
Parkland22004, 20070–

Girls swimming and diving

Girls swimming and diving does not use the divisional conference alignment. Pleasant Valley and Bethlehem Catholic do not participate in girls swimming and diving. East Stroudsburg North, East Stroudsburg South, Pocono Mountain East, Pocono Mountain West, and Stroudsburg do not participate in girls diving.
Conference champions
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic22004, 20090–
Emmaus1200822004, 2005
Parkland112004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 201522001, 2003

Boys track and field

Boys track and field does not use any divisional conference alignment.

Girls track and field

Girls track and field does not use any divisional conference alignment.

Boys tennis

Boys tennis does not use any divisional conference alignment.
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Emmaus120040–
Parkland72005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 20140–

Individual state champions:
  • Dennis Koch – 1960
  • Rupert/Book – 1961
  • Colin Delaney – 1988
  • Tarek El-Bassiouni – 1998
  • Sean Montgomery – 2001

    Girls tennis

Girls tennis does not use any divisional conference alignment.
Conference champions
YearRegular seasonRecordChampionship
2014East Stroudsburg South
Liberty
Nazareth		10–1East Stroudsburg South

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic120050–
Bethlehem Catholic22003, 20060–
Freedom0–12002
Northampton22003, 20040–
Parkland52007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 20130–
Stroudsburg120090–
Whitehall120100–

Individual state champions:
  • Granson/Granson – 1996
  • Granson/Granson – 1997

    Boys volleyball

Boys volleyball does not use any divisional conference alignment.
Allentown Central Catholic, East Stroudsburg North, East Stroudsburg South, Pleasant Valley, and Stroudsburg do not participate in boys volleyball.
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Bethlehem Catholic42007, 2008, 2009, 20100–
Emmaus32011, 2012, 20130–
Freedom42004, 2005, 2006, 20090–
Liberty120070–
Parkland22008, 20140–
Whitehall120100–

Girls volleyball

Girls volleyball uses the primary divisional conference alignment.
Conference champions
YearEPC TournamentMountain DivisionRecordSkyline DivisionRecordSteel DivisionRecord
2014ParklandPleasant Valley11–5 Parkland16–0 Bethlehem Catholic15–1

District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Allentown Central Catholic72003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 200932001, 2007, 2008
Bethlehem Catholic62005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 20140–
Freedom120030–
Parkland42010, 2011, 2012, 201422011, 2014

Wrestling

uses the following adjusted divisional conference alignment:

Division A: Allentown Central Catholic, Dieruff, East Stroudsburg South, Easton, Freedom, Nazareth, Parkland, Pocono Mountain East, and William Allen

Division B: Bethlehem Catholic, East Stroudsburg North, Emmaus, Liberty, Northampton, Pleasant Valley, Pocono Mountain West, Stroudsburg, and Whitehall
District and state championships
SchoolDistrict
Title		YearState
Title		Year
Bethlehem Catholic52011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 201581979, 2011, 2012, 2012, 2013, 2013, 2014, 2014
Easton102001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013101981, 1983, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2001, 2002, 2002, 2003, 2004
Nazareth22006, 201422006, 2007
Northampton51998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 200981993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2000, 2003, 2004

