The Inter-Academic Athletic League has been supporting student-athletes for more than 130 years, writes Todd Romero for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Started in 1887 by the then headmaster of Germantown Academy, the league today is still the governing body for student athletics for nine of Greater Philadelphia’s private and independent schools.

Some of the most successful athletes have come through the league, including NHL Hall of Fame goalie Mike Richter and NBA pro Alvin Williams.

Tim Ginter, who just finished a two-year term as president of the league, sat down to talk to the Philadelphia Business Journal about sports trends and college planning. Ginter is also the director of athletics at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington.

Here are some highlights from the interview.

On upcoming sports trends, he said, “Our squash league is pretty competitive, although not every school competes. Some of us have just club teams and others compete for the Inter-Academic championship. The same with water polo. I wouldn’t say that there is a specific trend that sees the number of participants creeping up, but all of our sports, both on the girls’ side and on the boys’ side are very competitive. It’s some of the better teams in the state, although we don’t compete in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.”

On preparing students for athletic scholarships for college, he said, “Everyone does it…I’m in contact with the college counseling office on a pretty regular basis and we have information sessions every other fall. So it’s constantly [asking] what’s new, what we’ve learned along the way…” Read the full interview in the Philadelphia Business Journal

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