Matt Lisicky has lived in the shadows of his widely familiar last name in Whitehall circles, but he blazed his own trails.

His uncle, Pete, was an all-state player and Penn State standout who had a career in Europe. Older brother, Joe, is a baseball player at the University of Scranton

Lisicky never achieved that level in his four years as a Zephyr athlete, but he maintained the family work ethic. He recently completed a four-year career in basketball and volleyball at Whitehall, and maintained a stellar grade point average in the process. It was a blue-collar approach with some worthwhile results.

As a result, Lisicky is the Whitehall Press Male Player of the Year.

“It’s a great honor, and it means my hard paid off,” he said. “Our family is very tight and very supportive of each other. I have just tried to do what I can.

“We all tried to work hard, and realized what our impact pour family had on the community.”

Like other family members, basketball was a birth rite.

“I was playing ever since kindergarten and always shooting some kind of hoops,” he said. “My uncles and my family helped me along the way. We would be playing whenever we could. That’s how I really learned the game.”

Lisicky noted his confidence and comfort levels grew from his freshman to sophomore years. Playing with the same group of boys over the year also helped his development.

“We all grew up together and helped each other out,” he said of his teammates. “We all knew each other and what everyone could do. We are still one big family. It’s the way it has been at Whitehall for a long time.

“We had a lot of good memories over the years, and there really isn’t any game that stands out. It was about all of us playing together.”

Whitehall head boys’ basketball coach Jeff Jones also recognized Lisicky for his work ethic and character.

“Matt was a tremendous representative for the high school and the community,” said Jones. “He exemplified everything you wanted in a high school athlete. He was enthusiastic, hardworking and supportive of his teammates.

“He is exactly what I am looking for in our basketball players.”

While basketball was a staple for Lisicky, volleyball was a late-blooming sport. What initially became a sport to fill a void became another staple in his life.

He credited middle school coach Erin Piff for getting him on the right track.

“She got me started with it,” said Lisicky. “It was a new sports and something completely different from I had played throughout my life.

“But I really fell in love with it, and it really helped me with my jumping ability for basketball.”

Lisicky was at the libero position for his first two years, but he was then switched to an outside hitter his senior season, a move that made his game flourish.

“I really didn’t expect that to happen,” he said of the transition. “It was a completely different position, and the coaches really helped me get through it. I knew I could do it, but I just had to work at. I was happy with the way things went this season.”

Head boys’ volleyball coach George Cowitch believed Lisicky was instrumental in the team’s 16-1 record this past season. Lisicky was a third-team East Penn Conference (EPC) All-Star.

“Matt came into this season and was asked to play a position he never played before as an outside hitter,” said Cowitch. “He was basically thrown into the fire and just produced. He was our leader vocally and helped us to a stellar regular season.

“Matt was an ultimate team player, and he brought other up to his level.”

Yet, Lisicky won’t forget his roots. His uncle, Gabe, was his coach in the Hokendauqua League.

“The one year we were 15-1, but there wasn’t any championship,” he recalled. “we were just out there to play. My uncle Gabe was my coach, and we had a great time.

“It was a lot of the guys that I am playing with now. We were all looking forward to our junior and senior years.”

Lisicky will be beginning his college career at West Chester University in the fall and pursue a degree in accounting.

Although his playing days are over, Lisicky has entertained coaching in his future.

“The thought has crossed my mind,” he said. “Basketball always will be a big part of my family. I can see myself coming back into the gym to help out. I would like to coach someday because I just love the game.

“I would like to give back and help some younger players learn what I did in the Whitehall program.”

Like the rest of the Lisicky family, Matt did it his way.