Individual state champions:
  • Peter Cicchine – 1940, 135
  • William Unangst – 1940, 155
  • John McAuliffe – 1947, 138
  • Charles Cope – 1947, 154
  • Dick Rutt – 1949, 103
  • Harold Wilson – 1954, 120
  • Steve Micio – 1955, 133
  • Ed Keglovits – 1955, 154
  • R. Rohrbach – 1957, 127
  • William Trexler – 1957, 133
  • Bart Mosser – 1958, 127
  • Al Rushatz – 1958, 165
  • Dick Rushatz – 1959, 95
  • Doug Koch – 1960, 133
  • John Eckenrode – 1961, 138
  • Alton Bowyer – 1962, 95
  • Dick DeWalt – 1962, 133
  • Dave Halulko – 1964, 127
  • Chuck Amato – 1964, 165
  • Charles Housner – 1965, 145
  • Randy Biggs – 1967, 95
  • Geoff Baum – 1967, 180
  • Craig Fox – 1968, 133
  • Dan Newhard – 1968, 180
  • Carl Lutes – 1969, 112
  • Dan Howard – 1969, 133
  • Rocco Creazzo – 1971, 95
  • Pat Sculley – 1973, 126
  • Curt Stanley – 1974, 132
  • Darwin Brodt – 1974, 167
  • Bobby Weaver – 1975, 98
  • Rich McIntyre – 1975, 145
  • Brian Statum – 1975, 155
  • Bobby Weaver – 1976, 98
  • Brian Statum – 1976, 155
  • Mike Brown – 1976, 185
  • George Atiyeh – 1976, UNL
  • Bobby Weaver – 1977, 105
  • Billy Williams – 1977, 145
  • George Atiyeh – 1977, UNL
  • Rich Santoro – 1978, 98
  • Doug Billig – 1979, 98
  • Rich Santoro – 1979, 112
  • Tom Bold – 1979, 138
  • John Cuvo – 1980, 98
  • Jim Bresnak – 1980, 105
  • Bernie Brown – 1980, 185
  • Randy Ascani – 1981, 119
  • Bernie Brown – 1981, 185
  • Dennis Atiyeh – 1981, UNL
  • Jack Cuvo – 1983, 98
  • Mickey Torres – 1983, 112
  • Jack Cuvo – 1984, 98
  • Sean Finkbeiner – 1984, 145
  • Andy Voit – 1984, 185
  • Jack Cuvo – 1985, 105
  • Gino Capuano – 1985, 138
  • Scott Schleicher – 1985, 145
  • John Likins – 1986, 112
  • Scott Hovan – 1986, 138
  • Jeff Roth – 1986, 145
  • Dave Foley – 1987, 105
  • Scott Hovan – 1987, 145
  • Brad Silimperi – 1988, 98
  • Ty Moore – 1988, 105
  • Mike Miller – 1989, 145
  • Blayne Diacount – 1989, 160
  • Tony Iasiello – 1989, 171
  • Moss Grays – 1990, 145
  • Mike Miller – 1990, 152
  • Chad Billy – 1991, 112
  • Ryan Nunamaker – 1992, 130
  • Mike Tomsic – 1993, 112
  • Matt Roth – 1994, 112
  • Dan Tashner – 1994, 125
  • Whitey Chlebove – 1994, 130
  • Mark Getz – 1994, 135
  • Dennis Liberto – 1995, 103
  • Travis Doto – 1995, 145
  • Jamarr Billman – 1996, 130
  • Chris Kelly – 1997, 112
  • Andy Cote – 1997, 130
  • Bryan Snyder – 1997, 135
  • Jamarr Billman – 1997, 140
  • Rob Rohn – 1997, 189
  • Derek Jenkins – 1998, 145
  • Christian Luciano – 1998, 171
  • Jon Trenge – 1998, 189
  • John Hard – 1998, 275
  • Jon Trenge – 1999, 189
  • Steve Itterly – 1999, 275
  • Matt Ciasulli – 2000, 112
  • Ryan McCallum – 2000, 130
  • Jake Giamoni – 2000, 135
  • Matt Ciasulli – 2001, 119
  • Jeff Ecklof – 2001, 125
  • Gino Fortebuono – 2001, 130
  • Travis Frick – 2001, 171
  • Matt Ciasulli – 2002, 125
  • Mike Rogers – 2002, 135
  • Christian Franco – 2002, 140
  • David Rivera – 2002, 160
  • Joey Ecklof – 2003, 135
  • Jeff Ecklof – 2003, 145
  • Josh Haines – 2003, 189
  • Jon Oplinger – 2003, 215
  • Joe Caramanica – 2004, 135
  • Joey Ecklof – 2004, 145
  • Mike Rogers – 2004, 152
  • Nick Guida – 2004, 171
  • Josh Haines – 2004, 189
  • Jon Oplinger – 2004, 215
  • Tim Darling – 2005, 130
  • Joe Caramanica – 2005, 145
  • Joey Ecklof – 2005, 152
  • Bryan Reiss – 2005, 275
  • Jordan Oliver – 2006, 103
  • Tim Darling – 2006, 145
  • Kegan Handlovic – 2007, 112
  • Jordan Oliver – 2007, 119
  • Tim Darling – 2007, 152
  • Justin Wieller – 2007, 215
  • Kegan Handlovic – 2008, 119
  • Jordan Oliver – 2008, 130
  • Ziad Haddad – 2008, 285
  • Zach Horan – 2011, 130
  • Mitchell Minotti – 2011, 140
  • Michael Ottinger – 2011, 160
  • Ethan Lizak – 2012, 106
  • Darian Cruz – 2012, 106
  • Randy Cruz – 2012, 132
  • Elliot Riddick – 2012, 170
  • Ethan Lizak – 2013, 113
  • Aaron Bradley – 2013, 285
  • Darian Cruz – 2013, 120
  • Jake Riegel – 2014, 106
  • Luke Karam – 2014, 113
  • Zeke Moisey – 2014, 126

    Eastern Pennsylvania Conference professional and Olympic athletes

The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference is known for producing a considerable number of present and former professional and Olympic athletes, including:

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Former MLB players

Former NBA players

Current NFL players

Olympic cycling

Eastern Pennsylvania Conference athletes who have gone on to athletic coaching and team management careers include:

College basketball coaches