Jul 1, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

Matt Sieg entered his sophomore year at Fort Cherry with high expectations as a football player.

Sieg and the Rangers exceeded the hype in winning the program’s first WPIAL championship and advancing to the Class A state final before.

Sieg, however, never stopped bringing success to Fort Cherry. He displayed all-around athletic ability in basketball, baseball and track and field.

Sieg’s year provided evidence that he is more than deserving of the Male Athlete of the Year for the Observer-Reporter and The Almanac.

A lightning-quick swingman, Sieg overcame adversity in basketball after spraining his ankle and having to sit out several weeks before returning for the state playoffs and helping the Rangers reach the PIAA Class 2A semifinals.

Sieg doubled up his sports in the spring. He was part of Fort Cherry’s baseball team that won a section title and he finished the track season in style when he chased down Mercyhurst Prep’s Craig Buckner as the anchor leg on the Rangers’ 400-meter relay team that won the Class 2A state championship in 42.43.

Sieg teamed with Dylan Wudkwych, Tegan Henke and Shane Cornali to win the gold medal at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

“It is amazing to say you are a state champion in any sport,” Sieg said. “Everyone in Fort Cherry is really close, and it’s really fun to compete with your buddies. We really didn’t have that (winning a state title) in mind when the season started, but we started popping out some really good times.”

Fort Cherry doesn’t have a home track or a middle-school program, but Sieg’s dad coaches the sprinters and he came out as a freshman and looks forward to adding more events next year.

“My dad always coached track and I would go and watch the meets, and I looked forward to being able to compete in the sport,” Sieg said. “Fort Cherry is just a good place to play sports. They have good coaches and the kids are close. As someone who hopes to play football at the next level, college recruiters will look at your times in the 100 and 200.”

The Rangers’ football team had no problem putting up points during Seig’s freshman year, but the defense struggled against high-powered offenses. Fort Cherry improved last fall with a bend-but-don’t-break defense that featured Sieg at safety.

“I think a lot of what changed this season was just our mindset and how we approached the game,” Sieg said. “Our coaches put in the work and had great game plans. We showed a lot of mental toughness throughout the year.”

Despite entering the playoffs undefeated, the Rangers were under the radar, which is something the team thrived on, according to Sieg.

“Winning the WPIAL championship was very special, and we had so much community support,” Sieg said.

Fort Cherry fell short of its goal of a state championship in a 42-8 loss to Steelton-Highspire in the final to finish the season at 15-1.

Sieg rushed for 2,387 yards and 41 touchdowns, threw for 1,671 and 20 scores, returned two punts for touchdowns and had 37 tackles and three interceptions, including a pick-six.

College football recruiters have been following Sieg, including several from Power 5 conferences, but he is not going to rush the decision.

In basketball, Sieg’s return in the postseason helped the Rangers, who were eliminated in both the WPIAL and PIAA tournaments by eventual Class 2A state champion Aliquippa.

“We came together once the playoffs started,” Sieg said. “Unfortunately, we fell short in the state playoffs to Aliquippa. I love to play with my friends and it was a fun time. Our coach (Eugene Briggs) does a great job.”

Sieg led the Rangers’ baseball team in batting average (.529), slugging percentage (.902), and RBI (24). He tied Ryan Huey for the team lead in home runs with four. Sieg pitched in six games and went 1-1 with a save while sporting an impressive ERA of 1.91.

“I have played baseball since I was about 7,” Sieg said. “I love baseball and play pretty much all spring and summer.”

Having both parents as teachers doesn’t allow Sieg to let his studies slide, as he sports a 3.9 GPA.

“School comes first in our house,” Sieg said. “There are no excuses.”