HS Football: Nativity’s Dolbin, Marian’s Gelatko named to PFW Class A All-State Team
Nativity's Noah Dolbin looks in a pass during a Sept. 13 win over Tri-Valley (Photo by Charlie Roth).
Nativity’s Noah Dolbin and Marian’s Michael Gelatko left their mark on their respective football programs with stellar four-year careers.
Friday, they were rewarded by being named All-State.
Dolbin, a senior wide receiver, and Gelatko, a senior tight end, were among 41 players named to the 2024 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class A All-State Team. The team was selected through nominations and voting done by sports writers from various forms of media across the state, including T102SportsNow.com.
The Class 3A and Class 5A teams will be unveiled later Friday. The All-State teams for Class 2A, 4A and 6A will be released Saturday.
“I’m so happy for Noah, a well-deserved honor to cap off an incredible high school career,” Nativity coach Pat Mason said Friday morning. “He’s one of the best I’ve ever coached.
“He is a perfect example of how hard work pays off. Every honor he receives, he earned. He is not only an All-State player, he’s an All-State person and teammate. I’m really going to miss him.”
The grandson of former NFL wide receiver Jack Dolbin and the son of former Villanova standout Josh Dolbin, Noah finished as Nativity’s all-time leader in receptions (140), receiving yards (2,790) and receiving touchdowns (23).
This season, the 6-foot-5, 190-pounder hauled in 37 passes for 837 yards and seven touchdowns in leading Nativity to a 6-5 overall mark and a trip to the District 2/11 Class A subregional playoffs.
A Maxwell Football Club Mini Max Award recipient, Dolbin signed an NCAA Division I letter of intent in November to continue his football and academic careers at The United States Military Academy at West Point.
“It feels great,” Dolbin said Friday morning. “It’s a great way to end my senior year. It’s the goal you want to get … All-State.”
Gelatko was a four-year starter at both tight end and defensive end, helping revive Marian’s program after the Colts had gone 10-30 over a four-year stretch from 2017-20.
That hard work and perseverance paid off the past two seasons, as Marian went 7-5 and reached the District 11 Class A championship game in 2023 and compiled a 6-5 mark and a trip to the District 2/11 Class A subregional semifinals this fall.
It’s the second straight Gelatko was named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class A All-State Team. He was honored earlier this week by being named a recipient of a Maxwell Football Club Mini Max Award.
The son of Mickey and Kristen Gelatko of Andreas, Michael signed an NCAA Division I letter-of-intent in November to play at the University of Buffalo.
“It’s great,” Gelatko said Friday. “It’s a goal I set since I was a freshman to make All-State and to do it twice is great. Last year, teammate Jesse (Rodino) was a two-time All-Stater and to share that with him is great. It’s a great way to end my career.”
A 6-4, 235-pounder, Gelatko was the Colts’ main receiving weapon the past two seasons in Marian’s run-heavy offense. He had 23 receptions for 381 yards and a touchdown last season, then hauled in 27 passes for 295 yards and four TDs this season.
He’s also shined defensively from his defensive end spot, compiling 163 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks over the past two campaigns, and excelled as the Colts’ punter, averaging 35.4 yards per punt this season.
