Marple Newtown’s Haley Levy, right, pictured in a game against Harriton earlier this month, scored 20 points in the Tigers’ 45-42 loss to Springfield in a PIAA Class 5A tournament second-round contest Sunday. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group).
By Matt Smith
After Haley Levy underwent back surgery a year ago, her basketball coach was one of the first people she saw when she returned home.
Ryan Wolski was ready to help with anything the Marple Newtown senior needed. It was remembering Wolski’s show of kindness that had Levy in tears after the Tigers lost to Springfield, 45-42, in the second round of the PIAA Class 5A tournament Sunday at Cardinal O’Hara.
“He’s been with us seniors for all four years and he’s always been there for me,” Levy said through a wave of tears. “The day I got home from my surgery, he was there. And he’s always … just a text away, always there within five seconds if we need anything.
“He’s an amazing person.”
To Levy, Wolski is a coach, but is also like a big brother. After her procedure, Levy was uncertain whether she would be able to return to form on the basketball court. She had a long and arduous rehabilitation process before she could step back on the floor.