Sarah Reigner Mason

            Sarah Reigner Mason expected her life to take a different career path than

Sarah Reigner Mason

that of her parents, both of whom worked as teachers. She enrolled at Franklin & Marshall with a double major in sociology and American Studies.

            Twenty-five years later, Mason has chosen to follow in their footsteps. She said she's happy with her circuitous route to a career in education.

            "My parents are certainly happy," said Mason, who grew up in the Palm section of Upper Hanover. "I wouldn't change a thing."

            Mason – a standout lacrosse player at Upper Perkiomen High School – works at St. George's School, a co-ed, college preparatory boarding and day school with a 125-acre campus in Newport, RI. She runs the ninth grade dorm for girls at the school, works at the student learning center and is an assistant lacrosse coach.

            Following a standout career with the Indians, Mason fielded multiple collegiate offers. She chose to attend F & M, a Division III school in Lancaster with a serious lacrosse program.

            "It was a great mix of athletics and academics," Mason said.

            She excelled on the field for the Diplomats, finishing her career with 186 goals and 57 assists in 61 games. Her 243 overall points is 10th in the school's all-time list.

            Mason became only the second player in F & M history to score at least 55 goals in a season twice. She registered 65 goals as a junior in 1998 and 55 the following season when she earned All-American honors and was named the All-Centennial Conference for the second straight year.

            "It was a lot of fun," Mason said. "We had a few really good years."

            Her experiences after graduation helped lead her into the educational profession. In England, Mason coached lacrosse and worked at a boarding school. She then moved to Boston, where she worked at Metro Lacrosse, a community, sports-based youth development program with the mission to foster positive life enrichment, character development and healthy life choices for inner-city youth.

            "Working there, I learned that I enjoyed working with kids, and I wanted to pursue education," Mason said.

            After earning a Master's Degree and her teacher's certification at the University of Pennsylvania, Mason taught public school in Hagerstown, MD. For three years. She also spent six years teaching and coaching lacrosse at Mercersburg Academy.

Pete Reigner

            Pete Reigner took the field prepared to compete for Upper Perkiomen's football

Pete Reigner

team. He said the pre-game words of head football coach Bill Keeny motivated the entire team.

            "He inspired us to do great things," Reigner said. "He brought the best out of us. He made you want to play for your teammates, the schools and yourself."
            Reigner helped the Indians capture the outright Bux-Mont League championship as a senior. He was one of few players to start on offense and defense.
            "The bus ride home from Souderton (on Thanksgiving Day in November of 1966) was unbelievable," said Reigner, a two-year starter. "Once we came over the hill into Pennsburg, people were lining both sides of Main Street."
            A 1967 graduate of Upper Perkiomen, Reigner also played basketball and baseball. However, the offensive lineman and defensive end earned a football scholarship to Bucknell University.
            Unfortunately, Reigner never got a chance to play for the Bisons. He suffered a career-ending shoulder injury before the first game of his career.
            Rather than return to the team, Reigner chose to focus on his academics.  As the first person in his family to attend college, the Pennsburg native said he had other activities to occupy his time.
            "The academics were challenging," Reigner said.
            After graduation, he took a teaching job in the Pottstown School District. For 11 years, Reigner taught chemistry and coached football at the middle and high schools, along with other sports.
            "The interaction with the kids was fun," he said. "I liked trying to get the best out of them."
            Looking to change careers, Reigner took a job with a mutual insurance company in Pennsburg. When the company relocated, he decided to get back into teaching and landed a job in the Methacton School District, which he held for 15 years.
            "Getting back into teaching was a great move," said Reigner, who retired six years ago and currently lives in the Palm section of Upper Hanover. "Teaching was always rewarding."