New Year’s wishes for Olive Brandt, Aaron Seidel, and Philly’s struggling teams

Now that we have turned the page on 2025 and have begun our trek through 2026, tradition dictates that we should now make our resolutions for the New Year ahead and what improved versions of ourselves we plan to bring along with us.

Truth be told, I have never been much for making New Year’s resolutions, which I have found easy to make but all too often impossible to keep.

But I’ve found the process of doing so entertaining, and with that in mind I have written a few columns over the years in which I’ve decided to forego resolutions of my own in favor of New Year’s resolutions for those in the world of sports both locally and nationally.

So here goes … and a happy and healthy 2026 for you all!

Kyle Schwarber

To the Phillies popular slugger Kyle Schwarber, we ask him to resolve to resist the temptation to try to justify – or even outperform – the 5-year, $150 million contract he recently signed to return to South Philly. We just want him to continue to be the same stand-up guy and respected team leader he has been since arriving in town in 2022.

And if he wants to continue to blast his patented Schwarbombs into the seats at Citizens Bank Park (he mashed 56 crowd-pleasing home runs in 2025), that would be just fine.

Terry Smith

Penn State football’s interim head coach Terry Smith should simply be the same person he was in 2025 and, we suspect, in many years prior. By displaying honesty and integrity as well as love for his alma mater, Smith in many ways saved a Penn State season that was quickly coming off the rails after replacing fired head coach James Franklin.

The ex-Nittany Lions wide receiver scuffled after replacing Franklin, dropping his first three games as the boss before closing out the season with four straight wins, including a Pinstripe Bowl triumph over Clemson.

Smith wore his heart on his sleeve throughout his abbreviated head coaching tenure and his players responded by playing hard and then some for Smith, who will return to the program next season as an assistant to new head coach Matt Campbell. I personally would have liked to have seen Smith get a shot at the top job but at least he’s back in the fold in Happy Valley, and hopefully no one will forget the job he did under very difficult circumstances in 2025.

Aaron Seidel

It’s pretty clear that Aaron Seidel doesn’t require much advice given the way he’s performed on the mat during his epic wrestling career.

Seidel, a three-time state champion at Northern Lebanon, may have outdone himself this time, coming up with an eye-popping victory over two-time world champion Reinen Ortega to win the Midlands Championship and solidify his status in the still early days of his college career at Virginia Tech.

New Year’s resolutions for Seidel? Just keep being great ought to cover it.

Philadelphia 76ers fans

The fans of this long-struggling franchise that hasn’t made an NBA Finals appearance in 25 years (I am one of them) must make it their New Year’s resolution to simply keep the faith.

Because it’s starting to look as if the Sixers are onto something good after their fourth straight victory Saturday night, an impressive 130-117 drubbing of the New York Knicks.

On the heels of a dysfunctional and deeply disappointing 2024-25 season that saw them miss the playoffs entirely, the Sixers have made themselves a contender in the Eastern Conference again behind the play of star guard Tyrese Maxey, a seemingly revitalized Joel Embiid, and rookie sensation V.J. Edgecombe.

Will it last? It may not, but the Sixers are actually fun to watch again and appear to be a potentially dangerous playoff opponent thanks to their prolific offensive attack.

So hang in there, Sixers fans. You may be rewarded.

Philadelphia Eagles fans

Fans of the defending Super Bowl champion Birds (of which I am not one) should probably make a resolution to root for a team that is less maddening than the current edition. Yes, the Birds still have an excellent chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs thanks to an aggressive and physical defense that plays well together. Unlike the offense, which leads the league in erratic play and bad body language.

If you’re not tired of watching wide receiver A.J. Brown hang his head and slump his shoulders after a Jalen Hurts incomplete pass, well, you should be.

In fact you should be tired of watching the individual members of the offense stare into space and ignore each other on the sidelines after yet another unproductive possession. You don’t have to love each other in sports to win, but it doesn’t hurt if you can muster some respect for each other. Then again, sports are weird so the Birds will probably steamroll their way to another Super Bowl.

Olive Brandt

For Brandt, the Lebanon High girls basketball standout, the resolution is again a simple one: Keep up the good work. A key role player on the two previous Cedar teams that made deep post-season runs, Brandt has evolved into Lebanon’s go-to girl this season, popping in 24.8 points per game to lead all Lancaster-Lebanon League scorers.

As you may know, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree in the Brandt family. Dad Mark Brandt was a key cog in the Annville-Cleona boys basketball team’s 1999 Class AA state title run, while Olive recently joined grandfather Tom Brandt, who played college ball at Penn, in Lebanon High’s career 1,000-point club. In addition, Olive’s mom, Margaret (Gearhart) Brandt was a standout basketball and softball player during her high school days at Annvile-Cleona.

Brandt will continue her hoops career next season at Elizabethtown College.