Jaryn Simpson is a junior at Prep who is entering his second year on the varsity basketball team. Basketball has always been a focal point in Jaryn’s life, as he was introduced to it at a very young age. When he made the varsity squad last year as the only sophomore on the team, it was a dream come true.
Jaryn admitted he was nervous in the first few games he played, but he was able to build on each game and became more and more confident. The team went all the way to the PIAA Class AAA final four before losing to Archbishop Carroll, and Jaryn feels like this was a very successful season. He and the whole team plan on getting at least that far again this year.
Jaryn’s best memory from last season was the trip the team took to the Bahamas. The Ramblers played in a tournament down there, but the whole trip was about much more than basketball. It was about the experience, team bonding, and the service they did down there. For Jaryn, this trip was an entirely new adventure, as he had never been on an airplane before. He had also not been anywhere nearly as far away from home. He knew from the moment he made the team that this would be a life-changing experience.
The team went 3-0 in the tournament, winning every game by double digits. Jaryn points out how important it was to see the playing styles of the teams from around the country, including a local Bohemian team, and adjust accordingly. He started every game in the tournament standing in for injured guard Antonio Frisina. Jaryn showed poise beyond his time, and the entire team accepted him more than ever.
During one of the days the team was in the Bahamas, they went to a local orphanage to play basketball with the kids there. Jaryn remembers how good he felt giving these somewhat lonely kids some joy while they were together. The college basketball tournament in the Bahamas was when Jaryn saw something that blew him away. The broadcast showed the orphanage that he and the team visited, and one of the kids had a Prep shirt on. This amazing event made the whole trip much more meaningful.
The Ramblers prepare for this upcoming season unlike any other year prior. They will play their inaugural season in the new Joanne Mullen Gymnasium. In Jaryn’s words, “It should bring a new experience and a new everything to Prep basketball.” This year promises to be a huge year for the Ramblers, and no one is more excited than Jaryn Simpson.