Prep Journeys: Anthony Sorgi '28

Anthony Sorgi is a major presence on the St. Joseph’s Prep campus. Only a sophomore, he has made his presence known, as a member of Student Council, a Howley Scholar, a Tretta Speech and Debate Scholar, and the Assistant Vice President of Broadcasting for WSJP. His passion for sports media has already taken him beyond the walls of the Prep, helping launch a student-run platform that connects reporters from across the Philadelphia Catholic League.

But for Sorgi, the journey into broadcasting began long before he ever stepped foot onto 17th & Girard. “My whole life I’ve been around it,” Sorgi says of broadcasting and media. “My dad (Jay)  worked in radio for about 20 years: he was with the Packers on WTMJ and we moved to Philadelphia for him to work at KYW. Growing up around microphones and radio stations definitely made me interested in it from an early age.”

When Sorgi arrived at the Prep as a freshman, he wasted little time getting involved. On the first day of school, he introduced himself to WSJP moderator Mr. Avington. That same weekend, he attended his first football broadcast and immediately felt at home behind the microphone.

“I went to the game that weekend and never looked back,” he said.

Since then, Sorgi has become a familiar voice covering Prep athletics. Broadcasting games has allowed him to build connections within the community while channeling his school pride.

“The connections are a huge part of it,” Sorgi said. “You get to connect with alumni and people throughout the Prep community. And there’s something exhilarating about putting the headset on and seeing your brothers down there on the field.”

 

One of his most memorable moments came earlier this year when the Prep defeated Roman Catholic in double overtime in one of the biggest football games of the season.

“That was probably the biggest game I’ve called so far,” Sorgi said. “Being able to call a game like that is something I’ll always remember.”

Through his work with WSJP, Sorgi has developed skills that extend beyond broadcasting. Writing, public speaking, and learning how to navigate social media responsibly have all become part of his daily routine. Looking back on his earliest broadcasts, he laughs at how much he has grown.

“If I listen to my first broadcast compared to now, it’s a huge difference,” he said. “I can’t even stand listening to that first one.”

Broadcasting also helped him gain confidence early in his Prep career. “Freshman year I was definitely more timid,” Sorgi said. “But once people heard my voice on broadcasts, it helped me feel more comfortable speaking up in class and meeting new people.”

That confidence eventually sparked an idea that would grow far beyond the Prep.

During his freshman year, Sorgi noticed that while the Prep had a strong media presence through WSJP, many other schools in the Philadelphia Catholic League did not have a similar platform. He began thinking about how students across the league could collaborate to cover their own teams and communities.

The result was the PCL Sports Network, an Instagram-based platform that now includes student reporters from multiple Catholic League schools and has grown to more than 7,000 followers.

“It was kind of a brainchild,” Sorgi said. “I thought we have this at the Prep, so why not try to build something that connects everyone across the league?”

The project started slowly, with Sorgi and a few early collaborators spending months thinking through how the platform could work. Students from other schools soon began reaching out, including reporters from Mount St. Joseph Academy, La Salle College High School, and Archbishop Carroll. As the group expanded, the network began producing articles, interviews, and coverage of games throughout the league.

Originally, Sorgi hoped to replicate the broadcasting model used by WSJP. However, he quickly realized that not every school had the same access to equipment or resources. Instead, the platform evolved into something more flexible, allowing students to contribute through written stories, interviews, and social media coverage using their phones.

Managing the growing network has required a significant commitment of time. After school, Sorgi often balances homework with planning calls, editing content, and coordinating with reporters from other schools. “It can be a lot,” he said. “Sometimes I go home and hop right on a call, or I find myself working late editing something.”

The long hours have paid off as the network has continued to grow. The team set a goal of reaching 7,000 followers by the end of the basketball season. On the night Roman Catholic won the PCL Championship at the Palestra, the account officially reached that milestone. Still, for Sorgi, the most meaningful part of the experience has been the relationships formed along the way.

“The connections are probably the biggest thing,” he said. “Being able to talk with coaches and athletic directors across the league is great, but the friendships with the other students involved are the best part.”

Running a platform that large has also taught him valuable lessons about leadership. “One person can’t carry it all,” Sorgi said. “You have to trust your team and make sure everyone is committed.”

He has also learned the importance of communication, even when it means having difficult conversations about improving an article or meeting deadlines.

At its core, Sorgi believes the PCL Sports Network reflects an important value he has learned at the Prep. By creating opportunities for students at other Catholic League schools, especially those without broadcasting programs, the platform helps give more students a voice.

“There are a lot of outlets run by adults,” he said. “But this gives students opportunities to get involved and tell their own stories.”

The Prep community has played an important role in helping Sorgi build that vision. Mentors like Mr. Avington and Mr. Burns, along with fellow student broadcasters, have helped guide and support him along the way. “Without WSJP, this never would have started,” he said.

Alongside his broadcasting work, Sorgi has also embraced the academic side of his Prep journey as a Howley Scholar. “It’s a huge honor,” he said. “Getting to have lunch with Mr. Howley and see what a good person he is really inspires you to give back to the Prep.”

Looking ahead, Sorgi hopes to continue growing both as a broadcaster and as a leader within the Prep community. He plans to pursue sports media in college and eventually hopes to work professionally in the field.

Still, the most important lesson he has taken from his experience so far is about people. “The people are more important than the product,” Sorgi said. “That’s something I always try to remember.”

When asked to describe his Prep journey so far in one word, Sorgi did not hesitate. “Incredible,” he said. “It hasn’t been perfect, but it has helped me grow a lot. When I was leaving eighth grade and coming to the Prep, I remember being nervous because I didn’t know anyone. Now I look back and can’t believe I ever felt that way.”

For Sorgi, the journey is only just beginning. But whether behind the microphone or building connections across the Philadelphia Catholic League, he is already making his mark on the Prep community.