Austin Fischer: BAL Constitution Division Player of the Year

                The Delco varsity basketball team’s power forward and senior captain Austin Fischer will top off his high school career with one of the most prestigious honors that the Bicentennial League can offer: The BAL Constitution Division’s player of the year award. Recognized for his tremendous talent and leadership on the court, Austin’s rigorous work ethic and sheer determination to conquer physical injuries and excel at his craft have propelled him to accolades that even he was surprised to achieve.

Austin hooking in a lay-up in a PIAA
State tournament game against District 12
champion Vaux. Delco took the loss 63-42
credit: Delcotimes

            “I first learned that I had been named BAL Constitution Division Player of the Year when Coach Davis called me up after he got back from [a coaches’] meeting.I was really caught off guard by the news,” recalls Austin on the night he won his award. “It is easily one of the greatest recognitions that I have ever received. However, the team is most important to me, and I definitely place our successes as a group over my successes as an individual. I am so thankful to God and my coaches, teammates, friends and family for putting me in a position to receive this.”

            “Fisch N’Chips”—a now popular nickname among the Delco community, given to Austin by fellow senior Zach Thebner—has played Delco basketball every year since he first came to Pennsylvania in the third grade. During his freshman year of high school he started junior varsity, and from his sophomore year on he has been the starting center for the boys varsity basketball team.

            Austin cites his father, many high school coaches, and Delco as invaluable influences that have contributed to his development into the basketball player that he is today. Austin describes his time at Delco as “some of the most memorable, whether it was the fun atmosphere of a summer tournament or the misery of an hour workout with Coach Woods. “I am really glad that I spent my career at DC because I have been able to learn about God as I have played my favorite sport.”

            Throughout this years as a starting varsity center, Austin has also been faced with many trials involving physical injuries. “I missed the 7th grade season with Osgood Schlatters disease in my knees. My sophomore year, right before playoffs, I dislocated my shoulder and tore my labrum, and I played my entire junior year with a high ankle sprain and patella tendinitis,”explained Austin. While each affliction was painful and aggravating, Austin also refers to these physical detriments as essential to teaching him the value of hard work and patience.

            Indeed, his patience and hard work would pay off in his senior year. Austin averaged 1.3 blocks, 6.5 rebounds, and 10.9 points per game across 28 games. He finished his senior season with 304 points, giving him 500+ career points over 3 varsity seasons. In addition, his leadership and skill proved to be huge contributions to the team’s overall success as the boys varsity basketball team ended their season first in the Constitution Division as well as third in the District 1 basketball tournament. The latter accomplishment allowed the team to qualify for the PIAA State Basketball Tournament, the first Delco boy’s basketball team to do so since 2006.

            As Austin prepares to depart for college next year, he leaves behind some fond memories from his last season as a Knight. “I've had a great senior year and have been encouraged to try and pursue my basketball career on the next level,” states Austin, who is planning to play basketball at the collegiate level. “Wherever I end up, I know I'll still be playing basketball for fun for a long time.”

            When he does leave as a part of the class of 2013, Austin says that he will greatly miss the overall skilled and selfless basketball teammates and coaches who will remain behind, as well as all the fans who “pack the castle” at every game.

            Certainly Austin’s teammates will greatly miss him in return. As Delco's forward Ron Burrell explains, “His ability to make moves and shots in the post one possession and then knock down a 15-footer the next [are big parts of our success].  We'll need someone willing to take instruction and put it into practice immediately like he can.”

List of Austin's senior year achievements:
-1st Team All-BAL
-1st Team Academic All-BAL
-Honorable Mention All-Delco
-BAL Constitution Division Player of the year
-BAL Constitution Division Champion
-DC's Varsity Coaches' Award
-Induction into the PA Sports Hall of Fame Delaware Chapter (Basketball)
-Selected to play in the PA Hoops All-Star game