.jpg "Sportzwire’s Athlete of the Week: Southern Lehigh’s Multi-Sport Standout, Sean Steckert")
Sportzwire’s Athlete of the Week: Southern Lehigh’s Multi-Sport Standout, Sean Steckert
By: Carrie Miner Yaple | SportzWire | December 1, 2025 | Photo courtesy The Gilson Brothers
Southern Lehigh senior Sean Steckert has built a reputation for being one of the toughest, most dynamic athletes in the Lehigh Valley, yet his humility, work ethic, and faith shine just as brightly as his athletic resume.
A three-sport athlete in football, wrestling, and track, Steckert has become the heartbeat of the Spartans’ athletic success, earning him recognition as Sportzwire’s Athlete of the Week, powered by Envy Electrical.
A Football Force
Though he excels in all three sports, Steckert is quick to admit that football is his true passion.
“I like the bond and success of it,” he said. “I’ve always liked football, but was just not allowed to play until I was older. Wrestling was the closest I could get to that.”
Steckert’s football journey began in 7th grade, and by 8th grade his undefeated middle-school team gave him the confidence to chase bigger goals. His breakout came last season as a junior, his first year as a starter at running back and safety/linebacker. What followed was one of the most dominant seasons the Valley has seen.
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All-State Running Back (junior season)
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Colonial League First-Team RB (junior season)
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Lehigh Valley All-Area Team (junior season)
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One of only two players in the region to surpass 2,000 rushing yards last season (2,048 total)
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Led the Valley in touchdowns (34 rushing, 44 total)
Southern Lehigh captured the District Championship last season and repeated the accomplishment again this year.
In 2024, Steckert hasn’t slowed down. He earned First-Team RB honors again and was named the league’s Offensive MVP. Additional postseason awards are still pending, but his impact is already undeniable.
Now, he and the Spartans are preparing for the first State Championship appearance in school history, a showdown with Twin Valley. They punched their ticket with a heart-pounding 28–24 win over Cardinal O’Hara in the semifinals.
This year, Steckert has been just as explosive. Entering the State Championship game, he has already amassed 2,911 total yards, a staggering number made even more impressive by the fact that he still has one more game to play. With the biggest stage of the season ahead, he has the chance to push his totals into truly historic territory.
A Wrestler with Grit
Before football became his main stage, wrestling was his foundation.
Steckert began wrestling in 1st or 2nd grade, surrounded by friends who competed and drawn to the sport’s physicality.
“I was humbled my freshman year. It was pretty brutal,” he recalled of his introduction to the elite competition in the Lehigh Valley.
But he persevered. Since then, he has become a team captain, pushing for career milestones like reaching 100 wins and qualifying for the state tournament as one of his main goals.
His toughest moment came during last year’s District quarterfinals, when he was slammed on his head and knocked out, ending the match via injury default. Yet he returned stronger, using the setback as motivation.
A Track Athlete with State-Level Speed
Steckert added track to his sports rotation in 8th grade, initially running distance events. By junior year, he transitioned to shorter races, the 400, 200, and 4x400 relay.
That move paid off. His 4x4 relay team placed second at Districts and advanced to the State Championships. With the entire squad returning this season, they are chasing a new goal: medaling in the top eight at states.
A Student, Servant, and Leader
Despite his demanding athletic schedule, Steckert maintains a 3.9 GPA and consistently earns Honor Roll distinction. He plans to study Pre-Med or Sports Medicine in college and is currently being recruited for football, though he remains undecided on where he’ll play.
Off the field, Steckert’s heart for service is just as impressive. Each year, he travels to Jamaica on a mission trip, where he and his family work with a Christian school for the deaf, assisting with projects like mixing concrete, building walls, and learning sign language to better connect with the community. At home, his family serves the homeless on Thanksgiving.
Grounded in Faith and Gratitude
When asked who inspires him, Steckert didn’t hesitate, he credits his mom, dad, and step-dad for their unwavering support.
“They’ve seen me beat up after each game and encourage me to keep pushing through,” he said.
He also speaks highly of his coaching staff, Coach Przyuski, Coach Crom, and Coach Sams for guiding his growth both as an athlete and a young man.
This season, faith has played a deeper role than ever.
“We really started to grow this team closer to Christ,” he explained. “Me and a couple of my teammates do a lot of Bible studies after practice and have them come back to my house once a week.”
He believes that spiritual bond is part of what propelled Southern Lehigh to its historic success.
A Legacy in the Making
Whether he’s breaking tackles, stepping on the wrestling mat, anchoring a relay, or serving communities near and far, Sean Steckert embodies resilience, leadership, and purpose.
As he leads Southern Lehigh into its biggest football game ever, the program’s first-ever State Championship, one thing is clear: his story is just beginning, and the Valley is cheering him on.
Congratulations to Sportzwire’s Athlete of the Week, powered by Envy Electrical:
Southern Lehigh’s own Sean Steckert.
Do you know an athlete that making their mark on the field or court, leading by example in the classroom and in the community? Nominations are open for Sportzwire's Wired Athlete of the Week!
