Eintracht Bethel Park places seventh in Bundesliga Total

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer

May 29, 2025

Eintracht Bethel Park places seventh in Bundesliga Total

The BPHS German Club has once again shown its passion for the language by finishing in the top ten in the Bundesliga Total Fantasy Soccer League during the 2024-25 season.

The club’s team, Eintracht Bethel Park, placed 7th out of thirty-five teams spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This is a notable achievement in the international competition organized by the Goethe Institute’s Step into German program in San Francisco.

Since the league’s inception in 2016, Eintracht Bethel Park has consistently ranked amongst the top teams, finishing in the top ten every year in Group B.

The club’s best performances came in the 2019 and 2021 seasons when they finished as runners-up, showcasing a consistent commitment to excellence and strategic thinking.

What was special about this year’s team as well is the team’s partnership with soccer club FC Union Berlin.

Their routine included watching highlight videos of Bundesliga matches, answering questions related to the league and matches, and making predictions on match winners and scores.

These activities not only helped the players practice German but also expanded their understanding of German culture and soccer traditions.

This year’s team featured a talented mix of students like seniors Thaddeaus Smith and Michael Taylor, along with sophomore German exchange student Rickart Zuehlke.

Under the guidance of their German teacher, Mr. Tobias, the team demonstrated dedication, teamwork, and a passion for both the German language and soccer.

The success of Eintracht Bethel Park highlights the ways schools can promote language learning through extracurricular activities that mix interests.

By participating in Bundesliga Total, students practiced their German outside the classroom and faced off against competition while having fun.

With a strong track record and a dedicated group of students, the BPHS German Club looks forward to continuing its success in future seasons of Bundesliga Total and other cultural activities.

Their achievement shows the power of combining language education with engaging activities that inspire students to explore new cultures.

BPHS is committed to maintaining academic excellence, cultural awareness, and extracurricular engagement among its students.

The BPHS German Club, in particular, prioritizes learning and cultural understanding through language, sports, and community events.

About the Contributor

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer

And that’s another Bethel Park Black Hawks win for the boys soccer team. Whether Patrick is on the soccer field or behind the keyboard, he’s always aiming to make an impact—one play and one story at a time. This year, Patrick Romito, an 11th grader, joins Scholastic Publications for the first time. When asked why he decided to sign up, Patrick said, “I took the class to get more involved in school activities.” With a clear passion for making the most of his high school experience, Patrick is eager to contribute to the class by writing articles for the Hawk Eye newspaper. He’s ready to take on whatever stories come his way, whether spotlight features, sports, or school news. Patrick is not just a writer; he’s also an accomplished athlete. With 12 years of soccer experience under his belt and as a three-year DECA member, he balances both extracurriculars and academics with ease. As someone who enjoys variety, he’s equally open to different kinds of stories, saying, “I enjoy writing in general, so whether it’s spotlights, sports, or school news-related content, it doesn’t matter to me.” Looking ahead, Patrick’s plans after high school include studying marketing and advertising, although he’s still deciding on a specific college. In the meantime, his favorite class is Law & You with Mr. Vic. He appreciates how the course prepares him for life after high school, and he enjoys Mr. Vic’s real-life stories that make each lesson engaging. Reflecting on his time in high school, Patrick recalls the excitement of attending football games as a freshman, where he formed friendships that have lasted throughout his high school years. “I really enjoyed going to the football games freshman year because I ended up making a lot of friends there, a lot of which I’m still friends with today,” he said. Outside of school, Patrick has worked as a lifeguard at Highpoint Fitness for almost two years, a job that highlights his dedication and work ethic. When he’s not working or playing soccer, he enjoys comedy movies, with Step Brothers being his top pick. And what’s his dream vacation? Patrick hopes to one day visit Italy. “My dream vacation is Italy because first, it is very beautiful there, as well as my family roots going back to there,” he shared. In just three words, Patrick describes himself as calm, caring, and hardworking — qualities that are sure to serve him well both in and out of the classroom. Keep an eye out for Patrick’s contributions to Hawk Eye this year as he dives into the world of scholastic publications! Written by: Grace Ferency, Staff Writer